Focus on a Well for Oltorotua

A while back I decided to keep this blog for information about the Maasai and their culture as viewed thru the eyes of Jackson Liaram, with the hope of a possible book. I am going to postpone working on the book as the time not only doesn't seem right, but I have several other projects — both writing and working on helping Jackson's village get a well, so I am going to put this blog on hold.

Today and tomorrow (December 20-21, 2010) a hydrogeologist team will investigate the feasibility of a well for Oltorotua, the village at which Jackson Liaram and his family (of whom we are honorary members!) live in the Masai Mara region of Kenya. My husband Carl and I hope for good news that will help obtain a grant and allow us to move ahead with a well because we sincerely believe that clean, pure drinking water is a basic human right. Walking 5 km to obtain only the marginally safe water a donkey can carry on its back is a difficult way to live and raise a family. Helping Jackson and his village build a well is our sincere hope as we enter 2011. As Jackson wrote in an e-mail: “Let’s hope for that great day when I will hold you by the hand, Carl standing next to you, as I introduce you to the people of Oltorotua at the site of the well.”

Please visit Dig this Well!, Bringing a Fresh Water Well to Oltorotua, to find out more.

Need a holiday gift?

A few weeks ago my daughter Jean and granddaughter Haley surprised me with a necklace and bracelet set from the Leakey Collection. Because of my book on the Leakeys, the "ZuluSport" caught their attention while shopping on a trip. A surprise gift is always great and I love this one.

I decided to double the necklace and wrap it around my arm, as you can see in the photo, rather than wear them separately. Admittedly, they look better on the gorgeous models on the website but I think they look pretty good on my "slightly older" wrist.

The jewelry is handmade by Maasai women from sustainable grass and glass beads and literally light as a feather. A Fair Trade item and purchase helps the Maasai, with whom Philip and Katy live. More info. on Katy's blog. And think about the holidays!

Looking deep into the future

I decided I would never return to Kenya or do lots of other things I think my spouse Carl and I are plenty young enough to do unless I had knee surgery. So Nov. 1 I entered Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, MD, where I was treated well, altho' I am now happy to be home recuperating. I have had many get-well wishes from near and far, electronically, snail mail, and phone, and great attention and (for which non-cooking Carl gives great thanks) food from UUCF church members and friends.

Many e-mails and even a phone call from Jackson (neither easy to make or cheap from half-way around the world!) but his voice was as clear as if he were next door. Here is one of the e-mails:

"I just finished today's duties, then got online. It was a wet day. Driving on mud is like driving on your roads with snow. So good and happy to hear that you are doing well.

I left home yesterday. All is well. The camp is less busy for now but expecting a busy time before Christmas.

Let's hope for that great day when I will hold you by the hand, Carl standing next to you as I introduce you to people of Oltorotua at the site of the well."

I'm not up to par yet but look forward to moving ahead on helping obtain funding for a well and latrines, which his village will manage and maintain, for his village of Oltorotua.

A Liaram Wedding

I received an e-mail from Jackson and photos of the September 11th wedding of his brother. I could almost hear the pride and happiness Jackson felt when he wrote:

"My younger brother, Simore married a young maiden from another village 5 milies from Oltorotua. It was a big party with about 200+ attendants. We butchered 6 lambs alongside cakes, soft drinks, chips and tea."

The Survival of Wildlife

Carl took this photo of two "babies" playing at the Sheldrick sanctuary outside Nairobi, where wounded or orphaned elephants and rhino are brought until they can be released into the wild again. Most are orphaned because poachers kill the mothers for their ivory tusks. As you may guess, I am passionate about the need to protect wildlife.

Today I read an an article in The Hindu, in which Valmik Thapar, known as India's "Tiger Man," spoke eloquently about the need for a complete overhaul of the system to protect wildlife in India. When asked if any other country has been able to carry out such a major undertaking, he replied:

"Kenya. In 1980s, its wildlife was being wiped out. The President put wildlife expert Richard Leakey in charge of Kenyan Wildlife Service with the dictum ‘Shoot all poachers on sight'. Leakey's book Wildlife Wars says it all. Today 70 per cent of Kenya's national revenue comes from wildlife tourism. A small national park brings $150 million entry fee to two Masai councils each year." Thapar says that the younger generation "doesn't have the empathy that old generations had with cultural symbolism," and feels he has so far failed in his efforts.

I also recently read Bulu: African Wonder Dog, in which two Brits move to Zambia and, during their adventures with Bulu, a small Jack Russell-mix terrier, build a center to teach the children of the village the need and value of protecting the area's wildlife. Why the children? Because they realize that the older generation is set in their ways but the children will listen and learn.

Think about it: Opposing views of solving the same problem. As in anything else, one way doesn't suit a situation. But the right solution must be found in all countries.

In one of the first letters Jackson sent me, he wrote: "I came to enjoy working in the field and developed a strong interest in wildlife conservation. I thought this was good working in the same environment where I grew up and working close to the animals which are part of our lives." For all of us, wildlife are crucial to our planet's ecosystem.

