Thursday 17th January 2008

Everyday life in Africa, it can be fun, frustrating, funny, and scary; but one thing it always is, is very different from life back home in Australia.   Thursday started with heading down town to get a few things, just a few minutes in a couple of shops and then back home again.  But being Africa things never turn out the way intended.  Phil and I ran into someone we knew who wanted us to exchange their gas bottle for them, of course when we got the bottle there was no money with it, so we had to chase them around town to get the money.  While we were doing this we had to chase up Judith as it looked like she was needed for a visitation with some Akanyijuka children (visiting their previous guardian).  So we found her to let her know.  Finally we got the gas bottle exchanged after the attendant went several times to get the keys.  Then it turns out that Judith is not needed so we have to try to track her down, and of course she is not where she was before or where they said she was going.  Then we get a text to say that someone else is waiting for the car, and we haven’t even done what we thought we were going to do. 

This is just one way in which life is different here, there are so many things that we had in Australia that they do not have here.  But here there are so many things that Africans have to live with that we don’t.  We have washing machines, freezers, air conditioners, social security and the like.  While Africans have none of these, they do have war, famine, corrupt governments and the like.  Here are a couple of articles in the news paper about what is happening in Kenya. 

KENYA REFUGEES SURVIVE POISON, Hundreds to be relocated…the relocation follows reports of attempted poisoning of the refugees…..last week wrong elements sneaked into the camp and into the kitchen and put poison in the food. 

THIRTEEN MORE DIE IN KENYA PROTEST, At least 13 more people were killed in Kenya yesterday when police fired into a Nairobi slum and ethnic groups clashed…. 

This is what is in the headlines this week.  A few weeks ago it was Ebola scares, before that it was refugees coming from D.R.C.  I am reminded once again of a time we were catching up with Henry and the disbelief he had when we told him that Australia was war free. I do not think it is possible for an African to think that a place in this world would actually exist without trial and tribulations that they have become used to living with day to day. 

The day was not all bad things and thoughts though, Erica and Quinton took out some children from Akanyijuka and got them some new shoes and we ended the day off with a nice dinner out at the Little Ritz.  Also I have posted two new albums on my photo page, a portfolio of Elizabeth and of Christian.  www.davesphotos.destinations.org.au<