Data, Data, Data

After 161 interviews with local people living along the river, each translating into 50 different variables, we have collected a substantial amount of information for our community perceptions portion of the directed research project.  This part of the project is focusing on water quality, quantity and conflicts in terms of local people’s perceptions on the Noolturesh River in Kenya.  My spreadsheet in our statistical software program looks like the beginning of the Matrix, with millions of numbers scrolling down the screen.  I’ve even had dreams the past few nights about entering data. 

It’s interesting to hear the peoples’ points of view through these interviews, then speak with government officials a few hours later.  The people express frustration and despair about the poor water situation and the local government acknowledges that the people are getting typhoid from the water and that there is not enough to bathe sufficiently or water their crops, but there is a disconnect in terms of getting help and any money is pocketed by corrupt officials. Progress is extremely slow-moving and it is upsetting when you realize that it is going to take a LOT of changes to fix these issues.   

To take a break from data entry and analysis, we headed into Kimana yesterday for market day.  I stopped at the ATM first to withdraw some money and put it out of service.  I only withdrew the equivalent of about forty dollars. 

On market day, the town is flooded with people who set up stalls and sell everything from old nail polish to fresh fruit.  It’s literally a sea of red because the area is heavily settled by Maasai, who wear predominantly red.  Since arriving in Kenya, I have been fascinated by the culture here that was not apparent in Tanzania, in particular relating to the junior warriors of the Maasai tribe.  I was finally able to get a picture with them for free after one of our friends, a local guide for our research project, convinced them in Swahili that “friendship was more important than money.”  Lately it’s been near impossible to upload any pictures in Kenya since the internet is so much worse, but this one is necessary:

Tomorrow we have an off day and are going to Amboseli National Park to swim at the pool, gorge on the buffet and drive around observing the animals.  I feel so guilty every time we go to the tourist lodges because just the day before we interview people who said they go a day without drinking water or walk several kilometers to get twenty liters per day while I am swimming in a huge swimming pool right near their home.  At the same time it is so satisfying to spend the day relaxing and feeling as though I’m in America again and eating food that is similar to what I eat back at home.  I had potato salad the other day and I ate so much of it it almost made me sick.   

There’s only a couple weeks left in Africa now though.  It’s sad to think I’ll likely never again see this many stars in the sky at night or wake up to the sight of Mt. Kilimanjaro.   I’m ready to go home, but I really want to come back someday soon.