I never expected to become friends with Margaret, but I’m grateful for it nonetheless. I began to know her when I first started buying maize and beans. I went to market myself, and could never beat her prices. She was a brilliant negotiator, and I soon started buying most of my beans from her.

When the pastor I was dealing with was transferred, Margaret started going with me to the schools. Her husband is a pastor, and because of his schedule, he asked that Margaret would go with me.

She has a merry laugh, doesn’t suffer fools, and every time we hit a pothole, she yells `Oh my God, save me’ which makes long trips fun and eventful.

Last week, I was delayed picking her up, and she got into the car and said `You have become an African man.’

I thought `Was it the dance moves that made her think that? My innate coolness? ‘

No.

Kenyan men are always late.

I’m still holding out for the dance moves.

We took our last trip out to Kenton. The kids are so happy and so poor. Their clothes are in the worst shape I’ve seen.

But we were able to tell the headmaster that it is likely that the new computer center will be built at his school.

He just looked at me and looked at the hill and looked at me and looked at the hill. He didn’t say anything for the longest time. Sometimes silence can be the most eloquent thing you can say.

We will be back in the US in less than three weeks for a whole year. When I think about why I will miss this place, I think about Erik.

Erik is a golden boy. Good looking, great basketball player, lead in the musical, some of the highest scores on the SAT2 in the history of the school. His dad is a surgeon who gives up millions to be out here. Erik dates the prom queen, or at least she probably would be if we had a prom.

Anyway, we had cafeteria duty last week, and for the first time ever, they had little bags of chips that were probably past the due date (because that is when they are affordable). It hadn’t happened before in the cafeteria.

And Erik walked in, and went `WOW!! Bags of chips!!’ He was so elated, and it’s one of the reasons I love this place.

Where else does the coolest kid on the block get thrilled with a bag of stale chips?

Your pal,

S