My First Letter Home
I wasn't good about journaling and keeping a record of all that happened in Kenya and South Africa, but I did write letters home periodically and my mom kept most of them. Yeah! She gave them to me recently and I spent last night reading. Wow, what memories. I decided to share the first one I sent home, about a week after we had arrived.
9/21/89
Mom and Dad,
Hi! How are you? We've landed safely as you have assumed. It was a long flight to Nairobi 'cause we had to stop in Athens, Greece to refuel. There was bad weather in Kenya (only in the skies - it was nice on the ground.) We couldn't really tell, though. Both flights were very smooth. Lufthanza was great - the meals were real food - there were free movies. They gave us hot towels steeped in eucalyptus before we landed in Kenya - it was so refreshing.
Jim and Leslie met us at the airport and deposited us at the Hotel Boulevard where we will be until tomorrow. It's comfortable - like a Holiday Inn - except the rooms all have twin beds - weird! We're waiting for a new apartment to be finished in Leslie's complex next week. The apartments are very spacious. Hardwood floors. Two bedroom. Two bath. With balconies. We'll be on the 4th floor. I don't know the address yet - I'll send it soon.
Nairobi is great. Yesterday I walked all over. Since everyone considers me a tourist the shop keepers want to charge me more so I took a Kenyan along to help me bargain until I learn Swahili - then they'll be surprised. A little white girl speaks their tongue! We bought fruit - bananas, oranges, grapefruit, passion fruit and a different one - bananas crossed with mangos. They're good. The people are wonderful - friendly and very warm. Tom's going to look for a job next week or the week after - we're just settling in now to get familiar. We love you very much. I think of you every day. Say hi to the boys and Sandy and Lori. Give Kyle a kiss. We'll write soon.
Tom and Lori
Everything in me wanted to edit some of this out! A couple times I sound so naive and then other times I sound a bit arrogant. But it's good for me to let you see the real me at 27 years old and living outside the U.S. for the first time.
9/21/89
Mom and Dad,
Hi! How are you? We've landed safely as you have assumed. It was a long flight to Nairobi 'cause we had to stop in Athens, Greece to refuel. There was bad weather in Kenya (only in the skies - it was nice on the ground.) We couldn't really tell, though. Both flights were very smooth. Lufthanza was great - the meals were real food - there were free movies. They gave us hot towels steeped in eucalyptus before we landed in Kenya - it was so refreshing.
Jim and Leslie met us at the airport and deposited us at the Hotel Boulevard where we will be until tomorrow. It's comfortable - like a Holiday Inn - except the rooms all have twin beds - weird! We're waiting for a new apartment to be finished in Leslie's complex next week. The apartments are very spacious. Hardwood floors. Two bedroom. Two bath. With balconies. We'll be on the 4th floor. I don't know the address yet - I'll send it soon.
Nairobi is great. Yesterday I walked all over. Since everyone considers me a tourist the shop keepers want to charge me more so I took a Kenyan along to help me bargain until I learn Swahili - then they'll be surprised. A little white girl speaks their tongue! We bought fruit - bananas, oranges, grapefruit, passion fruit and a different one - bananas crossed with mangos. They're good. The people are wonderful - friendly and very warm. Tom's going to look for a job next week or the week after - we're just settling in now to get familiar. We love you very much. I think of you every day. Say hi to the boys and Sandy and Lori. Give Kyle a kiss. We'll write soon.
Tom and Lori
Everything in me wanted to edit some of this out! A couple times I sound so naive and then other times I sound a bit arrogant. But it's good for me to let you see the real me at 27 years old and living outside the U.S. for the first time.