Goodbye to Margaret

In just about 2 hours we head to the airport for our departure from Nairobi. We all feel a bit bittersweet - happy that we are about to embark on a new chapter in our lives and proud that we had this amazing experience and opportunity to experience life in Kenya. On the sad side we just said good-bye to Margaret. She has been such a rock in our life since she started with us a year and a half ago. In the beginning we weren't sure at all how it would be with full-time help in the house. After speaking with numerous other expats and other middle class Kenyans we quickly got an idea but still weren't sure how the day-to-day would be.

The beginning was a little awkward as we struggled to understand some language and cultural differences but very quickly we came to realize Margret was a treasure. We can't imagine what our life would have been like here in Kenya without her loving soul and quiet but can-do attitude. The kids became very attached to her and she would have the patience of a saint to play with them for hours (soccer with Matthew and mommy and daddy with Ruby to name a few). All the while ensuring laundry was done, dishes were clean, and something prepped for dinner.

A couple months ago as it became clear we would be returning to the states we wanted to make sure there would be another family that would be as lucky as us to have her work for them. See Rhonda's note below that she sent out to search for another family -- Rhonda sums up perfectly our feelings...

"Margaret is one of the most hard-working, loyal, honest and kind

people I've ever met. Our children are completely bonded to her, and I

anticipate they'll be heartbroken to say "goodbye" when we leave.  She

takes up any request with a positive and happy attitude, though most

of the time she takes care of things before we even have a chance to

ask for her help. Periodically, we've asked her to stay late to help

in the evening after a party. Last time this happened, she refused to

rest in the middle of the day because she saw the work that had to be

done, worked persistently throughout the afternoon and continued

cleaning late at night long after we'd told her she should go to bed.

It's important to us to see Margaret in a good situation because we

couldn't be more grateful to her."

We are happy to report another family will be hiring her.

Some pictures/videos from today's goodbye...

with her son Martin at their apartment in Kangemi

outside her apartment in Kangemi