Kisumu Reflections

What a lovely trip to Kisumu. As Kenya's third largest city, it offers many western comforts that I miss while living on the island. Refrigeration, ice, food that isn't ugali (more on that one later) - it was like being on another planet. I also noticed the abundance of wazungu! Clearly a popular tourist destination... so much so that the sight of a mzungu doesn't compel local men to propose to any foreign woman they see on the street. It made me realize just how much attention I get in Kaswanga.

As many of you know, I pride myself in the amount of proposals I've received. By my 18th birthday I had been proposed to three times. So what if they were all from complete strangers. For someone whose own father has deemed her unmarriageable, I'm rather proud of myself. Since arriving in Kenya that number has multiplied considerably - and if goat offerings were engagement rings, my hands would be full. It got to the point where it became annoying. I couldn't go anywhere without someone asking me if I was looking for a husband, and if that husband could be him. But then I met Denae, my Peace Corps friend, and I realized that the odd proposal is nothing to be annoyed about. After 10 months in Kenya, she has made such an impression on the locals that she can barely leave the house anymore! School principles and NGO presidents want to marry her. The banker slips her notes that say "I love you." The pharmacist wants to clip her fingernails. The fake wedding ring trick has proved ineffective, as polygamy is very much in vogue in Luo Land. And I thought I was attracting attention!

Even though I received a lonely one self-invitation from a man in the supermarket wanting to "join me back in Canada", Kisumu was a lovely change from village life. I met some wonderful people from all over the world, discovered a new city, took a hot shower and finally bought myself a Kenyan kanga - the multi-purpose fabric worn by every woman in the country. It can be a head scarf, a dress, a wrap around skirt, an apron. You can even twist it into a ball and place it on your head to balance buckets. GENIUS! When I wear it, I blend right in... really.