How Are You? How Are You?

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

After leaving Nakuru Town we had a long afternoon drive through rural Kenya.

There were always people by the roadside. The African children would get so excited as our truck passed by. They would come running out of buildings toward the road and shriek and jump and wave their arms in the air.

They would shout "How are you! How are you!" at the top of their lungs, or sometimes just " You! You! You!"

It was hard not to crack a smile at all their enthusiam. We waved back as we rumbled by. All afternoon we waved at people. Sometimes grown-ups would wave too, but it was mostly children.

"I feel like we're rock stars", somebody commented.

"Or the Queen", replied another.

A few times we were able to stop and chat for a moment with the children while we stopped to let Pete buy charcoal or vegetables from road-side vendors.

Lizzie gave a notebook and a pen to a woman sitting by the road on a blanket with her child and her cattle. I gave her daughter a candy. They were so pleased!

I asked if I could take their picture and they nodded and grinned some more, but first the mother said "Oh! My hair!" and threw a sweater over her head. Then she was ready for the picture.

It seemed my pockets were always full of treats on this trip. Bags of mints and gummy frogs and other sweets constantly made the rounds of the back of the truck. I didn't eat them for the most part; I saved them for the kids I saw. Well, okay, I ate the cassava chips...they were yummy!

At one stop this afternoon I leaned out the window and gave a small boy a few peppermints. He ran away and then came back, bringing a little friend with him. I gave his friend some treats too. They had the brightest smiles.

Now I realize candy is not great for the teeth, and I've heard the argument that one shouldn't encourage children in other countries to always have their hands out expecting something from visitors, but I think of the children I know back home who are spoiled beyond belief compared to the material poverty of the children we saw today.

What child doesn't appreciate a treat once in a while?