Hakuna Shida! No worries. Freeman and Jo are finally reunited in Kenya and loving it. Shame it is culturally inappropriate to kiss in public, we're still getting used to that. As a result, we've gotten very good at playing footsie under the dinner table.
Jo got a passport that confirms her correct gender, always a plus. Your guess is as good as ours on how she got through all her travels and visa applications for 8 years on a passport that listed her with the wrong first and middle name and the incorrect gender. That's cleared up finally with some expedited processing, read small bribe to ministry official.
Florence (Jo's Mom) and Ben have been making many preparations for the large family's arrival throughout the coming week. Frank (Jo's Dad) arrives tomorrow. Ben, Susan, Baby Flo, Florence, Jo, and Free all went out to Carnivore last night. After drinking goat's blood in Tanzania and last night eating a meal consisting of only meat shaved directly from the bone to the plate, with a side of beer, Freeman has officially gone "whole hog" on indulging his carnivorous instincts. He is looking forward to a ritual cleansing in India and perhaps some vegetarian penance (picture him slapping his face with a wet brick of extra firm tofu or a cat's tail made of celery or something.)
It has been amazing to see where Jo grew up and visit places that defined her childhood. Also great to see how much Jo and her mom are alike in many ways (picture digging for missing phones simultaneously in oversize purses while fussing about directions in the front car seats as they navigate the streets of Nairobi). Florence has been taking very good care of us and is very excited about the imminent celebration. The emcee for the evening just entertained Hillary Clinton and has no qualms reminding us of the fact on occasion.
We're going out partying tonight with Jo's best friend from grade school, Nairobi nightlife, Tuskers, and Gin and Stoney Tangawizi...it's really hotting up!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Headed into Nairobi
Freeman leaves today from NYC to meet back up with Jo in Nairobi. He is rapidly packing a few final things and will be on his way shortly. New York felt like a bustling oasis for these last few days, thanks to everyone who helped make it so. Now to get back into the heart of traveling!
Freeman picked up a copy of The Da Vinci Code finally and looks forward to reading it on the plane. Let's hear it for the reused book sellers on lower 6th avenue!
Goddess Guide Us.
Freeman picked up a copy of The Da Vinci Code finally and looks forward to reading it on the plane. Let's hear it for the reused book sellers on lower 6th avenue!
Goddess Guide Us.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Headed Home
Freeman brought the 16 volunteer students from the Putney trip back to NYC on August 5th and had a few days to regroup in the city. He got to stay with Eric and saw many close friends in just a few days. Some highlights were getting to bop around to Pete's band and swap wedding stories with Jimbo, Meg, Pete, and Crystal. Since we all got married this summer, it was fun to compare notes. On Saturday the 8th Eric, Tiffany, and Free took a run up and down Park Avenue and through Central park when the avenue was closed to car traffic for pedestrians and cyclers to enjoy. Later in the evening they grabbed dinner at Cafe Mogador and then headed out to Queens to partake in some libations at Dutch Kills. Richie and Josepie took good care of the crew there and time passed amidst good spirits. Imagine a fine wood interior and the intoxicating touches of jazz and bourbon on the tongue. Nights float well on such waters.
Freeman is headed back to his roots in Kenya and is really looking forward to seeing Jo. She went from Arusha to Nairobi around the same time Freeman came back to NYC and has been there spending time with Ben, Susan, and baby Flo. It sounds like Florence has also recently arrived from Darfur to begin finalizing preparations for the Kenyan wedding celebration about to lift off on August 22nd.
It sounds like the weather may be a bit cold, but the atmosphere is bound to be warm. Freeman is really looking forward to meeting Jo's family and seeing the places that defined her childhood. Even after several years together, there is much to be learned.
Freeman is headed back to his roots in Kenya and is really looking forward to seeing Jo. She went from Arusha to Nairobi around the same time Freeman came back to NYC and has been there spending time with Ben, Susan, and baby Flo. It sounds like Florence has also recently arrived from Darfur to begin finalizing preparations for the Kenyan wedding celebration about to lift off on August 22nd.
It sounds like the weather may be a bit cold, but the atmosphere is bound to be warm. Freeman is really looking forward to meeting Jo's family and seeing the places that defined her childhood. Even after several years together, there is much to be learned.
Wedding and Honeymoon
The wedding was the happiest day of our lives. We were very focused on all the details right up until the day, then we put ourselves in the hands of our top notch wedding party and really got into the day. It was amazing to have both sides of Freeman's family, most of our closest friends, and Jo's parents and their friends all present and loving the day. Jo took Freeman's breath away with her elegant and electrifying dress. Freeman wore a tux and tried to keep up, though he was quite happy with the touch of panache supplied by the bow ties the guys in the wedding party were sporting.
The pictures from the day, taken by Herve Pelletier, can be found and purchased here. Herve was prolific in his duty to capture the day and we are honored by his diligence and the fine photographs we have to remember the day by.
Jo left for Tanzania the day after the wedding. She got to the Burlington, VT airport in the nick of time and was on her way to New York, then through London, to Nairobi, to Zanzibar, to Dar es Salaam, then finally to Arusha. On arrival she checked into a hotel and after waking up got right to work getting supplies for our impending community service trip. If not for her fluency in Kiswahili and excellent sense of how to get a project rolling, the trip would have been sunk. She managed to procure cement, tools, living quarters, and food all under budget and in time for Freeman's arrival with the 16 students a few days later.
We got to work building two classrooms and engaging in various cultural explorations throughout the month. The trip was then capped off by a one week walking and driving Safari in the Tanzanian national parks and Masai tribal lands. For full details on the trip, check out our Putney Student Travel blog here. There are some good posts from each stage of our work and journey during the month of July and into early August.
The lack of privacy that comes with working and living closely with 16 teenagers led us to postpone some of the more traditional events of a honeymoon. Who said we wanted a traditional honeymoon though?
The pictures from the day, taken by Herve Pelletier, can be found and purchased here. Herve was prolific in his duty to capture the day and we are honored by his diligence and the fine photographs we have to remember the day by.
Jo left for Tanzania the day after the wedding. She got to the Burlington, VT airport in the nick of time and was on her way to New York, then through London, to Nairobi, to Zanzibar, to Dar es Salaam, then finally to Arusha. On arrival she checked into a hotel and after waking up got right to work getting supplies for our impending community service trip. If not for her fluency in Kiswahili and excellent sense of how to get a project rolling, the trip would have been sunk. She managed to procure cement, tools, living quarters, and food all under budget and in time for Freeman's arrival with the 16 students a few days later.
We got to work building two classrooms and engaging in various cultural explorations throughout the month. The trip was then capped off by a one week walking and driving Safari in the Tanzanian national parks and Masai tribal lands. For full details on the trip, check out our Putney Student Travel blog here. There are some good posts from each stage of our work and journey during the month of July and into early August.
The lack of privacy that comes with working and living closely with 16 teenagers led us to postpone some of the more traditional events of a honeymoon. Who said we wanted a traditional honeymoon though?
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