Monthly Archive for December, 2009

Crossing the Road in Loitokitok

So there can be no confusion about just how muddy it gets here when it rains, here’s a clip of some trainees on their way to my session on “technology in the classroom:”  Forget “uphill both ways,” this is walking to school at its most dangerous.  We even saw a giant tree branch fly by!

And here are the two volunteers who joined me for a Christmas dinner of goat meat (here served on Christmas Day, after church is out).  And yes, I did go to church.

P1040112

Here’s a rare photo of me, as I ponder the profound meaning of family, peace, and goat slaughtering:

P1040071

Just like the above, here’s another pic my “little brother” took. This one’s of his sister.  Does this boy have a knack for natural lighting or what?

P1040094

Speaking of brothers and sisters, here’s the newest addition to the family since I left here a year ago  And yes, she was always this happy to see me.

P1040057

What’s a Loitokitok photo collection without Kilimanjaro?

P1040103

Lastly, here’s the Christmas present my Loitokitok family gave to their neighbors:  Who’s not a sucker for puppy pictures?

P1040111

I’m leaving Loitokitok tomorrow for Mombasa, where the next day I’ll be picking up (or just “picking,” as is the custom to say here) my mom and sister from the airport!

7 Responses to “Crossing the Road in Loitokitok”


  • Hi Paul,
    A belated Merry Christmas to you, but wishing you a Happy New Year too.
    Was there really a video on your 12.28.09 entry? I couldn`t get it to play

    Best Wishes,

    John

  • Paul,
    Thanks for the reply. I do not use either of those formats which is why. Thanks anyway.

    Happy New Year! ******

    John

  • All that goat makes my eyes do that…I’ve started drinking Krest…yet it is so elusive here..gahh Paul! I had a good time catching up with you hope to see you in Nairobi more soon!

  • Hey! I just COSed from Namibia and am traveling through Kenya at the end of February with another RPCV. We would really like to visit some PCV sites so if you or another current volunteer can host us that would be amazing! Please email me at heather.e.reese@gmail.com if you can help us out. Thanks!

  • Hi Paul,
    Have you been in Kenya for a whole year yet? The reason for my asking, is that I would like to visit the Mt Kenya area of Kenya and I thought with you being there, you could provide first hand knowledge of how the weather is there at various times of the year. Any info you can give is appreciated. I hope this isn`t an imposition for you.

    Thanks,

    John

    • Haven’t been to the mountain yet. The only weather I now is coastal weather, which is hot and humid, REALLY hot and humid, and occasionally hot and humid and raining.

Leave a Reply

Another Loitokitok Christmas

Well, it’s been a while and I wish I could say that I’ve been as busy as I wanted to be.  Since I got back from Nairobi I’ve mostly been cleaning and reading, but I’ve recently come back to Loitokitok, the place where I spent my first couple months in Kenya, to celebrate Christmas with my old home- stay family and some fellow volunteers.  The town is just like I left it, muddy and beautiful, and I look forward to a big Christmas dinner!  Hopefully I don’t have to hold the goat as it’s slaughtered this year.

Merry Christmas everyone.

2 Responses to “Another Loitokitok Christmas”


  • Paul, Have a Merry Loitoitok Christmas.
    ther was a very large hole at our very small Christmas gathering this year. Miss you!

  • Dear Paul,
    We hope you had a Merry Christmas. We missed you but
    are so excited for you and your upcoming visitors!!!
    Love, Uncle Harvey Aunt Joyce Kyle and Maria

Leave a Reply

YouTube Captions

Just a little news that applies to both my old job and to the Deaf community at large:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/automatic-captions-in-youtube.html

I think we all knew this would happen sooner or later, and it’s still not here 100%, but now a small subset of Youtube videos have the option of displaying Closed Captions based on some behind-the-scenes speech recognition.  I haven’t seen any examples of this used over difficult material, but it’s a start.

1 Response to “YouTube Captions”


  • jean j. blair

    Dear Paul, Thanks so much for the Christmas,New Years, message.
    we loved the picture.and the greetings. Its a cold below 20 degree day and the cat finally came in and is sleeping in one of my baskets. Have a good visit with your mom and Elise. Love you, Grandpa and grandma Blair

Leave a Reply