My new extended family

My and Rabail's host home was with Saumu, a wonderful, fun, strong and independent woman who I loved getting to know and really admired! She's a nurse at the local health centre, and as well as working full time and overtime to support her family, she volunteers for MEDA, sells beauty products as a sideline, is a great friend (to it seems everyone in Malindi), cooks amazing pakora, bajia, pili pili, and makes delicious fruit juice! : ) And I thought my life was hectic... yet somehow none of this makes her hurried or stressed, which I find incredible - and she always found time to talk to me (although sometimes Swahili time' helped out there, the way its acceptable and even expected that people are late for things a LOT!)

She has two beautiful kids, my sister Mulhat and little brother, Boss - aka Abdul Aziz, but called Boss becuase he's the man of the house! I loved having a brother and sister, eating dinner all together around the big shared plate, and playing lots of noughts and crosses, cards, hangman, and my all time favourite, pictionary! They saved me from what would otherwise have been long dark evenings with a tv boasting dodgier soaps even than in the UK, if you can believe it! (Sabina can give you the detailed account of who was dating who's sister and mother at the same time, I'm outing her as the soap addict!)

I will never forget Mulhat's incredulous expression every time I did something 'weird' - which was often! From eating raw tomatoes, to my choice of socks, to drawing doodles, nothing I did went unquestioned and I loved that about her! And Boss with his cheeky smile and babbled stories when he forgot to be shy... and most of all, the massive hugs I always received as soon as I got in the door! Saumu has assured me the house is too quiet now we've left, and the feeling is mutual, I miss them all heaps! So thank you so much to my little family, I had a wonderful time with you and please keep your promises to stay in touch!