Sorry it's been a while since I blogged .. however a lot has happened in the last 4 weeks ..
I'm now settled in my house which now has a fully functional shower (water permitting!) and cook most meals unless I'm too lazy or lovely colleagues invite me over for dinner. All of my photos are up spread across my house on different photo boards and I have a Welsh mixed with Kenyan colour theme .. :)
Two weeks ago I was leading the viola section in the Symphony Orchestra of the Kenya Conservatoire of Music, celebrating 70 years of quality music education, conducted by Vijay Upadhyaya of Vienna University and founder of India NYO! We had two incredible concerts with a mix of classical and traditional African music, orchestral and vocal works such as a Mozart mass, Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Nella Fantasia with young soloists. I then found out that after less than 2 months in Kenya I had made the Saturday Nation paper in a photo with the orchestra, which is distributed across Eastern Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania!). Quite proud I must say. I learnt a lot from the maestro Vijay, particularly in the string sectionals, ensemble playing I didn't learn at University. The whole experience was incredible but my favourite part was dancing to a Kikuyu (one of the 42 tribes in Kenya) song, Githurai to Galway, surrounded by a predominantly Kikuyu audience and orchestra. Playing with the musicians here in Kenya is amazing, they have been so welcoming to all the ensembles and are a great bunch of people I hope to stay friends with.
Within the school I went on a trip to the first rounds of the National Drama competitions. The school did quite well getting 2 events through to the next round and 1 through to regionals. They were really interesting, as they involved plays, dances, narratives, solo's, comedy's in a mixture of languages, a real cultural experience. However one that really stuck in my mind was the performance by a large troop from an all girls Secondary school about FGM (female genital mutilation). At the same time of the performance I was reading in the news about the effects and the new laws in both the UK and in Africa. It was so topical, excellently done and great to hear how much the young African girls of today want it stop too.
I threw a little house warming party on St. David's day and I am so glad to say that Welsh Cakes were a hit!! So I shall be making more for everyone to taste the greatness of Wales! :P
So many funny things have happened because I'm white such as ..
"Can I touch your hair?" coming from a grown man working in a supermarket ..
"Can I shake your hair?"!!! Just made me go hu!?
"You have nice legs!!" .. Could have been worse! They weren't even out, I must add!
Driver comes to pick me up and supermarket worker says .. "Shame you're not single as I'd like you to be my girlfriend!" .. okay like that's going to happen!
"Are you married?" .. Me, "YES!" .. I run away!
"Can I have your number?" .. Me, "No, it's okay.." .. Guy in Supermarket, "You don't like me ..?" Silence.
There are more but that's all I can remember right now ..
Kenya is great. I'm missing family and friends but I'll get used to it. Everyone keep me updated!!
Love!
