Amy, I am proud of you that you can make real pie crust - it is the trickiest part of pie making and you can feel really proud of yourself if you have mastered it. And of course, being a Wallner, you have a long history of pie making and eating ahead of you!! As for the snooty Peace Corps workers, it sounds like they were just feeling out of place, unsure of themselves and new yet, so they were picking on you young college kids. Just like hens in a henhouse - a new hen comes in and they all have to pick on her. You shouldn't let anything they said rattle you - they are unaware of how much you have learned about Kenya in the short while you have been there.

Why Mom, I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about. I was nothing but a best friend with a certain little brother! :)

That tale of the older sister teasing the younger brother with the dung beetles on a string reminds me of a time or two when an older sister I know would do similar mischief with her younger brother - I won't mention any names but the picture of that older sister's smug expression after such mischief is still vividly in my mind!! No dung beetles though - maybe some favorite toy or car owned by the little brother instead. Remember those days, Amy?

You grabbed my attention again! Hope you don't mind that I'm sharing your stories with my high school students....right along with "Canoeing with the Cree" by Eric Sevareid.

I think that on your boring drives places you should have brought Karl's favorite game with...ya know "hey cow" except you could turn it into "hey shoat" too. That woud be pretty entertaining right?

Thank you for the post card! d*** and I read through the blog update tonight. Look forward to checking for updates next weekend. Take care...keep soaking in the experience!

Man-eating lions, venemous snakes, charging buffalo, stomping elephants; you really are living on the edge, Amy. There's no birthday present I can offer you with that much excitement to go with. So hope all your classmates help you celebrate the big 22. It surely will be a year and a birthday to remember. I know this is a few days early but -HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I would love to see your list of "10 things..." Still loving your blog entries...and I don't think they are "blah blah blahing" like Jo does. Haha! Also, I totally agree with your mom...your very descriptive. Quite the writer. Anyway dude...miss you...cheerin' loud at all the FB games for you!

MAX, your trip sounds incredible, and it is interesting to read, but you really do a lot of blah blah blahing. It is not JO-proof. Who is this Wisconsin-Hater?? What state are they from?

I wish I were 20 something again and brave enough to be taking on the wilds of Africa!! I am envious and elated. You describe it all so well, I feel like I am looking over your shoulder and seeing it with you. I am still pondering that water issue - ther must be some type of Mulch that would work to help them with their tomatoes and reduce the loss of water being diverted. I am sure it is a gardening problem that can be solved. Keep studying and observing. Keep the journal writing going. Mom

Thanks for all the messages! I'm glad to see that people are reading all my blah blah blahing. I'm having a great time and everyday presents something new for my classmates and I! Keep reading!

Everyday sounds like a new and amazing adventure.  It's so sur-real to read your blogs.  I can't even imaging seeing lions, and zebras, and all of that wildlife that you only see on t.v.  Your time at the schools sounds like a major eye-opening event too.  I hope you are taking in every minute of it and living it up!