Kenyan Idol

After the English version there is also translation to Estonian.

27. January

Kenya is sun, hotness, music, amazing views, lots of green nature with blossoms everywhere, red soil and other colours, pimped up matatus (small busses), intensive communicating, terrible roads, laughing, quite fanatical Christianity, poor people who are usually still good people with positive view of life. I’m totally in love with this country. Already now it came to my mind that one day I have to leave this place and it made me tad sad. I will certainly start searching possibility how to come back here.

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We just drove from Eldoret to east. To the Rift Valley again. Rift Valley Is like a great canyon that starts from Ethiopia and goes through the middle of the Kenya, Tanzania and in Malawi it goes into Indian ocean. It is really wide and deep. At the Kerio Valley (the exact location we went this time) I think it is at least 1 km deep. Of course this wonder of the world haven’t been created by river like normal canyons, but by splitting continental plates.

But first we visited one sport club, where we probably come back to swim. We saw a lot of white people there. In town we had so far seen only few. But yesterday one German man came to talk with us. As a first thing he asked if we are from Estonia. What? Of course I weared the university shirt this day, from what he read that out. Yet at first I didn’t understand that and I was really surprised how someone could know that. In shop I also saw one nice white girl who smiled at me, but as I had to move on quickly, I couldn’t talk with her.

Anyway, after the sport club we rode to the Kerio cliffs. Unbelievable views! With three steps/terraces the canyon is really so deep, that the bottom is lighter like all the things that are far away. On the edge the altitude was around 2500 meters. So bottom should be around 1500 m from sea level. And what a wonderful rock formations! In some places rocks are like fingers that stretch out from the ground, as some giant would rip the earth into two. The other side was so far that cliffs were absolutely blue. In bottom it is the land of the winds. After every little while some whirlwind lifted up the pillar of dust.

We went down one level, to the nice place called Lelin camp resides. As I understood the owner of this place was the good friend of Wesley. In that paradise we ate the lunch, just rested and talked about our countries and about the politics with the neighbors. Kenyans are really interested about European countries, people, the ways and conditions of living. And also we got to know some things about Kenya and their neighbors.

When we rode back, we visited Wheatfield School. The same one where two of us are needed as teachers. Now it is so that me and Mariann can’t go, and basically I/we think that the reason is because all the time Swedish girls really sucked up to our local supervisors. So Elsa and Sarah will go, and actually when to think now, then it is good. Finally we’ll get rid of them. They have only created bad atmosphere. All other of us are much more bonded, and understanding. Moreover, although people at this school were really warmhearted, it actually scares me that this place is so deeply catholic. And of course I like the place and company where we live now.

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Yesterday we visited few schools at Eld. East. We walked quite a way. Most of the time I talked with Sarah and Kate, very cool and pretty local girls. Sarah promised to do me either afro-braids or dreads sometime in the future. She also said that she could take me and Carlos to do some rock climbing. Also they teach us some Swahili. I think we should invite them to some dance club soon.

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Now sometimes it seems to me that Mariann is little bit trying to create some distance from me. Well yeah, maybe I was bit too insistent sometimes and searching the closeness with her too much. Let it be! Also, although I would prefer her to locals, I would say that probability to get something with Kate or Sarah is bigger. It is bit weird that although interest between Carlos and Helen has been really obvious, it seems, that now also Carlos has an eye up for Sarah. But that is enough for moment about such complex things.

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Today we visited two schools in Eld. South. It was unbelievable. In both we were greeted by kids as some real superstars. I can’t guess how many of them had never seen a white people. Anyway they were really delighted. In the first school they instantly stormed to us, as everyone of them had to touch the white skin. We had to use both hands for greeting them and these both hands were still swallowed by tens of boys and girls at the same time. Sometimes it really felt that I will be dragged to the ground under their feet. In other school they started jumping excitedly and danced and singed some time before they were sent to the classes. Also we went to the principal’s office for a while, but later when we came out and went to see the “sport field”, also their classes were finished. Literally again the mass of little black children flowed towards us. They surrounded us completely. When we moved (if we could), all this circle around us moved along. One little boy who had fallen, escaped the trampling by others only thanks to Mariann’s helping hand. At first boy cried, but as soon as he saw that it was mzungu who helped him up, he instantly ceased it. Children followed us by the street through the slum, until we stepped through the gate of Kate’s home. That isn’t even like in a movie anymore, but as from some fantastic epical tale. Really I felt such happiness that tear came to my eye, and now thinking back to it, again. White human is for them almost like god. They admire us, they await great deeds and they offer everything best they have (kind of like making offerings) and often hoping that we can give them happiness (gifts, money, sometimes just friendship) or take them to paradise (Europe or America). Well ok, not gods in a direct meaning as Christianity is really strong here, but at least so they act. At least we are their great idols.

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Funny is that Kate sent me an SMS message last night, wishing me good night, but she wrote my name as THORNO.. like Thor, the prime god of Northlands. Another interesting thing with my name is that in Kalenjin (the tribe, or actually tribal union of both Kate and Sarah) language, there is similar word Taunet, that means the beginning and/or genesis.

Everyone here knows what tribe they are descended from and sometimes they speak in their own tribal language. Roots are strong but basically because the 2008 post-election violence was actually a fight between the tribes, they now try to be tolerant and friendly to everyone and see tribalism as bad as corruption or even homosexualism.

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As I already said, the other thing that is deep-rooted in this society is Christianity (I wouldn’t call it a real Catholicism, but the power of faith, dogmas and fanaticism are as strong here). One guy who visits the schools with us, is really religious. He is saying prayers all the time. Also Christian songs are widely popular here. Probably even more than traditional ones. This man whom I was talking about, tried to teach us one. Everyone singed, but not me, after what came of course the question why. I didn’t have a heart to say that I’m not a Christian. I was quiet some time, thinking what kind of answer may disturb them and how tolerant they really are about questions regarding religion. But then suddenly someone else proposed that maybe I’m just listening carefully, learning all the words and that my soul sings inside. Let it be! But from Caroline who already had invited us to join her in the church, I asked if I could or should go to church if I’m not Christian. She took it really well and said that yes, certainly I both may and should go.

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At Kate’s place it was funny that on the walls there were pictures of holy family, photos of probably Kate’s brothers, Bob Marley, rooster and chicken with some chicklings, poster of Manchester United, picture of some nice looking food (cakes and some other stuff) and other poster of some action hero whose face was covered with the photo of probably again her brother. Also busses have some kind of religious phrases, catchwords or names written on them. Or sometimes these have something like “Coolest”, what is written on the matatu that already three days has driven us around. Yes, these small busses with all the paintwork, bling and neon lights, not to mention the loud music that comes from inside, are actually already seeming quite cool. Also shops have sometimes names that have something to do with religion, but not so often. Today I saw a “Baraka Shop”, and because for me the word Baraka was known as movie title, I wanted to know what it means. It means blessing.

Sere – blessings, but also means many or a lot (in Kalenjin)

Mungu akubariki – God bless you (in Swahili)

Keenia Superstaar

27. jaanuar

Keenia on päike, kuumus, muusika, piltilusad vaated, palju rohelust ja õisi, punane muld, ära pimpitud matatud (väikebussid), intensiivne suhtlemine, hirmsad teed, naermine, fanaatiline kristlus, vaesed ja ometi enamasti head ja positiivse ellu suhtumisega inimesed. Mao olen sellesse paika totaalselt ära armunud. Juba praegu tuli mul pähe, et ühel hetkel pean ma siit ära minema ja see tegi meele veidi kurvaks. Ma hakkan kindlasti otsima võimalust kuidas siia tagasi tulla.

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Sõitsime just Eldoretist ida poole. Jälle Rift Valley juurde. Rift Valley on nagu tohutu suur kanjon mis algab Etioopiast, läheb läbi Keenia, Tansaania ning lõpuks Malawis läheb India ookeani. See on tõesti väga sügav ja lai. Kerio Valley’s (meie seekordne täpsem sihtpunkt) on see kindlasti vähemalt kilomeetri sügavune. Muidugi ei ole see loodusime tekkinud jõe uuristatuna nagu tavalised kanjonid, vaid tekkis kuna mandrilaamad eemalduvad sellel alal üksteisest.

Aga kõigepealt käisime ühes spordiklubis, kuhu tuleme ilmselt tagasi ujuma. Seal nägime päris palju valgeid. Linnas oleme vaid mõnda üksikut kohanud. Eile tuli üks sakslane ise meiega rääkima. Esimese asjana küsis kas me oleme Eestist. Mis asja? Loomulikult oli mul ülikooli särk seljas ja sealt ta selle siis välja lugeski, aga algul küll ei saanud üldse aru, et kuidas saab nii moodi ära arvata. Hull üllatus oli. Poes nägin ka ühte toredat valget tüdrukut, kes mulle naeratas, aga kuna pidin kohe edasi liikuma, ei saanud temaga rääkida.

Niisiis, pärast spordiklubi sõitsime Kerio järskudele kuristikele. Uskumatud vaated. Kolme astmega langeb kanjon tõesti nii sügavale, et põhjas olev on heledam nagu ikka kaugete asjade puhul juhtub. Üleval äärel oli kõrgus merepinnast 2500 meetri kandis, seega põhi kuskil 1500. Ja millised imelised kivimoodustised seal olid. Mõnes kohas meenutasid kivikamakad sõrmi, mis maa seest välja sirutusid justkui üritaks keegi hiiglane maad kaheks rebida. Kanjoni vastaskülg oli nii kaugel, et mäed näisid täiesti sinised. Põhjas on aga tuulte elupaik. Iga natukese aja tagant tõstis mõni tuulekeeris üles tolmusamba.

