It starts to get a little hairy...

This is Patience. She is an absolute darling with a wonderful sense of adventure and infectious friendship. Every other day she takes Swahili lessons and she likes to practice what she's learning with everyone she meets - the guards that hang out on the streets outside the absurdly beautiful mansion/gardens near the British Institute, the grocer, the baker, and of course the Butcher. (Unfortunately, we haven't met any candlestick makers, yet). At least one of these conversations has earned her "the best lamb I've ever tasted, it was amazing". That would be from the butcher's mom, who has insisted that she bring her husband (that's me in case your wondering who's writing) along next time so they can take us out to eat real Indian food.

But her best new friend is Sheline. Not only is Sheline great company and about the same age - but she knows where to shop. Two pairs of jeans for $25, including a couple snazzy leather belts can do wonders at cementing a friendship. So can food. Sheline has redeemed "ugali" in Patience's mind (its essentially REALLY stiff malt-o-meal made from corn flour); apparently its much better when its fresh and served with vedge (that veggies for all you non-Brits out there) and tasty herbs and fish biriani (biriani is a tomato based sauce). Whenever you get ugali at the restaurants its been sitting in a tin pot since morning and usually served with barely warm sukumawiki (literally "push the week", actually a green leafy vegetable similar to collared greens) and a semblance of tomatoes and cabbage that counts as "salad" around these parts and is usually discarded by overly cautious wazungu (travelers) who've been scared to death by various travel clinic doctors.

But enough digression, you want to
know about the hair. Well, here it is. Courtesy of Sheline who provided the reference and brought Patience out to Kibera to the salon, Patience is now a Rasta.