Random thoughts and cultural anecdotes

October 31, 2001 by Steve Peifer

Steve and I were walking down to Staff Chai (a 20 minute break each morning when the entire staff has chai [tea], prays together and has announcements) when we met one of the elementary boys we both know. He had his arm in a sling so we immediately asked what had happened. His reply was that “I hit some kid’s head with my arm.” Then he trotted off! I trust the other kid was okay, too.

Monday, Grace and...

Towel Bingo

October 29, 2001 by Steve Peifer

We’re like the old joke: guy goes to Vegas in a $50,000 car and returns home in a $300,000 bus. We had a four bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home in Texas; now we have six showers and four toilets in the dorm.

J.T., Matthew, Nan and I all share a bathroom, and that is fine; we know it is a luxury to have running water. We build a fire if we want hot showers, and it has been cozy except...

Habari zenu?

October 27, 2001 by Steve Peifer

Habari zenu? Which is Swahili for “How are y’all?” We are fine – at least as fine as world circumstances currently allow. I’ve been meaning to sit down and write an update from my (Nancy’s) perspective. With all that has transpired since 9/11, I’ve been hesitant to write of more ordinary things, but the ordinary does continue in the midst of the greater picture.

Many of you have asked about our good friend Grace. Yes, she is again working...

Wood Surfing

October 21, 2001 by Steve Peifer

Some people like to be at the forefront of a trend. Since this is scientifically impossible for me, I am more inclined to celebrate the end of a trend. In the states, there was a radio ad playing right before we returned to Africa in which a young child earnestly yelled, “Ovaltine rocks!” I think it is safe to say that the expression “That rocks” has passed out of cool.

In the same spirit, I wish to announce the...

The Road Home

October 17, 2001 by Steve Peifer

During the 70’s, there was a genre of movies called disaster films. Buildings caught on fire, boats sank, and other bad stuff happened. When they started to run out of ideas, they had several movies about killer bees attacking people.

In the last week, you can walk twenty yards from our home and hear a huge buzzing. It is huge swarms of bees, and it is the eeriest sound I can think of. If Ernest Borgnaine shows up, I’m...

You are one of us

October 7, 2001 by Steve Peifer

You know how in the US everyone will ask you how you are and you say fine? And how that gets old? In Kenya, people greet you with Habari yako which means how are you and you respond Mzuri sana which means fine.

I’ve tried to change it with inflection. I say Habari in a normal voice and then, on the last syllable of yako I sound like my underwear just bunched up. It never fails to get a...

Subordinating Conjunctions

September 30, 2001 by Steve Peifer

Sound interesting? Like to spend 45 minutes of the only life you’ll have on this earth learning what they are? Me either.

But it is my task to make learning subordinating conjunctions interesting, or at least palatable. How is this done? I have had my panic attacks over this, but so far this is what has hit and missed:

Finding the subject in a sentence: Since we just read Sherlock Holmes, I had everyone wear a hat to class and...