Ühe astme jagu sõitsime mööda mäekülge alla, kus asus Lelin Camp’i nimeline imeline puhkekeskus. Kui ma õigesti aru sain, siis selle omanik oli Wesley hea sõber. Selles paradiisis sõime me lõunat, vedelesime niisama ja rääkisime nii oma maadest kui ka poliitikast naabritega. Keenialased on väga huvitatud Euroopa riikidest, rahvastest, eluviisidest ja –oludest. Ka meie saime Keenia ja nende naabrite kohta üht teist teada.

Kui me tagasi sõitsime, siis külastasime ka Wheatfieldi kooli. Seda sama, kuhu kahte meist oleks õpetajateks vaja. Nüüd on siis nii, et mina ja Mariann ei saa sinna. Põhjus selles, et Rootsi tüdrukud pugesid täiega meie kohalike ülemuste ees. Wesley teatas, et need, kes sinna õpetama lähevad, on Sara ja Elsa, aga tegelikult kui nüüd järele mõelda, siis hea ongi. Lõpuks ometi saame neist lahti. Nad on vaid tekitanud halba õhkkonda. Kõik teised on palju arusaavamad ja omavahel paremini sobivamad. Pealegi, kuigi inimesed selles koolis olid väga südamlikud, hakkas mind hirmutama asjaolu, et see koht nii sügavalt katoliiklik on. Ja loomulikult meeldib mulle siingi kus praegu elame ja meie seltskond.

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Eile käisime Eld. East’i (Ida-Eldoret) mõningaid koole külastamas. Paraja maa kõndisime maha. Enamuse aega rääkisin ma väga lahedate ja kenade kohalike tüdrukute, Sarah ja Kate’ga. Sarah lubas mulle kas afropatsid või dreadid teha millalgi. Samuti ütles ta, et võib mind ja Carlost viia mägironimist tegema. Loomulikult õpetavad nad meile ka juba veidi suahiili keelt. Ma mõtlen, et me Carlosega võiks nad varsti millalgi klubisse tantsima kutsuda.

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Vahel tundub nüüd, et Mariann üritab minust veidi distantsi hoida. Nojah, eks ma vist olin ka väheke liiga pealetükkiv ja otsisin tema lähedust liiga tihti. Las siis olla nii! Pealegi, kuigi ma eelistaksin kohalikele tüdrukutele teda, on palju tõenäolisem, et muutun Kate’I või Sarah’ga lähedasemaks. On üpris veider , et kuigi Carlose ja Heleni vaheline huvi oli väga ilmne, tundub nüüd, et ka Carlos heidab nüüd silma Sarah’le. Aga aitab ka hetkeks sellistest keerulistest asjadest.

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Täna käisime kahes Eld. South’i (lõunas) koolis. Täiesti uskumatu. Mõlemas võtsid lapsed meid vastu nagu tõeliseid superstaare. Ei teagi kui paljud neist üldse valget inimest näinud polnud. Igal juhul olid nad ülimas vaimustuses. Esimeses koolis jooksid nad kohe meie peale tormi, sest igaüks pidi ju valget nahka katsuma. Nende tervitamiseks pidime mõlemad käed kasutusele võtma ja ikka mattusid me mõlemad käed kümnete väikeste mustade käekeste alla. Vahel oli täitsa tunne, et on oht kukkuda nende jalge alla. Teises koolis hakkasid nad meid nähes hüppama, laulma ja tantsima, aga pidid kohe varsti tundi minema. Ka meie läksime vahepeal direktori kabinetti, aga kui me sealt välja tulime ja läksime „spordiväljakut“ vaatama, siis lõppesid ka lastel tunnid ja kohe voolas meie ümber väikeste mustade laste mass. Kui meie liikusime (juhul muidugi kui me üldse liikuda saime), liikus ka ühtlaselt meie ümber lastepundar meie ümber. Üks väike poiss pääses teiste poolt jalge alla trampimisest vaid tänu Marianni hoolitsevale abikäele. Algul poiss nuttis, aga kohe kui, et see, kes ta püsti tõstis oli mzungu, jättis järgi. Lapsed jälitasid meid isegi koolist välja, mööda aguli tänavat kuni me lõpuks Kate’i koduni jõudsime ja väravast sisse astusime. See ei tundu enam isegi mitte nagu filmis vaid nagu mõnes fantastilises eepilises jutus. Tõsiselt selline rõõm tekkis, et pisar tuli silma ja nüüd sellele mõeldes uuesti. Valge inimene on siin peaaegu nagu jumal. Meid armastatakse, imetletakse, meilt oodatakse suuri tegusid, meile pakutakse kõike paremat mis neil on (enam vähem nagu ohverduste tegemine) ja loodetakse, et me neile omapoolse õnnistusega vastaksime (kingid, raha, enamasti on nad aga lihtsalt juba meie tundmisest õnnelikud. Ok, päris jumalaga nad meid muidugi samastada ei saa, aga umbes nii nad meisse suhtuvad küll. Nimetagem meid siis Keenia iidoliteks.

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Naljakas oli lugeda, kui Kate mulle eile õhtul SMS’i saatis, soovimaks head ööd, aga nimeks kirjutas THORNO.. nagu Thor, põhjala peajumal. Teine huvitav asi mu nimega on see, et Kate’i ja Sarah hõimu (vüi tegelikult hõimude liidu), Kalenjin’i keeles on samuti mu nimele väga sarnane sõna taunet, mis tähendab algust või isegi genesist (kogu maailma teket).

Kõik siin teavad, mis hõimust nad pärit on ja vahel räägivad nad omavahel ka oma hõimu keeles. Juured on tugevad, aga põhimõtteliselt kuna 2008 aasta valimiste järgne möll oli tegelikult võitlus hõimude vahel, siis nüüd nad üritavad olla kõigi suhtes võimalikult tolerantsed ja sõbralikud ning peavad tribalismi (hõimustumist) võrdväärselt halvaks korruptsiooni või isegi homoseksuaalsusega.

Nagu juba öeldud, teine asi, mis selles ühiskonnas väga tugevalt juurdunud, on kristlus (Katoliikluseks ma seda muidugi küll ei nimetaks, aga usu tugevus ja fanaatilisus ning dogmad on küll sellele sarnased). Üks mees, kes meiega koolides kaasa käib, on eriti usklik.. loeb pidevalt palveid. Ka kristlikud laulud on siin väga populaarsed/levinud. Võib olla, et isegi rohkem kui traditsionaalsed. Ühte üritas see sama mees meile õpetada. Kõik teised peale minu laulsid. Seepeale tuli küsimus, et miks mina mitte. Kohe mitte ei olnud sel hetkel südant öelda, et ma pole kristlane. Olin vait mõeldes, et kuidas nad millisele vastusele reageeriksid ja kui tolerantsed nad usuküsimustes ikkagi on, aga siis keegi pakkus, et äkki ma lihtsalt kuulan hoolikalt, õpin sõnu pähe ja, et samaaegselt mu hing seesmiselt laulab. Las siis olla! Samas kodus Caroline’lt kes meid juba endaga kaasa kirikusse kutsus, küsisin küll, et kas ma mitte kristlasena üldse tohiksin või peaksin kirikusse minema. Tema võttis asja küll väga normaalselt ja ütles, et muidugi võin ja ikkagi peaksin tulema.

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Kate’i kodus oli naljakas, et seintel rippusid üksteise kõrval pildid pühast perekonnast, foto siis ilmselt tema vendadest, Bob Marley, kukk, kana ja tibudega, Manchester United’i poster, pilt kookidest ja muust väga uhkest söögist ja siis veel üks poster mingist märulifilmi kangelasest, kelle näo asemele oli pandud jällegi ilmselt tema venna foto. Ka bussidel on tihti suurelt peale kirjutatud mingeid religioosseid sõnakõlkse või nimesid. Või siis midagi sellist nagu „Coolest“, mis on meid juba kolmandat päeva vedaval matatul. Nojah, kusjuures hakkavad juba need ära maalitud, blingi ja neoonvalgustusega varustatud ja muidugi valju muusikaga masinad päris lahedad tunduma tõesti. Ka poodidel on mõni kord nimi kuidagi kristlusest pärit. Näiteks täna nägin „Baraka Shop’i“ ja kuna mulle oli Baraka tuttav filmi nimena, siis olin huvitatud, et mis see tähendab. Õnnistust tähendab.

Sere – õnnistus, samas võib ka tähendada paljut või mitut ( Kalenjin’i keeles)

Mungu akubariki – jumal õnnistagu sind (Suahiili)

Bad juju (juju means witchcraft of Africa)

(translation to Estonian is following the English one)

This text is from 25. January

Continuously I wake before the alarm. Actually now two last days I have even waked up before all the rest. Health is also good, but I think I have lost quite many kilos of weight. One day we went running with Love. It was extremely hard, but probably after some times I already have more endurance and strength.

Yesterday was Joshuah’s birthday and we went to lunch to one really posh hotel. A real one, as actually most eating places outside the town center are called hotel and butchery. After that I and Mariann decided to explore the town a little and visit the market. We went quite far to the west, where I think some industrial areas start. There we met a man who organizes rock climbing. I took his contacts. It seemed that at the west side of the town there are more Muslims. There was a little mosque and actually also quite big Hindu temple. Mariann wanted to buy some french fries, so we went to some small “hotel” owned by Muslims. But salesman probably heard that she wants rice. Here they call french fries as chips. It was almost dusk time and we hurried to get back to the central town. So we took a shortest road. It was a bad choice. Suddenly a posse of chokora’s (street robbers) came around us. Mariann had a little chance to protect her bag. And after I realized that she is also in danger, I couldn’t go to help her anymore, as there were three guys for both of us. Two just held us and one tried to grab whatever we had in hands. For me it was actually good that they don’t search the pockets, as I had all the money in pocket of the pants. From me they took only the photo camera. I fought back as much as I could and thanks to that some good people saw this thing happening and came to help us, but they were just a few moments too late. For quite a long time I held my camera and finally I ripped a shirt of one guy into pieces, but now I wish I could have given him also a proper blue eye. These street boys really can’t fight, they are not strong, but their numbers, surprising and fast tactics are enough. At least these guys who came to help us, called the police and finally they gave us ride to the police station. They also said that these boys are known and there is even possibility that we could get our things back. A friend of one man was policeman and he said that police may make a raid to the place where these boys live. Also otherwise bothersome gluekids came to help us. As Mariann had some documents in the bag, they promised that they try to get at least these back. And they did

It seemed that even the arrival of the police takes hundred years here, but as exactly at that time the entire town had an electrical blackout, then it may be somewhat understandable. Then again, when they came, then there were four or five men per street, armed with an automatic rifle. Also other closest streets were checked and maybe some of them went also down the hill where thieves escaped.

