Out of Africa Part 5 (cont.): A Different World

We had opportunity to see how the local people go about their daily tasks- so different when compared to life as we know it. Martha is Jason and Roxanne's house helper. She comes to their home around 7:30 in the morning, Monday through Friday, and works for them until early afternoon. Roxanne and Martha together make all kinds of breads from scratch, including tortillas and English muffins, since you can't buy these things. On tortilla day, tortilla-making is about all that is accomplished, as Roxanne will make 50 or 60 tortillas at a time and then freeze them to use as needed. While we were there Martha made the most wonderful fresh mango juice a couple of times, and also fresh orange juice on the day we brought a bag or oranges home. She made chapatis, cooked the noon meal, made beds, mopped floors, washed dishes, and ironed clothes. She helps out with whatever needs to be done that day, and there is always plenty to do.
Here Martha is preparing the dough for chapatis. She prefers to sit on her small stool close to the floor to work rather than on the counter like we would do.
While we visited the family where Jason and Roxanne did their homestay when they first arrived on the island, I was invited into the cook house to watch while the ladies prepared chapatis. Though this family has a very nice house, the women spend most of the day in this separate cook house, cooking over red hot coals. After being in there for about five minutes, I was dripping with sweat and about ready to pass out. I can't imagine what it must be like in January and February when it's really hot! Immediately after the chapatis were fried, they were served to us - delicious - and then the remaining ones were sent home with us to enjoy later. It was a humbling experience to have these women perform such a laborious task just so they could be hospitable and serve us while we were there.

Here is a picture of sweet little Zawadi, the daughter of James and Mama Zawadi, who are the caretakers on Jason and Roxanne's property. We just fell in love with this little girl. She warmed up to us right away and didn't seem frightened even though she had no idea what we were saying to her other than the two or three swahili words we would use. The family lives in the little house on the left, and cooks in the building on the right. (These two buildings are just across the walkway from Jason's house). James or Mama were always available to open the gate for us when we returned from being gone (part of their responsibility); and they sweep the patio, help carry packages into the house, wash Jason's car, etc.They also use some of Jason and Roxanne's land to grow spinach which they are able to sell for extra cash. After they harvest it, they immediately set new plants so they have a continuous crop. Jim was able to get a couple of pictures while they were at work. Of course little Zawadi was safely strapped onto her mama's back to keep her out of trouble.
She really seemed to like Bibi and Babu . . .

and often acts like Anni's little shadow. Sometimes she would wander into their house and make herself at home with Anni's toys. We wish we could have taken her home with us.