My Home in Pictures

This is the front of our unit. The buildings are cement. The roof is a corrugated tin.
 Shoes are always removed before entering.
A water tank is to the left. The top is often used for drying clothes. There is also a clothesline.

We have 2 gates like this. This is the inner gate. A car could be parked between the inner and outer gates. It is metal with a small entry door to the left (gold latch).

This is the main gate and wall that surrounds the compound.

The spear-like ornaments on tape of the gate are not only decorative but sharp.

Along the top of the wall you can see embedded broken glass.

This is additional security. However, I feel very safe here.

Another look at the wall.
Most of the glass is from bottles - Coke & Konyagi bottles being the most prominent.
Konyagi is a very popular local alcohol similar to gin.

This is our kitchen. Neema is an amazing cook.
I have told her I have no need to eat at any restaurants
because her meals are so delicious. She uses a small
cookstove (top of table on right). There is also a
sandwich maker for toast and egg sandwiches.

This is our sitting room and eating area.
The kitchen nook is behind the chair on the left.

This is all my luggage.
Most of the contents will be donated before I leave.

This is my room. It is quite large (approx 10 x 14). The 2 large windows provide plenty of light. The double bed has a 5 inch foam mattress (typical). I am tucked in each night by my mosquito net which is a necessity. The rains have been very heavy this year plus there is a rice field not far away. I have noticed far more mosquitoes than in previous visits.  The table and chair serve as my desk.

This is the other part of the room. I have lots of hooks on the door plus the 2 plastic shelves (hot pink) for clothes. I even have a laundry basket (yellow in right corner). The door leads to the bathroom/shower.

                                     

The bathroom is about 10 feet long and 5 feet wide. I love squatty potties! I actually find them to be more natural and sanitary (in most places). Training for squatty potty use includes serious workouts on the quads. This one has a flusher. Those that don't are flushed with water manually. We have a septic system here.

This is the shower. The water drains into the squatty potty. The water from both the shower head and spigot is unheated. Neema boils water for me and fills the bucket about half way. I then add the cooler water from the spigot and use a cup to dump the water. I am challenging myself to see how little water I can use.                                

This is the end of the bathroom with my sink. I do not drink the water even for brushing my teeth. Getting sick is not on my agenda.

       

So this is a glimpse into how I will be living for the next 2 months. I have been continuously moving towards a minimalist lifestyle for the last several years. I welcome the challenge of being resourceful and getting by on as little as possible. For me this is temporary.