It is Sunday afternoon and I have some visitors from the orphanage. Lois is in Class 6 and Elizabeth is in baby class. They are soon joined by Dadio, Agnes and Emily. They are keen for me to take out my computer. I show them some photographs of my trip to Tanzania in April, (Ngorongora Crater and the Serengeti) with all the animals. There is some great chat for the next half an hour. “No, I did not ride on a giraffe, although I have kissed one! ( See earlier blog) No I did not get chased by hyenas and no I did not kill the lion that I have a photo of.
I am about to close the computer, when Lois spots an album of photographs from my brother’s wedding, held earlier this year in the Highlands. She would like to see it. They would all like to see it. Fair enough.
We look through the photographs and they are particularly fascinated by the photographs of my family where my husband and all my sons are wearing kilts (We are Scottish after all!) they also love images of the bride and groom. “They are very smart, “ says Dadio. This is a very big compliment in Kenya.
However, now it’s time to get down to business.
“How much was the dowry?” asks Lois.
“ We don’t have dowries in Scotland,” I told her.
“Eh?” was the response. “The groom did not give cows? Are you sure?”
Yes I’m sure.
”What about Maasai sugar?”
No.
“Chukas? cows?”
No.
“Goats/ Money?
No.
They all absorbed this information. “ He is a lucky man, your brother, to get a free bride, said Dadio. “I might move to Scotland. Does everyone get a free bride there?” It was hard to keep a straight face.
I brought out some bubbles and they all had great fun blowing them, both in the house and outside. They are such lovely children, who have had such hard lives, and yet who always greet you with a warm smile. I am in awe of the resilience of so many of the people I meet here in Olepolos. It is such a privilege to live and work in this community.
Elizabeth and Dadio
Lois and Elizabeth
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