Also in the police station, everyone seemed quite sure that thieves will be found and arrested, but I don’t know how probable it could be. Too bad if I really have lost my camera – in Kenya and no pictures.

Today morning we visited KESOFO office and then we went to hotel Asis (another true hotel) to the meeting, where we were supposed to get some clearer view about the things we will do here. We made some plans, but in general, things are still uncertain. Mariann and I talked with one guy from KESOFO supported Wheatfield school to go there to teach children. But there are lots of problems. We should basically live there and only come to house at weekends, but this school is really religious and therefore the dormitories of boys and girls are separated. In the girls dorm there is room, but not in the one for boys. Then again, Wesley doesn’t want to let Mariann go alone either. Of course Sara and Elsa from Sweden have also now made clear that they want to go there. Why, I don’t know – they are not teachers. Anyway, that would also be great, because right now they have created conflicts with others. They accused us of a little thankfulness and of laughing over Kenyans. Everything was absolutely taken out of context and it seems that they don’t have any open mind, ability to take it easy nor any understanding of Kenyan cultural differences. For me it has always seemed that locals are quite happy with us. Our really innocent jokes are actually very similar to the ones Kenyans make by themselves. At the same time Swedish girls have sweared along with Carlos and laughed to each other’s and Carlos’ bad words. One thing that is really rude in Kenya is swearing. What also angers us, is that they really suck up to our Kenyan supervisors. They live as they still would be in Europe and act towards others quite superciliously.

Anyway, today we went to the police station again, but we couldn’t talk with the investigator, so tomorrow we go back again. For some reason I had to pay to them 150 shillings (it isn’t much, but now I would expect good results). Or maybe I should have paid even more to raise their enthusiasm to work.

So, quite bad news this time.

Some Swahili words too:

Hakuna matata – don’t worry

Furaini – be happy (plural)

Furahi – be happy (singular)

Pole pole – don’t hurry; we have time

Paha juju (juju tähendab Aafrikas nõidust)

See tekst pärineb 25. jaanuarist.

Endiselt ärkan ma enne äratuskella helinat. Või tegelikult nüüd kaks viimast päeva olen lausa esimesena ärganud. Tervis on ka hea. Kaalus olen küll vist päris mitu kilo alla võtnud. Ükspäev käisime Love’ga jooksmas. Ülimalt raske oli, aga küllap mõne ajaga suudan juba paremini.

Eile oli Joshuah sünnipäev ja me läksime ühte hotelli sööma ja jooma. Päris hotelli (seda ütlen seepärast, et tegelikult on siin põhimõtteliselt kõik väikesed söögikohad nimetatud „hotell ja tapamaja“. Pärast seda läksime Marianniga linna avastama ja turule. Läksime päris kaugele lääne poole, kus algavad vist tööstus alad. Seal kohtasime ühte meest, kes korraldab mägironimise asju. Võtsime tema kontaktid. Linna läänepoolses osas tundub rohkem islamlaste asustust olevat. Väike mošee ja päris korralik hindu tempel asuvad seal ka. Mariann tahtis osta frii kartuleid (french fries). Seega käisime ühes moslemite söögikohas. Muidu täitsa ok rahvas, kuigi nad vist ei osanud meid sinna oodata. Pealegi ost läks imelikult. Ilmselt kuulis müüja, et Mariann tahab hoopis riisi (rice), seega seda talle ka toodi – kilekotis koos sooja soustiga. Siin nimetatakse friikaid hoopis chipsideks. Päike hakkas vaikselt loojuma ja seega üritasime otseteed kesklinna tagasi minna, aga valisime halva tänava. Ühel hetkel tuli kamp chokora’sid (tänavaröövleid) meie ümber. Mariannil polnud väga võimalik oma kotti kaitsta ja hetkeks kui ma mõistsin, et ka tema ohus on, ei saanud ma enam talle appi minna. Kaks hoidsid meid kätest kinni ja üks üritas võtta, mis iganes meil käes on. Minu jaoks oli see tegelikult hea, et nad taskuid läbi ei otsinud, kuna kogu mu raha oli siis pükste taskus. Minult võtsid nad vaid fotoka. Ma võitlesin vastu nii kuis suutsin ja tänu sellele nägid mõned head kohalikud meid hädas ja püüdsid appi tulla, aga nad jäid siiski mõned sekundid hiljaks. Päris tükk aega hoidsin ma kaamerast kinni ja lõpuks rebisin ühe tüübi särgi ka pooleks, aga nüüd hiljem ma kahetsen, et ma oleksin pidanud üritama ühele neist sinise silmaaluse andma. Need tänavapoisid ei suuda tegelikult võidelda, nad ei ole tugevad, aga nende arvuline ülekaal, kiire ja üllatav taktika on küllalt. Jah, need appi rutanud mehed aitasid meil siiski politsei kutsuda ja päris lõpuks viisid meid ka politsei jaoskonda. Lisaks ütlesid nad, et tunnevad neid poisse ja, et on üpris suur võimalus, et saame juba hommikuks oma asjad tagasi. Ühe mehe sõber oli politseinik (ja kuigi ta tuli kohale ilmses joobes), rääkis ta, et politsei võib nende varaste elukohta reidi korraldada. Isegi muidu tülikad liimipoisid tulid sel korral hoopis appi. Mariannil oli kotis mingeid dokumente ja kaarte ja need liimipoisid lubasid vähemalt need tagasi tuua ja tõidki.

Isegi politsei tulek tundub siin mõnisada aastat aega võtvat, aga kuna just sel hetkel oli ka kogu linna hõlmav elektrikatkestus, siis võib olla saab seda normaalseks pidada. Samas kui nad lõpuks kohale jõudsid, siis oli ikka neli või viis automaadiga relvastatud meest tänava kohta. Ka teisi lähimaid tänavaid kontrolliti ning ehk läks mõni neist ka mäest alla kuhu vargad põgenesid.

Ka politsei jaoskonnas olid kõik üsna kindlad, et vargad saadakse kätte, kuid kui tõenäoline see on? Jama küll, kui ma oma fotokast nüüd jäädavalt ilma olen – Keenias ja ilma piltideta.

Täna hommikul külastasime KESOFO kontorit ja seejärel läksime hotell ASIS’i (veel üks päris hotell) koosolekule, kus me pidime saama selgema pildi sellest, mis meist nüüd edasi saab. Me tegime mõned plaanid, aga üldiselt on ikka asjad segased. Mina ja Mariann rääkisime ühe mehega KESOFO toetusega Wheatfield’i koolist, et sinna lapsi õpetama pääseda. Aga sellega on kõvasti probleeme. Me peaksime suurema aja seal elama (see on linnast mingi u. 10 km.) ja ainult nädalavahetustel majja tagasi tulema, aga see kool on väga religioosne ja seega on seal poiste ja tüdrukute ööbimiskohad eraldi. Tüdrukute omas pidi ruumi veel olema aga poiste omas mitte. Wesley ei taha aga ka Marianni üksi sinna lasta. Nüüd on muidugi ka Elsa ja Sarah avaldanud tahtmist sinna minna. Miks küll, seda ma ei tea. Nad ei ole ju õpetaja haridusega. Nüüd oleks ka see variant hea tegelikult, sest nad on kõigi ülejäänutega konflikti suutnud üles keerutada. Nad süüdistasid meid väheses tänulikkuses ja keenialaste üle naermises. Kõik see oli absoluutselt kontekstist välja rebitud ja üldse on tunne, et neil ei ole mitte mingisugustki avatud meelt, oskust asju rahulikult võtta ega ka arusaama Keenia kultuurilistest eripäradest. Minu arust on kohalikud igati meiega rahul olnud. Meie igati süütud naljad on väga sarnased keenialaste endi omadega. Samas on Rootsi tüdrukud ise kõvasti ropendanud ja Carlose roppuste peale naernud, aga just see on siin üks väga halvaks pandav asi. Peale selle ajab meid vihale, et nad täiega poevad keenialastest ülemuste ees. Nad elavad justkui oleks endiselt Euroopas ja käituvad teiste suhtes üleolevalt.

Igaljuhul, täna läksime uuesti politsei jaoskonda, aga me ei saanud uurijaga rääkida ja seega läheme homme jälle. Miskipärast pidin ma asja alustamiseks 150 shillingut maksma. Seega ootaks nüüd häid tulemusi. Või tegelikult oleks ehk pidanud rohkem maksma, et nad oma tööd tõsiselt võtaks.

Et siis seekord olid üpris halvad uudised.

Mõned suahiili keelsed sõnad ka:

Hakuna matata – pole probleemi; ära muretse

Furaini – olge õnnelikud

Furahi – ole õnnelik

Pole pole – rahulikult; aeglaselt; meil on aega küll

Photos

Before next entry just a notice that you can find photos of our Kenya adventure at my orkut site.. slowly I upload more and more of these there. You can find a link on the sidebar here in my blog. Also there are few photos at my deviantart site. These are the ones I have really made by myself.. with the cameras of others as my own camera was stolen in our first days in Eldoret. No biggie, but it means that my photos will be quite rare, but I hope that also better. Read about the real action from the next blog entry. And yes, also the link to my DA site should be here on the sidebar.

