New Friends, but they don't talk

New Friends, but they don’t talk

April 9, 2011

What a crazy day. Saturday’s can be like that at times, but today was an exceptional crazy day. It started off by getting up early. Now I needed to print the bulletin for church, but by the time I got ready, ate breakfast, and everything else it was to late to run up to Kibet’s place to print. Then I came out of my room to find Pastor Evans and Gilbert in the sitting room.  I was a little shocked to say the least.  I wasn’t expecting them and then no one told me they were here. But then again I don’t usually get told if anyone is here.

Anyway, Pastor Evans came to ask me about the drums, but I haven’t seen any drums here.  AH that’s when I find out that yesterday Pastor Evan’s son came and dropped the drums off. BUT no one told me. Funny I thought. I know for a fact that I told Alice that I was getting drums from the Pokot Village, but I guess she seemed to forget about our conversation.  Well, the drums are so cool. They are made with goat skin and they still have the hair/fur on the skins. TOTALLY Awesome!!!

After Pastor Evans and Gilbert left, Isaac came with the car. Now I didn’t realize that we were going to an Engagement Party/Celebration. I just thought we were going to meet his Mom and brothers. Anyway, we drive down the road towards Eldoret. Now remember the road sucks big time, with all of the pot holes and crazy drivers. OK, so right after Mios Bridge we take a left onto a dirt/gravel road. Now this road is a decent road for dirt and gravel. We get to the end of the road and we turn right, go a little bit and then turn left again. At this point I have no idea where the heck I am. Then we drive for like forever and then Isaac says, “OK here we are.”  But I just want to know where the heck we are because I see nothing but fields and trees. OH Great I’m in the middle of nowhere Kenya and I have no idea how to get back home. Then he turns left onto another road, but I thought he said we were here!! Funny....So we drive down this road and then we turn into a farm, but it doesn’t really look like a farm to me.

Isaac parks the car and we get out, but we don’t go anywhere. Apparently we need to be invited to enter the compound. Now there are a ton of us waiting. Behind our car, there was 2 Matatu’s and a pickup with people in them. So we are all waiting to go inside the compound. Once inside there are seats under makeshift tarps so we all don’t melt in the sun, so Alice and I find a couple of seats and plant our butts. Isaac calls me over to where he is sitting and asks me if I will take pictures of this day. Well good thing I had my camera, right? So I start shooting my camera. Then I’m told that the families are going into the house to negotiate the “Bride Price.”  BRIDE PRICE??? What they heck! I said to Isaac, “Dude you put the cart before the horse, what gives with this?” Isaac then told me that they are doing this because he wants to properly ask for Caroline’s hand and he and she never did this to begin with. Then he asks me to come into the house and take photos, so I go.  He he...

Both families are in the house seated on opposite sides of the room. Once everyone is in and seated, the negotiations begin. OK I don’t understand a word being said, but there is a guy and he’s leading the talks. (You’d think this was government for how its set up LOL) Then there is a guy who is writing everything down. Caroline’s parents are sitting and so are aunts, uncles, grandparents, and so one. Just know there was a whole lot of people in this tiny room. So the lead guys begins the negotiations and then Isaac’s uncle (Isaac’s father died some years back, so his brother gets to negotiate the deal) Now they talk back and forth, just the men talk. Isaac’s Mom and Caroline’s Mom stay quiet for the time being. So after a bit it’s agreed that the Bride Price is 3 cows, 1 bull, 1 she goat, and 1 sheep.  Now I didn’t see any livestock, but I did see money change hands from Isaac’s uncle to Caroline’s father. 

YEAH, it’s agreed upon and now the mothers get to speak. Don’t have any idea what the heck they said, but apparently it was funny cause everyone laughed. Then the mothers exchanged gifts (it was tea actually) and all was well. 

End of Part l, Part ll will resume tomorrow.