family life

Wow, I can't believe I am writing another one of these so quickly.Don't worry this won't happen all the time once my homework reallykicks in. So I moved in with my family yesterday. I have a mama andthree brothers, 24, 22 and 16. Only the older one, Tom, lives at homeand has a job. The other two are at school in different places. Mymama (mom in swahili) is the sweetest woman ever. She is sooo nicefor providing this home for me while I am in Nairobi. She is aborn-again pentecostal Christian and I have never prayed so much in mylife as I have in the past day and a half in her home. She cooks welland sings in her church choir, is training to be a HIV tester andlikes scrabble. My brother enjoys chess, which I haven't masteredyet.During dinner we watch Spanish soap operas dubbed in English, "LaRevancha" if you're interested. Also there is always a preacher onthe tv, like someone with a big microphone preaching to a huge stadiumof people. Not my particular preference but I will grin and bear it.Mama has lots of friends including some young ones who promised theyweren't religious fanatics. Raquel, one of Mama's close friends isreally befriending me anf promising to take me shopping for Kenyanskirts called kangas. Mama and I went shopping together yesterday atthe local supermarket for breakfast food, etc.I have my own room which looks over a huge shopping area called toymarket. There will be tons of souvenairs that will come home with me.I take bucket showers which conserves so much water :) I also drinkchai, hoping that if there is caffeine it is minimal. Chai, Kenyantea, is very important and happens everyday around 4pm. Dinner isaround 730 or 8.My classes start tomorrow at 830 and go til 4 with some breaks. Ihave been placed with the other three girls who have swahiliexpereince. I am going to be learning a LOT. I haven't seen or much of Nairobi yet, only the parliament, uhuru (freedom) park, and the moselium where Kenyatta thefirst president is buried. We also passes by the UN and the gaudyAmerican embassy. Those are places where I will prolly go forresearch purposes in doing my independent study project (ISP) inApril/May.I am making good bonds with a lot of the other people in our group.Tomorrow is Valentine\'s which is popular in Kenya. Another girl inthe group and I decided that the everyone in a group would pick avalentine out of a hat and make them a little somthing for Monday.According to our academic directors we are still in our honeymooningstage. Eventually the group is gonna go through some storming,norming, preforming and trasnforming...whatever. I am having fun andwill be happy to finally get into a routine this week. I miss youall!! Have a great V-day and don\'t forget to send some letters withlove to Kenya