Enne järgmist sissekannet lihtsalt väike teadaanne, et pilte meie Keenia seiklustest võite leida nüüd mu orkuti lehelt. Aeglaselt lisan ma neid aina juurde. Olge kannatlikud. Lingi õigesse kohta võite leida siit samast blogi küljejoonelt. Ka mu deviantarti leht kannab mõnda fotot, mille ma olen tõesti ise teinud.. teiste aparaatidega, sest mu enda oma varastati esimeste päevade jooksul ära. Aga pole hullu.. see tähendab vaid seda, et mu enda fotod on üpris haruldased, aga loodetavasti ka tavalisest paremad. Sellest fotoka varastamise põhiaktsioonist saate järgmisest blogi sissekandest lugeda. Ja loomulikult peab veel lisama, et ka link mu DA lehele peaks siin olemas olema.

Swahili words/Suahiili keele sõnavara:
Sawa - ok

Kenya, here I am!

Written in the third day in Kenya: (this post has a version translated to Estonian)

Note: some things have changed a lot since I wrote this post.

My first flights. Really wicked! I must say, that now I’m again very sorry that I didn’t get to go to the Flying College. Plane’s acceleration and take off are cool and turning even more. But differences of pressure made my stomach even more problematic. Already for few days it had been aching, now I finally understood that it was because of serious constipation. Gases pressed hard but didn’t come out. Ok, now I’m already feeling well. First two flights pretty much sucked (Although feeling of flying itself was fun), because we didn’t get anything to eat freely and after the takeoff it was quite boring. But already on the flight to London, when landing we had the first WOW moment. Weather was cloudy and so we all waited impatiently at the windows to see anything and then suddenly we passed the clouds and saw all of that sea of lights.

As soon as we touched the ground we could see the next plane, and further away another one. Heathrow really has a lots of air traffic. Unlike Stockholm-Arlanda Airport inside was also colourful and full of people. The plane to Nairobi was bigger and of course we got finally something to eat. Also we could get some drinks all the time. I again became to like cola. In Kenya too, the sodas and cola drinks are very popular. Time flew fast and of course the flying through the time zones to the east helped along. Morning came so soon that I could not get any sleep at all. View from the windows was to the desert. But on landing in Nairobi we saw lots of green. Grass, we missed for it so much.. and palm trees.. many different kinds of palms. When stepping to the airport, I suddenly felt a tremendous heat. Now after the few days we have become used to that. Sometimes I feel tiredness because of that, but other than that it is really nice climate. My first true African cultural experience also found place at the airport, more accurately at the toilet where one local guy washed his feet at the sink. By the way, today Love (from Sweden and not a girl at all; his name is actually pronounced Luuve) asked me if he may wash his feet at the sink (because we are in one room), that doesn’t it bother me/feel weird. So then I said: „No problem, it is Africa.“ Here almost anything is “no problem”, just as I thought.

Most of the first day we were on the road to Eldoret. We rode with the small van (matatu), all of us ten, our baggage, Wesley and the driver. It was really tight, hot and still very cool. Now we are even used to that kind of rides. All the transportation is always packed full of people. People is always smiling and laughing and it is contagious. Air is filled with positive feelings and natural free being. What else you would need? For some of us it is little bit uncomfortable, that we are under the constant attention, but I knew that it’ll going to be like that, and I could even say that weirdly I like it. You know me!

Yet, on the way to Eldoret, we stopped at Rift Valley. There even I felt bad when all the salesmen tried to sell us all the pointless junk and to get what ever foreign coins to the collection of their kids. Certainly, now in Eldoret also beggar kids run after us (or sometimes even grownups. Now imagine if beggars would run all the time after you in Estonia/Europe and wouldn’t cease asking for money), but we soon learned to ignore them.

On the ride to Eld we already saw lots of different Kenya – nature and ways of living. We saw countless zebras. They are as common on the lower and hotter areas as cows, or no, actually I think cows are still more numerous. Once we also saw a family of baboons walking by the road. When we got to the highlands area, cactuses and palms became rare, being replaced with different leaf and conifer trees. It seemed even that there were regular pines. Acacia trees (that are the very symbol of Africa) are of course also here. And everywhere is the red dirt.

In the first evening we basically didn’t go out from the house. At first the house was absolutely empty, but soon workmen brought us beds, table and chairs. We also got some kitchenware and something to eat. No, actually house wasn’t completely empty, wardrobe were there and in kitchen we found a small gas cooker. In the first evening Lithuanian boys prepared the meal, but now we have Caroline, who basically helps us with different household jobs and mostly prepares the food. At least stomach was full and at that night I got a decent sleep. What’s even weirder, my day and night got corrected just like that. Fine, as we sometimes have parties in the evenings right now (we have few birthdays here in the row), we may get to the sleep at the two ‘o clock or so, but really, I have every day waked up without the alarm around seven or eight.

Second day started with peaceful lying on the ground, in what we possibly soon will come to masters (following the example of locals). Some of us wrote and drew a little. Some practiced break dance with Love and most just played with Kenzie (little daughter of Caroline). All the airplanes, somersaults, throwing of different things and just running around were done, but girl was really tireless. With only one day we won the trusts of both at first extremely silent and modest mother and although very energetic, but to strangers not very trusting girl. Estonian girls said that Caroline became even too open, telling lots of personal things at once.

In the evening of second night we with Mariann and Justas, decided to go to the town, even though soon it was soon going to be dark. That was cool. Town at night is twice as interesting as at daytime. At first we went to one posh pub (or actually the lobby bar of possibly most expensive hotel here. For the beginning it was good enough, as I even enjoyed the good service and comfort. But prices were high (of course not in the sense of Estonia or Europe) and there we couldn’t satisfy our need for true African cultural feeling. Because of that we soon went to one simpler pool pub. There was live music and atmosphere you can´t even see in movies – people danced insanely. Also instantly we got to be the center of interest. Everyone wanted to get acquainted with us and to ask or talk about something. We went to bar, that at first was blocked by locals, but soon a guy came from the back of the room who cleared the way for us, at the same time saying something like: „Let the Wazungu to buy beers“. Wazungu means white people in Swahili, and that they say to us all the time. It doesn’t have any bad meaning. We got our beers and sat to the table by some local man. We talked with him for a while, but as time passed, more and more people gathered around us. Security guards of the pub sent some of them away, but finally things still got pretty uncomfortable for us. Still we were very happy about our choice to go there and probably we also go back. Surely they soon get used to us.

At evening Helen beautified me with her jewelry and then we ate oat biscuits grandma made, and talked about our first thoughts of Kenya.

So, today is the third day. Joshua showed us some important places at the town. We had a lunch at the Chick Inn, where Mariann and I tried one national food made of maize flour – Ugali with chicken. Ugali itself is basically tasteless porridge, but it should be dipped to chicken or beef stew and pressed into onion and carrot salad. Eating it should be traditionally done with bare hands, what I actually like. I didn’t like Ugali very much and chicken is also usually cut here so that it is hard to eat the meat from the bones. Oh yeah.. when we moved around in the town, one little street boy started to follow us. At first he asked money from us, but after seeing that he won’t get it, he still decided to hang around with us half a day, until he finally got to eat with us. It was rather uncomfortable that he followed us everywhere, but finally I even felt sad about him. And without him I probably would have forgot my hat to the restaurant. By the way, first thing that Wesley, our prime local coordinator said to me, when he saw me at the airport, was that I have very good hat – protects me well from the sun. One of the Swedish girls already got sick in the first day, probably exactly because of the sun and hotness.

But okay, let’s continue with our present day in Eld. After the lunch we waited some guys with cars to go to watch a rugby game. At that time some guy tried to offer his daughter to Love for a wife. It was very funny. Yeah, girls are all the time under the interest of black men, and from time to time they try to get their phone numbers. Ok then, guys with the cars came. They had to be the most hip-hop looking boys in the city. Our car stopped on the way, but it seemed as for the car driver it was more worrying that the music also stopped. He called men from the street to push the car, as of course it would be weird if wazungu would do that. Also on the stadium there was a posse of funny hip-hop guys, who seemed really to perform to us. Joshua said that everyone really want to get our attention, to talk with us or whatever what to do. It is so because after the year 2008 unrests not many white people come to here. Even though there are some university students from America and England, white sportsmen/women training and some white guys also working on engineering, then our arrival was quite a big thing. At least so it seems. With those guys I mentioned before, we also played ourselves and basically we agreed to make an football match.

Ride home was in a small car with a cart, meaning that some of us, me included rode back in the cart. It is quite usual here and I liked it. On all the rides so far I have always been seated tightly between others. Not really comfortable.

Evening we had the birthday parties. Candles, incense, rum, guitar music and our own songs. Really cool.

I have become to like this place more and more. I feel myself really as at home - even more than in Estonia. We still have problems with the morning shower and I am not yet used to the foods here, but these are only small problems. But otherwise we have even more than we could wish for. By the way, Caroline made also ugali with chicken stew for the dinner (because it is the most common food here). At first I took only a little because of the experience at day, but it figures that even tasteless thing can be made better. Finally I took three times more. Of course I also was really hungry.

