We visited the Obama family compound where Grandma Sarah (our president's grandmother) holds court for any interested visitors.
The President's father and grandfather are buried within the compound, a usual practice in Africa where loved ones are buried close to their families.
President Obama's cousin entertained us before Grandma Sarah came out. She along with several other relatives had attended the inaugural events.
The Grandma Sarah household also had several cats; this one left the house via the window just before Sarah came out to greet us.
To avoid having 12 cameras flashing, we designated Betsy as our official photographer. We each had our picture taken with Grandma Sarah as well as a group photo. And here they are.
Before, and after, the visit with Sarah, one can shop for official Obama Compound souvenirs. Pretty much the same things one finds elsewhere, but these are made largely by Obama relatives who live in the area.
After leaving Grandma Sarah's we stopped at a shopping center to buy a couple of things for the families we'd be visiting. I took the opportunity to buy a towel since I hadn't seen that on the list for the trip, but it's needed for where we'll be staying in Nyaoga. Bought, and thoroughly enjoyed, an ice cream bar. The first ice cream -- and first cold thing -- I've had since arriving in Africa!
The last part of the journey was on very difficult roads in the dark. Thank goodness for Paul, our very competent bus driver. Arrived at the Nyaoga Clinic compound about 9 p.m. Six of us will be sleeping in the staff housing; six will be at Uncle's house, a member of the community with a larger house. Four of us (Cammie, Jennifer, Cassidy, and I) shared one room. There were bunk beds, but one couldn't set up our mosquito tents on the beds so we pulled the mattresses onto the floor before putting the tents up. I confirmed that I had indeed lost/left my sleep sack somewhere along the way -- probably early in the trip prior to or on the gorilla trek. Fortunately there was a sheet available that I was able to use.
I'd been told that the bathroom facilities were outhouse type, although located within the building. I didn't realize that the toilet was of the squat, rather than sit, variety. Am so glad I've been doing Aerobics and am pretty strong and flexible!
The "shower" was the round wash basin which one filled with water (not heated) and poured over one's body using the cup.
Finally got into bed about 11 p.m.
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