La Mordida

Keep smiling and know the drill!!

Inevitable in Kenya is an opportunity for a meet and greet with the local Popo. Police forces throughout the globe will associate their work with vision statements like "keeping our communities safe" or "to serve and protect" but here in Kenya, it's more like "to swerve and detect". Swerve around justice and detect any cash that may be available for the taking. 😂 It's a daily fact of life for Kenyans. My Spanish teacher Francesca talked about the South American equivalent called La Mordida -- the bite! -- the world over, one just hopes not to be bitten. And with that, let me relate last weekend's hilarious experience.

As I slipped the Land Cruisr into a parking spot at the mall a panting sweating officer stuck his head and most of his upper torso through the window in as menacing a manner as he could muster. He then declared in an equally menacing manner that I had evaded arrest and driven dangerously and would be going to jail. He had been running after me for 3 blocks!! Ahhh!!! - I recognize this play and after a bit of experience in countries where this behavior is de rigueur, started the game. First - a big smile and then a few words in Swahili. "My brother" I said - "such a beautiful day". Step one completed - I know the drill.



After a moment where he now looked a bit uncomfortable, he mustered the same bravado earlier feigned and demanded my license. Again - a smile as I produced my license but! not handing it over and maintaining a firm grip. The ensuing and anticipated tug-a-war over my license was nothing short of a comedy act. You see once he has your license in hand you are truly fucked as you cannot go anywhere without paying.  "You must give it to me" he said. "no no no" I smiled and said. The tug -a-war won by yours truly, he then demanded that I let him into the vehicle to discuss "no no no" I said and smiled again. And as I began to exit the vehicle he said "you must remain in the vehicle" ... "no no no" I said still smiling as I locked the door. "I will have to take you to jail" he then said. I smiled broadly and again in Swahili said "we both know that's not going to happen".  Perplexed and disappointed he then said "how about just a little something small" - clearly not happy. Sure I said - I'm going to wish you a very beautiful day and thank you for all you hard work. At that we both smiled shook hands chuckling and went about or respective business. We both know the drill!!! My goodness that was fun !!!!

It reminds me of a similar event in Indonesia where I was pulled over on my scooter. I was asked for $500 USD. Knowing that this was an inevitability in the country, and prior to leaving the house, I arranged my wallet so only $5 was showing. Rather than a long bargaining session on a glorious day, I made the show of looking disaapointely through my wallet finally offering all I had. It's $5 or nothing  I said dejectedly. He took it and it was done. I later met up with another fellow that had been pulled over at the same time. "Can you believe that"!!! he said - "it cost me $500"!!! It's good to know the drill.

Jake & Yvonne

It's with a ton of joy that I share more on the story of Jake and his Mom. Her brother Malcom was fortunate to get a job as a barista and with that was able to afford a 2 bedroom apartment in Kawangware where they live together with their two other brothers. Last I shared, Yvonne and Jake were "sleeping down" and really struggling with illness and associated challenges.

Always positive, Yvonne continues to smile broadly in a much better neighborhood and with food on the table every day. Many thanks to those who continue to help support Yvonne and Jake and if you would like to give a bit more, an e-interact of $50 to Laynemahon@live.com will help out immensely. Together we have been able to send weekly for almost 2 years. Yvonne and Jake are very thankful -- as am I.

Tough drive into work this week. Traffic was a bitch!

Thanks for reading ...Layno!!!
(teeth brushing with my Massai brothers)