Now, when I’m finishing this chapter, it is the morning of the fourth day. I was first to wake up. Soon we should go to jogging with some of us – we start training here properly. For today we planned a free day for ourselves. We don’t go even to the church where Caroline really wants to take us. Here are real parties at the churches at evenings. Last night when we came home, we heard a loud music and crazy party noises ahead the road, and soon we found out that it came from church. Tomorrow we should start working. Few of us go to some school to teach children. That means that those people will live separately. One should be Mariann. Maybe I can get to be another. Although I would certainly miss the company (Yeah, in weekends we could come back to house, but all the workdays we would live there) and Eldoret town. Then again I have become to like Mariann a lot.. of course.. as she is natural redhead, with freckles, very good body and the personality that I like (also little bit like me). So if she would go, I would also miss her. Yet it would be better if I would not fall in love with her completely, as she has a boyfriend in Estonia, and this would make our life here much more complicated. Well, we’ll see, anyway it is good to talk with her and in the case I get depressed, lonely or homesick, it would be good to get support from her. Helen and Carlos seem to have also some feelings or something.

I have so much to write. All the time I remember some new details.. absolutely random ones. For example there grows a great fern tree in our yard, pink flowers on the hedges. At the night, moon creates almost as well contrasted shadows to the people as the streetlamps in town streets, but still town is filled with lights and colours. A kid running around in the house is very good for mood and doesn’t ever let us to feel bored. Africa is filled with sounds (both natural and those created by human civilization), smells and feelings. Nothing happens stoically. When you meet someone, when you leave him/her and sometimes even in the talk, there is handshaking and/or casual touching. All the time they are smiling and giving best wishes. Even if you don’t give coins to the street kids, most of them would like to greet a white person.. and they remind friendly. All the time people rise thumbs to ask if we are ok, and of course they await the similar gesture back.

By the way, I have shaked the hands with really dirty kiddos, drinked the water from the tab, but at least so far I haven’t got any sickness. In contrary, for example Helen, who after every handshake with any street kid rubs the anticeptic to her hands, and haven’t drinked anything except the bottle water, has a diarrhea today.

When I post it, I have actually already many, many chapters written on paper, but I really can’t type everything to computer at once. Also I have come to think about the language thing, as it is really hard to write it in two languages. So, until the next post!

KEENIA, SIIN MA OLEN!(tõlge eesti keelde)

Kirjutatud kolmandal päeval Keenias:

NB: mõned asjad on vahepeal kõvasti muutunud võrreldes ajaga, kui ma selle postituse kirjutasin.

Minu esimesed lennud. Väga lahe! Peab ütlema, et mul tekkis ülim kahjutunne, et ma lennukooli ei saanud õppima minna. Lennuki kiirendus ja õhkutõus on lahedad ja pööramine veelgi erilisem. Samas oli rõhuerinevus ilmselt see, mis mu kõhu veel hullemini keerama pani. Juba mõned päevad oli mu kõht valutanud, nüüd sain lõpuks aru, et põhjuseks on tõsine kõhukinnisus. Gaasid tekitasid probleeme, pressisid kõvasti peale, aga välja eriti ei tahtnud tulla. Ok, nüüd on olemine juba päris hea. Esimesed kaks lendu muidu sakkisid (välja arvatud siis lennu mõnud ise), sest süüa tasuta ei saanud ja lennukis polnud eriti midagi teha. Samas juba lennul Londonisse, kui maanduma hakkasime, tuli esimene ühest suust WOW moment. Ilm oli pilves ja nii me kõik ootasime kannatamatult akende juures, et midagi näha ja siis järsku jõudsimegi läbi pilvekihi ning nägime kogu seda tuledemerd.

Kohe kui maandusime oli aknast näha järgmist maanduvat lennukit ja eemal veel üht. Heathrow on ikka tõesti tiheda lennuliiklusega. Lennujaam seest oli ka kirev ja täis rahvast, mitte nii nagu Stockholm-Arlanda. Lennuk Nairobisse oli suurem ja loomulikult saime selles lõpuks ka süüa. Samuti sai seal ka igal ajal midagi juua võtta. Ma hakkasin uuesti cola fänniks. Keenias on ka limonaadid ja cola joogid väga levinud. Aeg läks kiiresti ja ajavahe aitas sellele muidugi kaasa. Hommik tuli varsti kätte ilma, et oleksin üldse maganud. Vaated lennukist olid kõrbele. Maandudes Nairobis aga nägime, et kõik kohad on rohelust täis. Rohi, me nii igatsesime su järele.. ja palmid.. mitmed erinevad palmid. Lennujaama astudes tundsin kohe meeletut, sel hetkel üpris väljakannatamatut kuumust. Ajapikku oleme sellega juba ära harjunud. Vahel lööb väsimuse peale, aga muidu on täitsa meeldiv. Esimene päris Aafrikalik kultuurikogemus sai ka osaks juba lennujaamas – läksin wc-sse ja seal pesi üks mees kraanikausis jalgu. Täna muide Love (Rootsist ja üldsegi mitte tüdruk; häälda Luuve) küsis minult, et kas ta võib oma jalgu kraanikausis pesta (sest me oleme ühes toas), et ega see mind ei sega/tundu imelik. Siis ma ütlesin: „No problem, see on ju Aafrika.“ Siin on suht kõik no probleem, just nagu ma arvasin.

Esimene päev kulus peaasjalikult Nairobist Eldoretti sõiduks. Sõitsime väikebussiga, kõik me kümme, meie pagas, Wesley ja juht. Väga kitsas, palav ja ometi väga lahe oli. Nüüdseks oleme ka sellise sõitmisega harjunud. Pidevalt on liiklusvahendid rahvast täis topitud. Ah jaa, kõik pidevalt naeravad ja naeratavad ning see on nakkav. Kogu aeg on positiivsed tunded ning loomulik, vaba olemine. Mida sa veel tahad? Mõnele meist on veidi häiriv, et me pideva tähelepanu all oleme, aga ma teadsin, et see nii hakkab olema ning isegi võib öelda, et mulle mingil imelikul moel see meeldib. Teate mind küll!

Enne Eldoretti peatusime Rift Valley’s. Seal oli küll nõme kuidas müügimehed igasugu mõttetut pudi üritasid pähe määrida ning muidu oma laste mündikogusse välisraha lunisid. Nüüd Eldoretis muidugi jooksevad ka kerjavad lapsed aegajalt järel (või noh vahel ka isegi täiskasvanud mehed (kujutage ette kui Eestis kerjus pidevalt järgi jookseks ega lõpetaks mangumist),aga meile õpetati, et lihtsalt ei tohi neist välja teha või siis peab ütlema, et münte pole.

Sõidul Eldi nägime juba väga palju erinevat Keeniat – loodust ja eluviise. Nägime lugematult sebrasid. Neid jalutab madalamal, soojemal alal sama palju ilmselt ringi kui lehmasid. Ei lehmasid on ilmselt siiski veidi rohkem. Ühe korra nägime ka ahvide perekonda. Mäestiku alale jõudes said kaktused ja palmid haruldaseks, asendudes erinevate leht ja okaspuudega. Tundus isegi, et täiesti harilikke mände oli. Laiaharalised lehtpuud (need, mis on Aafrika üheks tuntumaks sümboliks, on siiski ka siin. Loomulikult on kõikjal ka punase mulla paljandid.

Esimesel õhtul me põhimõtteliselt majast välja ei läinudki. Algul oli maja täiesti tühi, aga juba enne õhtut tõid töömehed meile voodid, laua, toolid. Saime ka söömise ja söögi tegemise vahendid. Ah ei, tegelikult ei olnud maja päris tühi. Kapid olid olemas ja köögikapis oli väike gaasipliit. Esimesel õhtul tegid leedu poisid süüa, nüüd on meil aga Caroline, kes on põhimõtteliselt igasuguste majapidamistööde juures abiks ning enamused söögikorrad toitu valmistab (küll jah.. õhtusöögi tegemisel on tavaliselt üks-kaks meist abiks). Kõht sai täis ja sel ööl sai lõpuks korralikult magada. Ja mis kõige veidram, mu ööpäev sai ka hetkega korda. Ok, kuna aegajalt on meil praegu õhtuti peod (tegelikult on meil järjest siin kahe vabatahtliku ja ühe kohaliku mentori sünnipäevad), seega magama võime saada alles ühe või kahe paiku, aga tõesti, hommikul ärkan täiesti ilma äratuseta seitsme-kaheksa ajal.

Teine päev algas rahuliku murulvedelemisega, milles me kohalike eeskujul varsti ilmselt meistriks saame. Natuke joonistasime ja kirjutasime. Harjutasime Love’ga breaktantsu ning möllasime Kenzie’ga (Caroline’ pisikese tütrega). Kõik lennukid, kukerpallitamised, erinevate esemete loopimised ja muidu ringi jooksmised sai ära tehtud ja väsimatul plikal ei saanud kuidagi isu täis. Vaid ühe päevaga võitsime nii väga vaikse ja tagasihoidliku ema kui ka muidu energilise, aga ilmselt siiski võõraste suhtes väheke umbuskliku tüdruku usalduse. Meie omad ütlesid, et Caroline muutus isegi liiga avatuks, rääkides väga palju isiklikku kohe korraga välja.

