A funny thing happened on the way home from work:

At least I'm pretty sure it was a funny thing. I wasn't told the joke, but apparently I was a riot walking home from work today. The road to and from my health center cuts in between two schools, though I don't understand how so many children come from just two schools. I got out of work just as school was letting up. I saw the small bodies swarming around and I gave up on my idea of a semi-peaceful walk home. The advice I got during my training in Nyzanza, the best way to integrate is to say hello to everyone, especially the children. So, I start saying hello to passing children. Pretty soon, hello isn't enough and the kids want to shake my hand. I feel like some celebrity, having to touch each child's hand before moving on. At this point, I've given up asking names since I wouldn't be able to tell one from the other. By now a mob has formed around me as I make my way down the hill. Amazingly, there is little pushing and shoving as the whole group moves seamlessly along. Every now and then an older child will come up and vie for a spot near me. They are already laughing so I figure I might as well make it worth their while and start with the "mother may I" giant steps, stopping abruptly to see if I can trick any of them. A couple get close to colliding, but they are all much to quick to actually bump me. My little antics have caused the laughing fits to descend into full-blown hysterics. Like I said, I wasn't told the joke, but I must have been funny. Who knew it was so easy to entertain kids. My mob followed me all the way back into town and a few of the braver ones even tried following me to a store to buy water. Unfortunately I lost my fan base when it was clear I was back to doing those ordinary things like buying stuff. Overall, the walk home couldn't have been better. Make friends with the local kids; check.