I have been without a car for almost a week. Nothing serious - just some nasty clunks and rattles that had to get sorted out. And I am certainly not complaining - it has been lovely to ride with friends and not have to maneuver the traffic myself. All of us teacher-types go to and... Continue Reading →
Samuel Johnson - British author and critic in the late 1700's - once wrote, "Whoever surveys the world must see many things that give him pain." This afternoon, when I came home from school, Benson opened the gate for me as he usually does. I stopped on my way in and rolled down the window.... Continue Reading →
I just got back today from a five-day trek to Mt. Kenya - twelve teens, three teachers and one doctor spent the week hiking to 16,000ft and back. Wait, this sounds familiar. Didn't you do this last year? Yep! But this year was a little different. This was the "Advanced Mt. Kenya trip." Instead of... Continue Reading →
Sunday afternoon. I sat on the step outside the rehearsal room resting my heavy eyelids and listening to the wind in the trees. At 3:15, only four out of sixteen of us had arrived. Don't fight it, go with the flow Lillis. No one else seems annoyed that everyone is late for practice. I looked... Continue Reading →
[Scene: 5pm rush hour, Riverside Ring Road. Two men on a motorcycle, one helmet.] "Eh bwana - my arm is tired. I think I will rest it a bit." [Scene: a few minutes later, just around the corner from the motorcycle men.] "Hey my car won't start. Can you tow me home?" "Sure, happen to... Continue Reading →
Last Monday I flew to the coast with seventy 12-year olds and eight other adults. "Sounds like a strange and twisted way to spend a vacation at the beach" you might say. If it had been a vacation, perhaps ... this however was school! Science class on the coral reefs, history class at the 14th... Continue Reading →
Blue skies smilin' on me Cattle lick dust, Dogs chew garbage. Baby lips burn and The red road clings to my skin. Nothin' but blue skies do I see. Dark days. Save the laundry for tomorrow; Maybe Sunday we will bathe. Blue birds singin' a song. Green trees like skeletal smiles - Leaves wave gently... Continue Reading →
I recently realized that I haven't shared much about the ins and outs of life here. I haven't really addressed questions like: What is life in Nairobi like? What does the school look like? What do you do when you're not at school? Nairobi: Imagine a city like Tallahassee, FL. If you've been, you know... Continue Reading →
Life is like … a Choose Your Own Adventure book. Page 76: “Some friendly bystanders help you and your friends roll the car back on its wheels and tow it to the nearest village police station. The helpful constable takes down the report, while your friends take pictures of the damage. Soon, the four of... Continue Reading →
I sat beside the dusty road and wept. I'm so sorry Where was the man on the bike? I wanted to tell him I'm so sorry I lifted my head from my knees - a crowd had begun to gather. Where had they come from? So many people so quickly in so lonely a spot.... Continue Reading →
Of Wonders & Wanders 
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