Things You Didn't Know About Kenya

Okay, so I promised my next blog would be funny, and mixed in with this dose of Kenyan reality is some humor.

Nearly every kid has holes in their clothing, but they still wear it without embarrassment anyways.
Girls and boys typically have shaved heads so they don't get lice.
It costs 200.00 USD to send a kid to a private school. This includes lunch daily.
A school uniform (must have black shoes) costs 1000 Ksh and a student typically gets one per year.
Kids sharpen their pencil with a razor.
Kids don't wash their hands after they got to the bathroom- there isn't even a sink for that at the school.
Students get whipped for not having proper hair, clean nails, or the proper uniform at school.
In school, you are seated according to your grades. Smart students sit on the left.
Students do EVERYTHING for the teachers- EVERYTHING.
There really is no new clothing in town. It's mainly used clothing from other countries that is re-sold here.
Rice, beans, cabbage and tea everyday...EVERYDAY.
Church is five hours long, yes, FIVE.
Kids cry out of happiness when we give them a pencil for free.
When given the choice between hospital bills or death, a lot of people choose death- even for children. Luckily, Hugo pays for the hospital.
Speaking of Hugo, Swedish people think "moistry" is an English word.
When we have chipati night on the farm, everyone smiles.
When we have beef stew or spaghetti, we feel like we've won the lotto! Really, anything besides rice, beans, cabbage, and tea is a treat!
Getting a COLD Coke is a big, big, big deal in a small town.
A small town looks like a strip mall- about 5-6 stores long. And yes, it is considered a town.
Butchers cut their meat out in the open. Then, they leave the entire stripped carcass out for all to see.
People will drive you anywhere on a bicycle.
A matatu has 13 seat belts but typically seats 20.
There is no high fructose corn syrup here, only real sugar.
8th graders go to school Monday-Sunday.
Kids make soccer balls by balling up plastic grocery bags and holding them together with string.
No one wear deodorant, despite the fact that it is visibly sold in stores and very hot in Kenya!
There are half pennies here- yes, only worth half of a cent.
Men share their wives when a good friend stays the night.
It is acceptable to pick your nose (and anything else).
People see us and yell, "Look! A white person!"
Men can pee in public as long as their back is to the street.
One boy rings an old-fashioned hand bell to signal the changing of classes at school.
No prices are set- everything is negotiable.
Everyone knows who Michael Jackson is.
Beyonce isn't known here yet, only Destiny's Child.
No one knows what an iPod is.
People don't know how to use a zoom on a camera- instead they just kneel on the floor to fit in the picture.
Nearly everyone has a cell phone.
The doctors at our clinic have prescribed sunglasses for the complaint of, "It hurts when I look into the sun" and shoes for, "It hurts when I walk on grass."
No electricity!
School lasts from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
People paint their nails here and you can get a manicure for 4.50 USD.
The public bathrooms are locked so you don't steal the glass bottles that beverages come in.
The glass bottles that beverages come in are recycled- I drank out of a Coke bottle from 1995 the other day.
Polio is common!
There is often no change and you must wait for the cashier to run to the next shop to get some.
People use plastic bags for gas.

More later! Cheers to life in Kenya. Hope you enjoyed your little taste!