you can't get fat off of fruit

that's the great news 'cuz i've been eating/drinking a TON of it! you can however lie around on the beaches of Lamu and get covered in red bug bites from the beach flies (jill has a picture of my back and arms that for the sake of not giving my grandparents additional worries we won't put up). you can also get a hold of some bad fruit or fish or water or a number of almost anything and manage to survive the mandatory "traveller's toilet" that kept us from eating anything, even fruit for two days.
lamu was paradise--as such that's why there hasn't been a blog from it. we're back in nairobi though waiting for karla and betty to get in and acclimated to the time change. also, joyce and the girls are coming into the city to meet the oldest boy, max, who is on break from boarding school so we'll be spending as much time with the family as possible!
this last journey was such a stark contrast from where we came from. the same amazing african spirit and hospitality followed us and we managed to get from place to place just as uncomplicated as possible, but the comparison might just end there. after a 14 hour bus ride from nairobi to mombasa and mombasa to lamu we arrived to be rushed off the boat and into the house we would be living in for the next week. an incredible three (or four) level house with a veranda overlooking the ocean, kitchen, dining room, living room, more beds and rooms than we had possible need for--we got for an amazing price at about 830 Ksh a night per person (about $10 US) and a "houseboy", Douty. we took advantage of having the kitchen and our newly learned african cousine cooking and made many of our dinners at home with some guests.
after a few disconcerning moments, jill found her long-loved lamu friends. her dearest friend, simba has moved up and out though and we didn't find him in lamu but rather another island near mombasa, wasini.
we took a couple of incredible dow trips with jill's friend, captain easy squeezy lemon peasy--aka mchizani (pronounced em-chiz-anni) and his crew. the beach boys on the island all have their given muslim name and also an english 'nickname'--one that he is usually given and then can change as he matures. of those that became friends on the trip--aloe vera (formally bush doctor), happy flower, paper bag, rollings, and happy. the nickname holds several purposes though--almost everyone there is named ali or abu or muhammed, it's easy for the tourists to remember, and it's how anyone else can tell who you're talking about.

ok, so this is was all just a teaser. i spent too much time checking other emails and not posting. i will get back to this later though!!
AND a big hello to any QUEST interns who may be reading. i just received the short bios of my future housemates and friends and am very excited to meet you all!!
much peace,
megan