Traveling to our new sites

On Friday, July 31, almost everyone started traveling to their assigned sites with their counter-parts. Our counter-parts were the supervisors or co-workers that each PCV will be working with for the next two years, if everything goes according to plans. Pictured are my traveling companions during my trip to Silibwet. There is Nick, his counter-part, Festus (my counter-part), Sonya's counter-part, the girl friend of one of the counter-parts, and Sonya. This was a beautiful ride taking us from the dry plains of the Rift valley to the lush green hillsides of the Central Highlands.

We made it in a minivan, called "matatu". All of us, including the driver, and our luggage were crammed into a supposed 11 passenger matatu, where every inch of possible space is used for passengers or luggage. Since we essentially paid for the entire van, there were no other passengers. However, under normal circumstances I have seen a row of three seats easily become occupied by 4 people. In Silibwet, small Nissan or Toyota station wagons are used as matatus. Even in the front seat there will be 3 passengers, plus the driver. An amazing feat of bodily contortions are performed to squeeze everyone inside.