Teise päeva õhtul otsustasime Marianni ja Justisega linna minna hoolimata, et kohe, kohe pimedaks läheb. Vot see oli lahe. Öine linn on kaks korda huvitavam kui päevane. Algul läksime ühte uhkemasse pubisse, kus rikkamad kohalikud õhtut veedavad. Alguseks see sobis, sest oli mõnus ennast natuke mugavamalt tunda kui muidu. Aga hinnad olid kõrged (siiski mitte Eesti ega Euroopa mõistes) ja seal ei saanud just eriti õiget Aafrika tunnet sisse. Seepärast läksime varsti ühte tavapärasemasse pisikeses majadevahelises käigus olevasse piljardipubisse. Seal oli elav muusika ja rahvas tantsis ikka täiega. Meie saime ka kohe tähelepanu keskmeks. Igaüks tahtis meiega tutvuda ja midagi küsida või rääkida. Me läksime baarileti juurde, mis oli algul kohalike poolt blokeeritud, aga kohe tuli ruumi tagant otsast üks tüüp, kes tõmbas rahvast eest ära, öeldes midagi a’la: „Laske Wazungu ostma“. Wazungu on suahiili keeles valged inimesed ja seda öeldakse meile pidevalt.. see ei ole halva tähendusega. Saime õlled ja läksime istusime lauda ühe kohaliku kõrvale. Rääkisime mõnda aega temaga, aga aja edenedes hakkas aina enam huvilisi meie ümber kogunema. Baari turvamehed ajasid osa neist eemale, aga lõpuks muutus siiski asi ka ebameeldivaks. Siiski oleme oma otsusega sinna minna väga rahul ning ilmselt läheme ka tagasi. Küll varsti meiega ära harjutakse.

Õhtul ehtis Helen mind oma ehetega ja sõime vanaema tehtud kaerahelbe küpsiseid, mille ma kaasa võtsin ning rääkisime oma esmastest muljetest.

Täna on siis kolmas päev. Joshua näitas meile linnas olulisi kohti. Lõunal käisime Chick Innis söömas, kus mina ja Mariann proovisime üht kohalikku maisijahust rahvustoitu – Ugalit kanaga. Ugali ise on suhteliselt maitsetu pudru, aga seda kastetakse kanakastmesse ja pressitakse sibulate ning porganditega salatisse. Selle söömine toimub traditsionaalselt kätega, mis on tegelikult lahe. Ugali mulle väga tegelikult ei maitsenud ja kana on siin alati väga veidralt lõigatud nii, et liha on kontide vahelt ülikeeruline kätte saada. Ah jaa.. kui me linnas ringi liikusime, siis üks pisike poiss hakkas meile järgi käima. Algul kerjas meilt raha, aga nähes, et seda ei saa, vantsis meiega pool päeva ikkagi kaasas kuni sai lõpuks koos meiega süüa. Algul tundus veidi ebameeldiv, et ta kõikjale meile järgnes, aga lõpuks hakkas täitsa kahju temast. Ja ilma temata oleksin ma ka võib-olla oma kaabu restosse unustanud. Muide esimene asi mida Wesley, meie peamine kohalik koordineerija mulle ütles, kui ta mind lennujaamas nägi, et väga hea kaabu, kaitseb mind väga hästi päikese eest.Ühel Rootsi neiul hakkaski juba esimesel päeval just ilmselt päikesepistest ja kuumusest paha.

Okey aga jätkame meie tänase päevaga Eldis. Pärast sööki ootasime paari tüüpi autodega, et minna rugby võistlust vaatama. Ootamise ajal üritas üks mees Love’le oma tütart naiseks sebida. Väga naljakas oli. Nojah, tüdrukud on pidevalt mustade meeste huvi all, ning aegajalt üritatakse nendega telefoninumbreid vahetada. Nonii, tüübid autodega jõudsid kohale. Kõige hip-hopimad poisid linnas. Meie auto jäi teepeal seisma. Autojuhile tundus kusjuures rohkem probleemiks olevat, et muusika vait jäi. Varsti hõikas ta teeäärest mehed autot lükkama, sest wazungu loomulikult ei peaks ju autot nügima. Staadionil oli ka kamp mingeid naljakaid hip-hop tüüpe, kes pidevalt kõige üle nalja tegid. Joshua ütles, et kõik hullult tahavad meie tähelepanu ja meiega rääkida või mida iganes teha. See on kusjuures nii seepärast, et pärast 2008. aasta rahutusi ei tule siia kanti eriti valgeid. Seega meie siia saabumine on suht erakordne sündmus – kuigi siin on mõned valged üliõpilased Ameerikast ja Inglismaalt, sportlased treenimas ja mõned valged ehituse peal, siis meie tulek on siiski osalt nagu märgiks, et Eurooplased julgevad uuesti siia tulla. Nende enne mainitud tüüpidega loopisime pärast ka ise palli ja sai ka põhimõtteliselt kokku lepitud, et teeme millalgi jalgpalli matši.

Koju sõitsime pisikese kastiga autos, mis tähendas, et osa, kaasa arvatud mina, sõitsime kastis. See on siin väga tavapärane. Mulle väga meeldis. Senistel sõitudel olin alati kuskil teiste vahel olnud ja seepärast ei ole saanud autost pilte teha. Samuti on aeg ajalt probleeme olnud tänavatel kõndides piltide tegemisega, sest mitte kõigile ei meeldi, kui valge neid pildile jäädvustab. See päev sain päris häid pilte, aga hilisema lisana tekstile peab ütlema, et head pildid küll, aga kuhugile üles panna neid ikka ei saa. Lugege täpsemalt järgmisest postitusest.

Õhtul oli meil siis sünnipäevade pidu. Küünlad, viiruk, rumm, kitarr ja meie oma laulud. Igati lahe oli.

Üldiselt on hakanud mulle siin üha enam meeldima. Tunnen ennast väga koduselt. Rohkemgi kui Eestis. Hommikuse duššiga on veel probleeme ja toiduga pole harjunud, aga need on väikesed probleemid, mis aja jooksul ka lahenduse leiavad. Muidu on aga rohkemgi kui tahta võiks. Muide Caroline tegi õhtuks samuti Ugalit kanaga (sest see ongi kõige tavalisem toit siin). Algul võtsin päevase kogemuse tõttu vähe, aga tuli välja, et ka maitsetut asja annab paremini teha. Lõpuks võtsin kolm korda juurde. Kõht oli ka tühi muidugi.

Nüüd kui seda peatükki lõpetan, on neljanda päeva hommik. Ärkasin enne kui keegi teine. Varsti peaks mõningatega meist jooksma minema – hakkame siin korralikult trenni tegema. Täna plaanisime endale vabapäeva. Isegi kirikusse, kuhu meid väga viia tahetakse, seekord ei lähe. Muide siin on kirikutes täiesti otseses mõttes peod. Eelmisel õhtul kui koju tulime, kuulsime valju muusikat ja hullu peomelu, aga lõpuks avastasime, et see tuli kirikust. Homme peaksime siis tööle hakkama. Paar tükki meist läheb kuhugile eemale kooli õpetama. Üks peaks Mariann olema, ehk saan ennast teiseks sokutada. Kuigi ma igatseksin seltskonda (jah, nädalavahetustel saab muidugi majja tagasi, aga nädala sees elaksime seal) ja Eldoreti linna. Teisalt on mulle Mariann meeldima hakanud. Loomulikult.. sest ta on punapea, tedretähnidega, väga hea kehavormiga ja igati mulle meeldiva ja osalt minuga sarnase iseloomuga ja kui läheks tema, hakkaksin ka temast puudust tundma. Ometi oleks vast parem kui ma temasse päris ära ei armuks, sest temal on Eestis oma noormees ning see muudaks meie elu siingi keerulisemaks. Eks näis, igal juhul on hea temaga suhelda ja juhul kui millalgi üksildus või masendus peale tikub, siis temale toetuda. Heleni ja Carlose vahel tundub ka midagi tekkivat ning Helenile tundub vist, et ma olen armukade, aga tegelikult ma vahel lihtsalt nii-öelda kiusan neid.

Hullult palju oleks kirjutada. Kogu aeg tuleb mingeid uusi detaile meelde. Täiesti juhuslikke. Näiteks, et meil kasvab õues suur sõnajalapuu ja, et Keenias on kõikjal lehmad: tänavatel (ok.. jah mitte kesklinnas nagu see on Indias, aga siiski), maisipõllulapikestel jne. Roosad lilled hekkidel. Kuu tekitab öösel peaaegu sama häid kontrastseid varjusid nagu linnas lambipostid, aga linn on siiski valgust ja värve täis. Ringi trallitav laps majas on väga hea tujutõstja ja ei lase kunagi igavust tunda. Aafrika on täis helisid (nii looduse kui a inimtsivilisatsiooni tekitatuid), lõhnasid ja Aafrika on ka täis tundeid. Mitte ükski suhtlus ei toimu stoiliselt. Avalikus kohas küll vist ei ole kombeks emmata, aga vähemalt inimest kohates, temast lahkudes ja mõnikord ka jutu sees surutakse kätt, naeratatakse ning antakse edasi häid soove. Isegi kui sa tänavalastele raha ei anna, on võimalik, et nad tahavad sind teretada ja endiselt jäävad nad sõbralikeks. Pidevalt tõstetakse pöidlaid küsimaks, kas kõik on hästi ja oodatakse loomulikult samasugust žesti vastu.

Muide ma olen siin surunud üpris räpaste poisikeste kätt, joonud kraanivett, aga vähemalt seni pole midagi juhtunud. Vastupidiselt näiteks Helen, kes pärast iga veidi kahtlasema inimese käepigistust desinfitseerivat vedelikku kätele peale hõõrub, ega pole peale pudelivee muud joonud, on tänaseks kõhulahtisuse saanud.

Kui ma selle postitan, on mul tegelikult ka juba järgmine ja ülejärgmine postitus paberil kirjas, aga ma ei jõua kõike korraga arvutisse toksida. Samuti olen ma hakanud kahtlema oma idees kahes keeles kirjutada, kuna see on tõsiselt suure aja ja energia kuluga. Seega järgmise postituseni!

So long.. and thanks for all the fish!

So.. only three days remaining on planet Estonia. As you can see from the picture above (which you can by the way surprisingly click for a full view), I am not going to India, as I have so much wrote in here. But yeah, that's what my plans all are like.. chaotical, changing and therefore surprising. Yet, I don't find that to be bad thing. Moreover, my plans for that India trip are not cancelled but merely delayed. I am only sad that I can't yet visit Austria.. or even London where we must switch the plane.

