Dear Dad,

Another Father’s Day and here I am far far away from you as the family gathers for beers and barbeque by the pool in Montreal. On days like these when I am so distant, there are many memories of you from my childhood that I cherish and often think about to bring a smile to my face.

One of those is how we used to watch Montreal Canadiens hockey games together (sometimes past my bedtime). Although I never became as excited watching hockey games as you did, you would always rub my head for good luck, and that’s all I needed to make it fun and enjoyable for me.

This past February, when you and I had the opportunity to attend our first hockey game together in years, it was for me, a very special experience. (thanks to Drew Dorweiler for making it possible!) Especially shutting out Toronto 3-0 (probably because you kept rubbing my head)! Let’s not wait so long until we go again and maybe we can help propel the Habs to another Stanley Cup.

Canadiens vs Maple Leafs: 3-0 final score - February 12, 2011

Happy Father’s Day Dad, I love you.

Your son,
Ryan

On a moto-taxi here in Kisumu and passed a huge house. Driver and I start talking about incomes and rents. In a month he earns about $200 in his job, working 12hrs a day, 6-7 days/week; pays $15 in rent for one room w/ kitchen which he shares with his wife and three kids, two of whom are in school.  He rents his motobike for about $100 a month, leaving him with about 85$ left to buy food, water, clothing, school fees, and gasoline (which is pricey right now) – not to mention medicine if its needed. Don’t forget about sanitary pads and pay-per-use toilets. He lives in a local slum called Nyalenda, where there are no water/toilet connections – he uses about as much water in a day as we would use in a 3min shower. When I tell him I know somewhere he could get cheaper water (about 15% cheaper than the usual market rate), he is very interested to hear about it…

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

- Wayne Gretzky or Michael Jordan?

The simple message is that you should act on your dreams and goals because if you don’t try you’ll never know what might have happened. So take your best shot and don’t give up!

Have a great day!

P.S. If you know whether it was Gretzky or Jordan who said this, please comment below.

At local restaurant Al Noor in Kisumu’s Swan Centre and just wolfed down a plate of delicious nyama choma (grilled lamb) with kachumbari (tomatoes and onions) and a pinch of salt. This is a popular Kenyan dish, which takes up to 90 minutes to prepare. Best served with a cold beer or three. Tasting local foods is one of the most delightful pleasures of travelling.

Nyama choma in Isiolo, Kenya (Aug 2008 trip)

Thanks to my new friend and colleague Ekesa Obando for the treat.