Jackson's trip to Nairobi

Way back on July 22 I wrote that I missed receiving an e-mail from Jackson every few days. On July 26 he got off from work and made the trip from Oltorotua, his home village, to Nairobi. Like most Maasai in the Mara, Jackson does not have a car and the trip requires taking several buses and some walking, so it cannot be done in a single day. (He drives the Land Rover at Siana Springs, and seldom needs a car.)

Needless to say, I was thrilled with the e-mail that he was back online. In an earlier post I wrote my thanks to Hellen for the generous donation that helped him avoid returning to the Mara and then back yet again with the money for repairs, but now here is the story in his words. (Note: The distance from Narok to Nairobi is 67 miles or 107.83 km and took him over 3 hours, slowed down by traffic — both vehicles and animals — and roads that don't become highways until close to the Kenyan capital city.) A picturesque but long trip! The photo is a typical scene along a road in Kenya.

How would you like to make this trip if your computer needed repair?

Still nothing definite on a grant for the well, so I can't say more. Hopefully in a few months!

TRIP TO NAIROBI. 26^th July 2010.

A day that I have been waiting for has finally come. In the evening before the morning of travelling, I informed the public bus driver to pick me up from my village.

I woke up early at 4:00 a.m. to prepare for the journey. It was a chilly morning. Wife Susan prepared some hot tea for me as a warm up stimulant. Before I finished taking my tea, the bus was already at our house doorsteps. I snatched my backpack and jumped into the bus. I sat up front since I was the first customer of the bus for that day.

The bus picked up a few more people in the village and a good number at the local shopping centre, Aitong Trading Centre. It was about 6:00 a.m. The journey to Narok now starts! The bus was already full, hence no more stops on the way.

The route from the Mara to Narok is very familiar to me. I therefore need not to peep through the window much.

We arrived Narok at around 8:30a.m. After stepping down from the bus, I entered a barbershop to keep my hair neat and dust free. As usual, Spear Hotel is where I take my breakfast while I am at Narok. I had some coffee, cake and eggs for breakfast.

The bus stage (stop) to NAIROBI is just next to Spear Hotel. Without wasting time, I booked my seat in the bus booking office. We had to wait for 20 minutes for the bus to get full. And now the trip to the city began.

Mid-way between Narok and Nairobi is the Great Rift Valley. Flocks of sheep, goats and cattle graze on the valley floor beside plantations of maize and wheat.

Twenty miles from the city centre is the start of a four-lane highway. As one approaches, traffic gradually increases. At some point, the bus is slower than walking on foot.

Five miles from Nairobi City centre, I stepped out of the bus. I had to walk to Elite Apple Centre, specialists in Macintosh computers sales and repair. Having called Hellen of Elite Computers, she already knew that I was on the way.

Now 1:30 p.m. It was fun and a memorable moment to meet Hellen. Hellen had a quick look at my computer. “Your computer needs a software update,” Hellen said. Allan is the person concerned with computer service at Elite Centre. Hellen therefore advised me to take my computer to Allan for a check up.

After checking the MacBook, Allan said that he needed to update most of the software. “Update of the modern software is not covered by the three year warranty ending 14^th August, 2010”, Allan said. "You therefore have to pay Ksh 4060 for the Macbook service." (4,060 Kenya shillings = about US $50)

I left my MacBook to be serviced for one and half days. I had to figure out how to get the money wired from the Mara, otherwise I can’t collect the MacBook. I e-mailed my loving Mum Mary about my being in Nairobi and about the computer service fee but Kenya law doesn't allow her, in US, to pay by phone with a credit card. Hellen was happy to pay this fee as her contribution to our proposed Well project at Oltorotua village in the Mara.

I spent the night in the city. The night was cool but noisy with traffic on the streets. However, I had a good sleep till morning. I woke up early the following day. I took a shower and went downstairs for a city breakfast.

At about 12:00 p.m., the Apple engineer gave me a call. He had done all the updates for the computer. I took the public transport bus to Elite Apple Centre to meet him. To confirm that his work was okay, I had to send a few emails for verifications. OKAY!!! I found that all is well. I could send and receive mails. BACK ON LINE!!!

My mind started to recall the Mara. I gave Hellen the last hug. I had to take a 1 km (.62 mile) walk to get to the bus stop. Finally, I boarded the bus heading to Masai Mara via Narok.

To Blog or Not to Blog!

Wendie Old and I presented at our regional SCBWI summer conference, where Children's Literature Comprehensive Database handled book sales. CLCD asked if they could put our handout on their blog. Click here and scroll down to August 3, 2010. The title of the blog post (and the presentation): Leap into Blogging and Social Media. If you aren't sure about blogging, we have some useful tips. Not only ours but from blogger gurus Greg Pincus, Jane Friedman, and Amber Keyser.

Happy blogging!