too cute

Other than Monday and about fifteen minutes on Thursday afternoon, this week has been a write-off. I don't want to get into details, because basically it's not worth it, but instead lets focus on the two amazingly awesome times of this week.

First, Monday - the meeting of Oparanya Care recipients at Iguhu County Hospital. The Governor of Kakamega County, Wycliffe Oparanya, is paying low-income pregnant women and mothers of Kakamega County to attended antenatal care (ANC) and mother-child health (MCH) clinics and to give birth within a healthcare facility. Whilst this has the effect of slightly increasing the number of women getting pregnant, it also increases their exposure to family planning methods and decreases the mortality of children under 18 months thereby decreasing the need of having more children. 

So on Monday one of the Governors representatives came to meet all of the mothers and children who had benefited from this system so far, and I was given the privileged of taking their photos. It was a very hot and long day, but the babies were (mostly) so patient and well-behaved. It was hard getting them to keep still long enough to get the picture (except those who were sleeping of course!), so generally I took about three photos to get at least one decent one. I loved seeing the mothers faces when I turned the camera around and showed them the pictures - they were priceless. I've selected a few pictures for you to enjoy. 

Thursday afternoon I went across to Uganda, sort of - I went long enough to take a picture and then ran back... the last thing I need is to have another run-in with the Kenyan Immigration department. The guards at the Ugandan border thought I was hilarious, but seriously the fact that you can just walk into another country will always be a novelty to me. 

Two more weeks left at work and then off to the shores of Mombasa! I am seriously ready for some tasty Swahili food and swimming in the water. Am keeping a tight lid on my wallet as my bank account is so close to being empty and I wanted to buy gifts for people! I mean, who doesn't want an awesome set of salad servers with maasai beads? Pray that the cash I'm waiting on comes in real soon...

chocolate mandazi

The countdown is on until I finish up work! Only three and a half weeks left and then to be a tourist - am headed to Mombasa for a week with Mama J to work on my tan, because all this el nino rains means my tan is fading and no-one is going to believe I've lived in Kenya for this year! I'll be spending Christmas here with friends which will be an exciting experience and partying in Nairobi for New Years Eve - what better way to overcome a hangover then by flying long distance right?

Let me tell you about one of the tastiest things I've come across in Kenya... mandazi. They make up one of the main food staples in my diet which is probably not the best thing but it's only for another 6 weeks and then I'll be good and eat salad. They are so easy to make, you could even do it in your kitchen. This time I made chocolate mandazi, but you can make plain ones by omitting the cocoa

Step 1: Gather your ingredients
- Self-raising flour
- Baking powder
- Cocoa
- mixed spices
- sugar
-salt
-warm water
There are no measurements, you just go with it until you get the consistency of the dough

Step 2: mix everything together to a dry dough and leave for at least 30 minutes

Step 3: Roll small portions into circles

Step 4: cut circles into quarters

Step 5: add cooking fat/oil to your pan (I shallow fried mine) and heat

Step 6: Fry the portions in hot oil/cooking fat until puffy and crispy, turning once

Step 7: EAT!

Mandazi are usually taken with chai (or kahawa in my cup) for breakfast or tea (or lunch). When I get home I plan on attempting to stuff these babies with something disgustingly awesome, maybe that shall finance my next adventure (whatever that may be)...