Kenya. 20th - 23rd June.

The next few days consisted mainly of just working at Wagwer everyday. However, of course there were a few highlights as well. One of the nights we went out to a bar in an area a few miles away. There was a live band playing and a buzz in the group. Although, to make sure that we were safe, armed security had to be hired in to patrol the area while we partied! A strange exp
erience, but overall an enjoyable one, despite being totally ripped off by the barman and the tiny waiter. Also, I was approached while standing at the bar many times and asked to buy a drink for complete strangers! The real highlight for many people was the fact that there was a western toilet out the back. And although it stank and it leaked, it was in constant demand throughout the night! The night out was much needed and we all willingly, although with heavy heads, returned to Wagwer for another days work.

By this stage we had been at Wagwer for four days and so the children were beginning to get to know us. They had become fond of us and us of them. We had spontaneous dancing and singing sessions at the back of the school. There were long-jump and limbo competitions. The children were constantly ready to burst into song and dance, a simple request was all the encouragement they needed to entertain. They would sing religious songs, a song about tea which I was quite fond of and of course, they sang 'Jambo, Jambo Bwana'. One song which really took off and was adopted by all the kids was the theme to bewitched, the tv show. This started simply on a trip to the well, a 30 minute return journey in which kids half your size carry twice as much! Humming the tune to myself, a few more people joined in and before I knew it all the kids are running along side us singing along and banging buckets together like drums. From there on in, everytime they saw me they would start singing it...but this wasn't the only thing the children took to heart. They learnt to sing olé olé, they would shout "up ya boy-o" and I even taught them to say "up mayo"!!A new craze hit the group half-way through our trip, hair braids. Nearly all the girls got their hair braided by two of the orphanage workers for what was in Kenyan terms an outrageous price. But quite cheap by Irish standards, and at least the money was going to some use, rather than just being spent on drink! We did all look quite funny with our braids, but sure when in Rome!Our second last night in Wagwer was quite an event as it was Andy's birthday. He's one of the founders of Moving Mountains and a Belfast man. We had a surprise party for him in Ulamba orphanage, the party then moved on to the same bar we were at the night before. Unfortunately, us Mzungu weren't permitted to go, the leaders pulled rank and so an early night was in order. So much for the party!We fell asleep in the open once again, knowing tomorrow would be an important one.