To Kenya I go to voluntary service.. for half a year. The thing was coordinated by NGO Continuous Action (Estonia) and funded by European Voluntary Service project DOORS. Those of you who already know me, are possibly surprised that I don't go there as a teacher nor does my 'work' have anything to do with the art, but our host organisation is KESOFO (Kenya Community Sports Foundation) and we as I understand will mostly do with football/soccer. Or actually, what surprise even this is.. even in this blog I have already somewhat shown myself as a soccer fanatic too. Also my former painting teacher said that it doesn't matter at all in what business I go there, and that this experience will certainly give me much good. Also shouldn't be much of a surprise my destination, as even before my fancy for Japan and India, I was highly interested of Africa and affected by what I knew of this amazing continent and cultures there. Of course I still take my colours, brushes and pencils with me and I hope that I have some will and time to use these. Probably I also upload much more photos to internet than I have ever did (unless thems poor people there will thief I man camera soon as I take it out). Where I upload photos, I don't know yet, but I will notify or even give links here in the blog too. For bad resizing I doubt that I put these here.

Anyway, we have good conditions there and although it would be better to make judgements not until we are already arrived or even when back in home, then again, as I don't have anything in Estonia (wait.. I still have very important friends.. but surely you understand what I meant), I surely see it as progress and I'm already now very pleased. We have best health insurance, paid food.. possibly we even doesn't have to prepare it by ourselves, living in the rented house in the elite region of the city and 60 euros pocket money (that already by itself is more than I earn in Estonia right now at these uncertain times). Not that I'd wait to live with the full service but it is still good to have some security. Oh.. and of course I also have a good company. Together with me there will be 10 volunteers.. me, three very pretty and nice, and in every other way cool Estonian girls, three girls from Sweden (whom we possibly meet already in Stockholm/Arlanda airport, where we also switch the planes), two guys from Lithuania (I don't know.. maybe they too fly to Sweden first), and one guy from Spain. Naturally I haven't met all af them, but I am sure I will enjoy this company. There was supposed to be two Italian girls too, but as it seems, they have sadly now renounced their places.

What else? Oh yeah.. this map up there.. on it seems like we would end up in Nairobi, but this is only flights marked there. Actually from Nairobi we make a car ride to Eldoret, that will be our main station (that is some 200-300 klicks I think).. so, basically a proper safari right away. About Eldoret I will write more when already there, when I can compare first impressions with the knowledge I have acquired so far.

Bad is that now.. few days before liftoff I naturally got sick. Damn bugger! But I hope that I will heal quickly, as I have only low temperature. Anyway next post from me will come when I have arrived and settled there. Until that.. Kwaheri!

EDIT: it seems now that I will have to leave my colours and brushes home, as right now I fight to fit everything to the bag and also I must watch that the overall weigth wouldn't get over 20 kg. Too bad. And now we have informed that we should meet all other volunteers in London-Heathrow Airport.

Nägemist.. ja tänud kalade eest! (tõlge eesti keelde 18.01.2010)

Niisiis.. nüüd juba vaid kaks päeva veel planeet Estonia pinnal. Nagu ülalolevalt pildilt (mida muide üllatavalt isegi suuremalt saab näha, kui peale vajutada) näha võite, ei lähegi ma Indiasse, nagu ma siin korduvalt kirjutanud olen. Aga jah, sellised mu plaanid ongi.. kaootilised, muutuvad ja seega ka üllatavad. Ometi ei leia ma, et see kuidagi halb oleks. Pealegi India reis ei jää mul kindlasti ära vaid kõigest lükkub teadmata ajani edasi. Kahju on mul vaid sellest, et ma ikka veel ei saa Austriat külastada ega isegi mitte Londonile, kus me lendu vahetame, pilku heita.

Keeniasse lähen ma vabatahtlikuks.. pooleks aastaks. Asi on koordineeritud MTÜ Continuous Action (Estonia) ja rahastatud Euroopa Vabatahtliku Teenistuse projekti DOORS raames. Need, kes mind juba teavad - tunnevad, võivad olla veidi üllatunud, et ma ei lähegi sinna õpetajaks ega ole mu tegevus kuidagi ka seotud kunstiga. Vastuvõttev organisatsioon on hoopis KESOFO (Kenya Community Sports Foundation) ja nagu ma seni olen aru saanud, on suur osa meie tegevusest ühel või teisel viisil seotud jalgpalliga. Või tegelikult, mis eriline üllatus seegi on, olen ma ju siin samas blogiski ilmselt jätnud endast mulje kui väikestviisi jalgpalli fanaatikust. Ka mu endine maali õppejõud ütles, et pole tegelikult üldse oluline mis ma seal tegema hakkan, igaljuhul tuleb see kogemus mulle väga kasuks. Samuti ei peaks olema üllatuseks mu sihtkoht, sest tegelikult juba enne mu huvi ja igatsust Jaapani ning India vastu, olin ma ülimalt huvitunud Aafrikast ja mõjutatud kõigest mida ma sellest uskumatust mandrist ja seal asuvatest kultuuridest teadsin. Ma küll inglise keelses variandis ütlesin algul, et võtan ka värvid kaasa, et äkki leidub tahet ja aega mõne maali tegemiseks, aga nüüd asju pakkides pidin kahjuks siiski otsustama need maha jätta. Seega jäävad ainult joonistused ja fotod, aga ilmselt tuleb neidki paras hulk. Kuhu ma fotosid hakkan üles viskama, seda ma veel ei tea, aga eks ma siis teatan või annan isegi lingi õigesse kohta. Igaljuhul kuna siin on piltide suurusega tõeline jama, siis vaevalt selleks fotode kohaks blogi saab.

Seal (noh seal.. kohapeal) on meil väga head tingimused ja kuigi hinnanguid oleks õigem anda kui juba kohal oleme või hoopis siis kui kodus tagasi, siis ikkagi, kuna mul tegelikult Eestis mitte midagi ei ole (oot, oot.. väga olulised sõbrad siiski on.. aga saate aru küll mida ma mõtlesin), siis võib seda lugeda progressiks ja mina olen igaljuhul juba praegult väga rahul. Meil on parim tervisekindlustus, meie söögi eest on makstud ning me ei pea seda vist isegi ise valmistama, elamine on spetsiaalselt meile renditud majas eliitrajoonis ja pealegi saame me 60 euri taskuraha kuu kohta (mida juba iseenesest on rohkem kui mu ebastabiilne sissetulek kodus praegusel raskel ajal). Mitte, et ma ootaks täisteenindusega elu, aga lihtsalt on hea, kui saab milleski kindel olla. Ja muidugi on mul hea seltskond. Koos minuga on kokku 10 vabatahtlikku,.. et siis mina, kolm väga kena, toredat ja muidu igatepidi heade sõnadega iseloomustatavat neidu Eestist, kolm tüdrukut Rootsist, kaks noormeest Leedust ja üks Hispaaniast. Nüüd on meile siis teada antud, et teistega peaksime kohtuma London-Heathrow lennujaamas. Ise lootsin, et vähemalt Rootsi tüdrukud tulevad juba sama lennuga Stockholmist, sest seal me vahetame samuti lennukit. Seega kõiki neist pole ma veel kohanud, aga igaljuhul usun, et ma naudin nende kõikidega koos tööd teha, see pool aastat elada ja seigelda. Algul pidi meiega tulema ka kaks itaallannat, aga kahjuks nagu nüüd viimase info põhjal aru võib saada, on nemad oma kohad ära öelnud.

Mis siis veel? Ah jaa, sellelt ülalolevalt kaardilt võib jääda mulje, et me jõuame Nairoobisse ja ongi kõik, aga tegelikult on sellel kujutatud vaid lennureisid. Nairoobist tuleb meil kohe edasi umbes kahe-kolmesaja kildine autosõit Eldoret'i, millest saab meie põhiline keskus. Ehk siis kohe paras safari. Eldoretist kirjutan aga siis kui me juba seal oleme, et saaks esimesi muljeid võrrelda sellega, mida seni välja nuhkinud olen.

Halb uudis on see, et nüüd suutsin ma veel haigeks jääda, aga kuna eriti hulluks see haigus ei läinudki ja täna olen juba üpris ok, siis ei peata mind küll enam miski minemast. Seks ajaks kui lendamiseks läheb, on loodetavasti ka nohu kadunud. Igaljuhul.. järgmine postitus juba Keeniast kui olen end sisse seadnud. Seniks.. Kwaheri!

Remember, remember the 2009 november

Some things we do are not worthy of even our own time, yet some things are so important that we would need time and power of others too.

Like I said in the last post, I got for a change to do a day of real job. Other than that I have lately only made few ordered paintings, book illustrations for Kudrun and other such things.

So Taavi (or Dave, however you would like) to Lasnamäe Childrens Daycare Center to carry out the sculpture workshop. Taavi has worked there from the end of summer, and well, Taavi thinks I'm kind of best at sculpture. Also in this center other teachers introduced me like well-known professional sculptor. It was little bit funny.

Basically this Childrens Daycare Center is place where kids from problematic families (for example from poorer families, or from those ones where parents are not the best rolemodels yet not bad enough to take kids away from them) are directed by psychologists and/or social workers. No this is not the place like orphanage where children live. It's just that after school they can come there to play with others, take part of different workshops and things. There they can also get a proper hot meal and if needed they get help with their schoolwork. Also unlike ordinary youth centers, here every kid has a folder and they are monitored and analyzed. Pretty good thing.. I saw how some of these kids had some problems (low self esteem or critically changing moods that often went to melancholy or one boy was really closed and like in his own world somewhere) that without proper attention could end with very bad consequences or at least with children growing up pretty much as some loser and going after their parents footsteps (probably not good in most of these cases).

