BYE BYE AMSTERDAM, HELLO KENYA (for our english speaking friends & family)

As I am writing this, I am sitting in front of our tent in Masai Mara in Kenya, in a lodge called Karen Blixen Camp, overlooking the Mara river. Hippos and crocs are our neighbours, and lots of wildlife come over to have a drink.

Five days ago we said bye to our house in Amsterdam, after a couple of stressfull weeks. Finishing work, try to rent out the house, get school stuff for the kids organised, getting all our medical essentials, apply for visas, try to see as many friends and family as we could, sorting out clothes, etc. All of this because of a plan we made a year and a half ago.

We live in a nice bubble in our part of Amsterdam. Where life is good and comfortable. It was time to show our kids more of the world. So they can meet other cultures, experience different food and ways of travelling, meeting new people and see how they live. It was now or never since Loïs is getting older and we had the possibility to quit work for a year.

And here we are. Starting off in Kenya. Totally different world, different culture, different food, different animals … I realise we are so lucky we are able to do this and every day I pinch myself in the arm to make sure it is real. We are enjoying all the wild animals: we have seen lots of lions (with cubs), a leoppard, cheeta’s, elephants, girafs, zebra’s, gnoes, hyenas, gazelles, hippo’s… The Masai people who live here in Masai Mara are so friendly. The food is great.

We visited a Masai Village and Loïs and I joined the welcoming dance. They showed us around in their huts. The huts are the size of our children’s bedrooms and that includes the space for the calfs. It was tiny and dark inside. With only a small opening for the smoke of the fire in their fireplace. Two beds for mom and dad and the children are tucked away in a narrow cove behind the calfs. They explained their breakfast consists of milk and blood of the cow. Very healthy they said. Every evening they slaughter a cow, but vegetables, that is never on the menu. The community existes of 100 people. Dancing is a great part of their traditions, they practise it every day, and I have to say, they all looked very fit. On top of the entrance of the huts were wooden straws for keeping the children under control he said. Every morning when they leave the hut, they get a few slacks so they are warned to behave and pay attention. It needs no further explanation our kids were totally in shock by this. They decided not to emigrate to Kenya, haha.

Is it all fun and highlights? No, it certainly isn’t. It was a hell of a job to get everything ready, we found renters at the very last moment, we have to cope with a daughter who is afraid to fly and we struggle with a teenage daughter who is not at all happy with this whole idea. But as I am sitting here, in this beautiful part of the world, I am so proud we are doing this. As a family. Facing challenges, learning new things, looking for new adventures. We keep you posted!

Paulien