May 22 backpost

I have so much to write... and very little time as the sun is setting
and I need to get home. I am sorry for not responding to messages
individually, but the internet is awful today. I am still staying with
Amos and Ruth, but I am going to my permanent homestay with Paul and
Jeniffer in the next few days.

I spent Thursday and Thursday night in Nairobi in the El Greco Hotel.
It was beautifully hilarious. There were cockroaches actually IN my
bed, so at least I had some friends to snuggle with! I sent Friday in
the slums outside Nakuru and then spent today in the rural area, which
isn't slums, but has no electricity and some of the most interesting
people I have ever met. As I walked with Felix, my new Kenyan friend,
kids run alongside yelling "munzugu", which means "white person". They
all want to wave and say "how are you?" over and over. I am not sure
that they know what it means, but it is very cute. I have a million
pictures and wish I had better internet to send some, but it is very
bad, especially today.

I have two new Kenyan friends, Felix and Hillary (both are men). They
are part of my upcoming business development class, and have protected
me from drunkards in the slums and are very fun. Here Alex is solely a
"gent's name" as I am told every single time I say my name. We joke
that I have a boy's name and Hillary has a girl's name, although he
assures me that with 2 "l"s it is a man's name. They are both really
active and we are planning a hike up to the biggest crater in Kenya
for sometime next week. Hillary is a big rugby player, and is
anxiously awaiting the start of the 7 season. He had a scholarship to
university in Texas until he was in a bad matatu (van/bus-thing)
accident and was seriously injured. Felix took Patrick and I up to the
rural area today and was a great guide. They seem to know a lot of
people around Nakuru.

I went to tea with Ruth's mother and Meredith on Wednesday, and she
was fascinating. She will take me to the Western Province in June to
collect her granddaughter from boarding school. She asked if Meredith
and I were twin sisters (we are both small and blonde, but don't
really look alike). When we said no, she responded simply, "you all
look the same to me", which was pretty funny.

I finally have a blog, but the internet wont' let me on it today, so I
will send out the info once I get it sorted out (the address is
http://blogs.spanafrica.org/alexandracmack/ but it's not set up yet).
I DO have a new cell phone, which can accept international calls. The number is (+254) 734161967. I have had a lot of fun texting with Sydney and Cynthia, which is
surprisingly inexpensive.

I miss you all tons, and will write again soon! Please let me know any
news from home. On a funny note, I did see in the Kenyan paper (which
normally only covers Kenya and maybe a bit on Africa) about a
Philadelphia woman who hid in a coffin to avoid prison. Way to make
the international news scene, Philly!