Burned beans

OK, so the beans were a flop. I was so determined to make a really good meal for Chris, mom, and Cody when they got here. I had soaked the beans and followed all the instructions but after several hours of cooking, they still weren't soft...so I decided to cook them overnight. I woke up this morning to the smell of death wafting up from the kitchen. I hadn't added enough water to the pot and the beans were charred. Poor Jen can't get the smell of burnt beans out of her mind, as it seems to be on our clothes and skin and in her backpack (thankfully she is being a really good sport about it), but I haven't given up. I will try to make the beans again tonight, and if it doesn't work, I will try again. I am determined to cook something good here!

I have somewhat hit the wall in my trip like I did last time. Last night, I had leftover indian food for dinner and it was not good, so I had a piece of strawberry yogurt bread that I had made on Tuesday and it had somehow turned bitter. Then, I decided to make banana bread which turned out ok, but it's like the baking powder wasn't mixed in well or something and I kept getting these little glimpses of a tangy taste every few bites. Then, the beans....not to mention somehow I got bleach on my clothes because I was decontaminating the counters after cutting up the chicken. My clothes are looking so incredibly dingy after being washed a few times here. I don't know if it's too harsh of detergent or what but most everything I brought is turning into a muted brownish version of whatever color it used to be. It makes me feel very frumpy.

But at the same same time (Kenyans like to say things twice like that) I don't really feel that bad. I have plenty of food to eat and clothes to wear so I am doing better than most people around here. Thankfully I saved one dress that hasn't been worn or washed here at all so I can wear something nice when I go to pick everyone up at the airport. I think I just keep battling with the feelings of wanting life to be a certain way versus accepting the way things are here. The concept of living in Kenya the way I lived in America just doesn't work, nor is it a healthy goal. I just want to have peace with my life here, trying to make things better, but accepting it when things don't turn out the way I want. I've always thought of myself as being low-maintenance, but now I see that is all a matter of perspective!