Bombolulu and my immigrant experience

My mom and sister arrived in Mombasa this past weekend, so I have been showing them around and introducing them to all the wonderful Kenyan people I have met since I've been here.

Last week, I had to go into town to register at the immigration office. Even though my visa is for six months, after three months you have to register with the government. I tried to get a 14 day extension since I'm only here for nine more days after three months, but they said I had to pay for the three months. After filling out a few forms, I was told to wait in the hallway, then twenty minutes later I was fingerprinted and my passport was stamped with an extension of three months. So now I am an official alien resident of Kenya.

Since my last post, which was quite awhile ago, I've started stopping at a bakery on my home from Calvary everyday. I have become good friends with Anne, the baker, and over the weekend, she showed us (me and Jess, the new volunteer) how to make mahambri. Mahambri are yeast doughnuts so instead of being solid, they puff up when thez are fried. They are made with cardomon and are absoloutely delicious. Then on Sunday, we went to church with Anne and her daughter, June, at Crossroads Fellowship a Baptist church, that is run by three American pastors. One of them came over to say hi, noticed my American accent and when I said I was from Boston he apologized about the Red Sox this year, funny considering we are half way across the world-- but I guess American residents of Kenya keep track of baseball and football (he mentioned that the Patriots were playing the Colts, then said he was from Indiana)

Today, I took my mom and sister to Bombolulu workshops. It is an organization that was started by a Swedish woman to provide disabled people with work. Started out as a farm but as more people needed jobs, it was converted to a bunch of workshops. There is woodcarving, jewelry making, tailoring, textile printing and leather work. Most people are either deaf, blind or handicapped because of polio. One of the most interesting aspects of Bombolulu workshops is the Mobility workshop that deals with the manufacturing of wheelchairs and "tricycles"-- wheelchairs that are bikes but instead of pedaling with your feet, its with your arms. The wheelchairs are made out of local materials so that they can be fixed by any mechanic and they are designed to be very tough as roads here are not always paved. Most of the workers in the Mobility workshop are deaf, as the noise from the metal work does not bother them. There is also a sponsor program set up to connect donors with individuals who need a wheelchair.

Another important aspect of this project is the subsidised housing provided for the workers. Houses were built right next to the workshops and are rented at very low prices. There is even a school within the compound so that young children can safely get to school and their parents don't have to take them far, which can be difficult for many.

We found out today that one of their major buyers is Ten Thousand Villages, which I'm sure many of you have been to (if you haven't, its is in Central sq and has beautiful artwork created by developing countries)

Tomorrow, we are planning on going to Fort Jesus (which I have already seen) and to the Jain temple which is supposed to be pretty interesting.

On Friday, we are flying to Nairobi where we will start our seven day safari which I am verz excited about.

If I don't post before Thanksgiving, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, I know I will be thinking about all the delicious food I am missing.