21/11: Souvenirs, gifts

Today after I got off my second matatu in the morning and walked the rest of the way there was a man. He wanted to know my name, he looked alright, I have just been stopped so many times there that I thought he would be like the rest. But then he continued by saying he was a taxi driver for PA and that he has a daughter in the pre-school I work in. he then escorted me the rest of the way because it is apparently not the best or safest way that I am taking, I couldn’t say anything other than that it is the way that I was shown. I have only two days left at the work, so I doubt anything will happen. The children have also been escorting me some of the way after school the last couple of days and I don’t think anyone will do anything when they are with me. The rest of the day in school was just like the last two days. I really like when it is break time and I can make them laugh – they deserve a little laugher after all that work. Afterwards I went to town to the souvenir market to try and get the last of the gifts that I need. I got almost all of them and I have ideas for most of the last ones. I got so many of the vendor’s names that it is quite incredible and next time I will go almost all of them will know mine. The most noticeable of the names being Spear and Zebra. It was a lot of fun, but I am sure they all cheated me. They used the same phrases as they did on the Mt. Meru market like: “looking is free,” “touching is free,” “special price for you,” and some new ones like: “I am no hustler,” and “please promote me,” which basically means “please buy something from me.” The hardest to buy for is my dad, but as he will come this weekend maybe he can give me some ideas himself. After I went all around the market I went back home. For tea I met the new volunteer who will be staying at the same place as me. She is the French girl that Charlene has been waiting for. Florine is from the capital of perfumes in the south of France and she will be staying for three months at least. She has come here to learn more English, but I am afraid she will end up speaking more French with Charlene as her roommate and working the same place as her. Today after work Prisca asked me to donate some money for a new classroom for the baby class and I just don’t know. I don’t have money enough myself, but I will ask my dad when he comes if he wants to help. But I don’t like the idea of giving them money, money they can spend on other things without me knowing. My dad is coming to Kenya tomorrow and I will see him the day after.