See ya later, Kenya.

This is it, my last post in Kenya. Really hard to believe!

I just returned last night from my 10-day farewell tour, literally covering Kenya from coast to "coast" (the second being Kisumu on the coast of Lake Victoria).

Last week I traveled back to Bodo, the village where I stayed for 10 days in February. It was a nice chance to say goodbye to my family and friends there. Basically, I sat in front of the village home with my Baba for 2 days listening to a radio and watching baby Saidi's antics in the sand. We had a couple of great swims in the Indian Ocean, a couple sweat-soaked hikes, and, true to Bodo hospitality, frequent and endless meals of fish and ugali or rice. The heat and humidity were intense, and it is rainy season there, so it rained probably 50% of the time. My baby bro Saidi loves to play in the rain, and that was fun to watch (pictures/videos to come).

I was back in Nairobi for this past weekend. Friday night James, his girlfriend Jessica, and I went to a Tony Nyadundo concert at a local club. Tony is probably the most popular musician of local Kenyan music, a Luo from Nyahera, the village where I studied for ISP. So obviously, I've had a hankerin' to see him live for a while now. The show was great, although the only words I could understand (he sings in Kijaluo) were "Nyahera" and "Obama" (he loves to sing about the Senator, the pride and joy of all Luos). It was fun to be there and I think we surprised a lot of people with how excited we were about something that's purely Kenyan.

Sunday I traveled back to the Kisumu area to bid farewell to all my friends I met during ISP. Becky and Erastus (of course the greeting with Era was a little overboard and uncomfortable) met me at the Kisumu airport and we traveled to Kiboswa where I stayed for ISP. All the kids who typically awaited me outside of our home each morning for crayons and paper were extremely excited and surprised that I returned. Becky and I hiked through Nyahera on Monday, returning pictures to families who let us photograph them during my research. I also had a great chance to return to Susan's home in Nyahera and see her family one last time before I leave. They sent me back to Nairobi with a few things for their son Noah, who is now at a technical college here. I had a serious conversation with Susan's brother Moses about someday owning some land in Nyahera. It's cheap (maybe $1500 for multiple acres), absolutely gorgeous, and the people are in need of healthcare. Something for me to think about...

Yesterday I was in Kisumu town and returned the borrowed camera to George, arguably the world's most trusting and generous man. After arriving back at the airport soaked after a boda-boda (bike) ride in the rain, I had a tough goodbye with Becky and Erastus and headed back to Nairobi. Sometimes it takes leaving people to realize that they are among your best friends (that's about as deep as I get, folks). I'll miss Becky and, well, Erastus too, way too much.

So, my last day in Kenya now, at least for a while. I came home last night to find my Nairobi Baba at home from work in Sudan! This is the first time I've met him, and he seems like an incredibly smart man. Very African and very wise. Kind of reminds me of an African version of my Uncle Steve. Today I'm meeting up with my friends Martin and Sally to say see ya later (no goodbyes), then back to Jamhuri. I'm dreading leaving my family, Jacob and co. at the kiosk, and the mama who forces me to buy maize and peanuts from her on a daily basis. I have pictures of her and her beautiful daughter Vanessa and am leaving her with my phone, which won't work back in the states. She is always asking me to return from America with a phone for her, seemingly under the impression that they rain from the sky in the states.

I wish this were easier! I guess it just means that I absolutely have to come back someday.

(Maybe) a little more from back in the states. Pictures for sure! Take care and see you all soon!