So we did this day all kinds of animals and fantasy creatures from the clay. We tried to make them to turn more attention and care for their works, as mostly kids just take a piece of clay , then other, then other and put these all together.. and soon they say: "Look I have a kitty done". And you can't really say nothing. Not that it isn't completed. Neither that it really doesn't look like a proper kitten. Of course some still did that but by well explaining how sculptures are actually done, telling the faults that can not be done or their animals can not be burned in the owen, and of course I also took couple of my own works so they can be well inspired to take it seriously and make something beautiful. Though, Taavi said that they were pretty well interested, and yes, some (especially some boys) took time to peacefully make their visions true. Many of them finally had nice and well complex figurines.

Taavi gave me a little money too, and certainly it is good for me, but I think I would have went there even without payment. In addition I was given a box of really good Estonian candies, of what of course I gave some half to the children, as I just can't hold such happiness to myself. Only thing for what I felt bad was that unfortunately I couldn't speak with Russians without translation of others (and there almost half of the kids were Russians). Although these kids had problems either at home or in school, they were most warm-hearted, kind and tolerant.

It was fun and after that I went to visit Liisi that further made my mood better. She made me pancakes and tea ;)

Writing this took really long time, as little feedback had lowered my inspiration to write here.. hint, hint.. write me lots of stuff here! And of course, lately I have got big plans and therefore I have been busy to make these true. Busy have I been also because I must pretty quickly finish the illustrations for this book. Only three more to do. So, all for this time. I don't know if I write this political thing I too promised last time.. but why not.. it isn't some serious political argumentation, nor ordinary whining, but a funny page in the style of what to do if...

So I hope to get lots of feedback, if anyone is reading this at all. See ya!

Tarbatu (Tartu) and back

A week ago or so, Tartu had autumn days - a week full of different stuff, entertaining, educational, useful, etc. Who doesn't remember, then Tartu is this biggest small city in Estonia.. pretty nice place. In that time there was also party named Maailmamustrid (Patterns of the World), where Kudrun's boyfriend Martin is DJ. Maailmamustrid is actually the series of parties for people interested of different cultures of the world. This time also Bombillas, a gifted reggae and dub band made a gig there. Martin even tried to get me to play music there (I have not probably wrote here, but I'm beginner DJ too), but this time I didn't dare yet.. but perhaps in a next one or one after that. Because Kudrun and Martin have a tiny little babyboy now, Kudrun sadly couldn't come to the party. She said that she herself too would like some time for her own and some recreation, but whatcha gonna do. And I would be happy to dance with her. Now I danced alone. Just didn't seem so good idea to ask someone random to dance at Tartu. For some reason so many of the girls seemed to be somewhat reserved in their nature. But maybe this was only my paranoia.

Actually, now I got too far ahead with the story. Rewind selecta! I start again with how I hitchhiked to Tartu. Weather is already cold, not at all perfect for hitching a ride. I had gloves on hands but still. On the Tartu highway I exchanged some words with a teenage girl who tried to get the ride to Viljandi.. and soon, gone she was, and can't say that it took me long either. A nice, intelligent looking and quite young woman, who had much to talk with me about theater and art, picked me up. Straight ride to Tartu.. perfect.

As soon as I got to Tartu, I went to Gerli's place. Now she lives in a new place, and as I still don't know Tartu entirely, I thought it would be pretty hard to find it, but I accidentally stumbled to the right place. This is my kind of luck. With Gerli and her flatmate (about whom I long ago suspected that he is now Gerli's boyfriend. Now it's certain. They seem to fit well, but still it made me feel somewhat uncomfortable to stay there) we watched one really beautiful (both in visual and by story) anime "5 centimeters per second" (the average speed of the falling cherryblossom), that in many ways almost as would have talked about me. Well not the main plot entirely, but still, many scenes and storylines reminded me things. After that Gerli had to go to library to do some assignment for university, and I went to check out Kudrun's littleguy.

Kaspar (the name of their son) sleeped in absolute peace, but Martin of course had to demonstarte him to me, and waked him up just like that. Kaspar was hasty to get to this world, so he was born a month ahead in normal time. By the way, sometime I and him, we must speak about that, as because of him I could not see Kudrun with big belly ;) So, at the time of my visit he really should had right time for birth, and I don't know if just my memory doesn't serve me well, or was he really smallest baby I have seen. At least I don't remember that I had seen my sisters as so small and with such look that couldn't yet grasp the surroundings. Kudrun said that this is same with every baby, so it is probably just because I don't remember things that I saw last time over eightteen years ago. And, his skin was yellowish that was supposed to be usual for pretime babies. But actually I think that Kaspar was really cute and beautiful baby. I even got to hold him and Kudrun then wanted to take photos of us. When just sitting in my lap he was peacful, but when Kudrun wanted to take pictures, Kaspar started to cry.. so in photos we are not very pretty. I don't know, Kudrun for some reason said to me that I have a good effect to distracted moms, animals and little children. First one is probably true, as who could resist my charm :) and also the second came true, as when we watched this animation, Gerli's cat find a good place on my tummy, put his head under my jacket and had a good nap. But at least for me it seemed that Kaspar was not so thrilled about extra attention.

After some time I went back to Gerli's place where we had some wine before going to the party. Party itself was really great, but I felt as stranger there. At first I thought that probably I like DJ played things more, but actually Bombillas surprised me more than I believed. They created good energy. But after that Gerli and that guy (yeah.. like I would remember his name) went to home.. and after an hour or so I followed. After all, I was pretty tired this day, and because the problems with sleeping this night too (stranger place and all.. not to mention the refridgerator that periodically loudly buzzed), the next day wasn't much better. At least then I was equal companion for Kudrun who had not had good sleep for long too.

Next day we walked outside. Kaspar sleeped well in the pushcart. We visited the exhibition of my former graphics teacher. And suddenly I got used to with Tartu.. suddenly I felt that I like there, although mostly I have prefered more bigger and more energetic Tallinn. Kudrun even showed me one house and said that it would be so cool if I'd live there. And yes.. sometimes I too think that it would be perfect to live in Tartu. I have some friends there whom I love. But then again, I have such people in Tallinn too. So I'm split to love both Tallinn and Tartu. I wonder what happens when I go to travelling around the world.. leaving constantly behind people I have grown to love.. yet already now, I feel like I have no one and right home, but only option is to make the entire world my home and my people.

For a little while we went again to Kudrun's and Martin's and Kaspar's place.. so that I could get some warmth before going back to Tallinn. I get to try out Martin's DJ console and discplayers, and Kudrun got herself private party. It was really hard to leave, although I was already waited in Tallinn. I was invited to Liisi's housewarming party, and of course I went there even though I craved for shower, own home food and own bed.

Yeah, not only was hard to leave my dear friends, even weather was not so good for travelling anymore. As soon as I got out, a light rain started. When last day even sun and patches of blue sky were ocacsionally seen and cold was not too bad, then now suddenly such a bad weather. Perhaps I'm one of those whose moods cause the weather changes :p On the border of Tartu I united with another hitchhiker and luckily again pretty soon we got a ride. Yet this time we weren't so lucky to get straight to Tallinn, and as on the road rain got more and more harder, we were really worried. But of course for brave adventurers like we are, weather had even more surprises for us. Soon rain turned to heavy snowfall, and all the land was quickly covered with white carpet. I had worried that soon it is too dark to hitch, but landscape had suddenly turned to absolute pure white. And although it was beautiful, it was much colder now than just hour or so ago. And of course, heavy snowfall made visibility harder for drivers, so more dangerous for us.. and more harder to get a ride too. Then I called to Liisi, to say that probably I will be late, and to ask how is the weather in Tallinn. She said that in Tallinn it rains a little bit, for what I answered that it is relatively good then. Yet over our hopes we got another ride to Tallinn I guess in less than 15 minuts. Again very nice young women with whom it was interesting to talk about various things. On the half way from there to Tallinn it again started to rain and when we finally arrived at Tallinn, normal rain had already turned to weaker kind of storm with heavy rainfall and strong wind, both really cold. This lady was so kind and caring that she offered to take us both to where we needed to go, but we felt that this would be already too great comfort. So we decided as a compromise that she drives to one location where we both have not a very long way to go. Though I'm sure this woman doesn't find this writing here I am really grateful to her. And actually I'd use this possibility to thank here everyone who gives a ride to hitchhikers.

Five minuts going through the violent weather felt like much longer, but at least when I got to Liisi's new appartment, there were warm rooms, warm hearts of people and hot pancakes with tea greeting me. I wouldn't write much about that night and the next day, just as it was normal appartment sitting, and simple nice time there. One thing though. I got acquinted with one guy from Greece, and if I get with my things so far that I can go to my trip to India, then maybe I do another "little" excursion through Greece too. For a fact Greece is pretty much the most inviting Mediterranean country for me.. or at least one of these most inviting. Or maybe I would do just a Greece trip first.. of course through Austria. But then again, when already in Greece.. then why not to go straight to India.. and when in India, why not to go further.. to Thailand, to Japan.. why ever stop?

One more thing about the baby theme. Another of my really early friend, Piia is visiting Estonia with her little daughter. For a two years at least I had not seen her, and of course never seen a little Lola. So I visited them too today. Piia was great as always, and Lola was very lively nine month old girl. And I think we got along pretty well. So maybe Kudrun was right after all.. Kaspar just has to grow a little and get used to with the world and being alive. Then we can start learning how to kick a ball and do some other fun things :D

Tomorrow or some day soon I should write how yesterday I did a little bit work for a change.. with kids of course. Or can I say it was work just because I got paid for it.. as it actually was also pure fun, and the mission for me. And I should write a little about the politics in Estonia too.. as it is hot theme right now.

Click on the image for full size. Love and strength to you all!