The Plague of the Ants

I know that I am fighting a losing battle, but I continue to fight the ants that infest our house in Samburu. No matter how much we try to clean up every bit of food they seem to find a small bit that has spilled unnoticed.

And they don’t just come in a small army; the ants arrive with their family and all their friend ants within a 5 km radius. Really how can there be so many ants in a small village in Kenya? And how do so many ants find out that one of our housemates didn’t wash their plate one night? And by morning…

I have discovered a few ways to cope but any advice would be welcomed…

1. I have tried luring them to more interesting sweet things like our soda bottles- outside!

2. I have tried to make an example of a small group of ants that infested my dish cloth and told the witnessing ants to tell their friends. They didn’t listen though.

3. When I find them in scouring in our food, I remember that this is all we have to eat, I scrape them out and eat anyways. Mmm… protein.

4. Finally, acceptance. Whatever! Do what we can to protect our food but think these ants need to eat also.

It's been too long...

" Asante sana" for your patience! (Thank you very much...)


Sorry for the delay in updating my blog. It is a challenge at times to access the only computer in the house with internet where 9 of us are living. But things are going very well here and I am learning and experiencing lots.


I wanted to post a few pics just to give a glimpse of what I am doing.



The first picture- this is when we went to help de-silt a dam in a village. We dug and then removed the dirt so more water could be collected in the dam during the rains. It was a fun way to meet the community. It was hot and a good neck workout.







Second picture- This is when we were installing a filter in someone's home in the village of Chanzou II.


Well, we are off to the field for a busy week of filter construction and getting to know the people in the new community of Kazamoyo!



Peace.