Safe in the Country

Alright! I have been out of communication for a while, but I have now landed in my final destination of Kapsabet, Kenya. I would have posted earlier, but Internet was running at about 1 bit/min the last two days, and I am taking a day trip today to Eldoret.

Since I last posted I have experienced some of the most wild/jarring transportation ever in my life. Basic point A-B transport is done by matatu. Which is a van with room for about 10-15 people judging on how tight you pack them. The drivers do laps from one point to the other and ferry people along the way. They are beyond reckless in their pursuit to increase efficiency. I just try and sit in the back now and avoid looking ahead, which would just stress me out even more. Driving in Nairobi was like a snow globe of cars just endlessly being shaken.
The road out to the country was smooth for about 3 hrs and then, switched to the bumpiest ride I have ever had on a "road". It is amazing that buses and big rigs take these severely pot-holed roads.
Finally arrived in Kapsabet, and some of Bernard's friends met us at the bus stop and helped with our bags to the house 400yds away. For the standards that I had viewed out the window and running around since, we are not living bad. We have electricity and 4 rooms, 2 bedrooms, a sitting room and a kitchen room. The kitchen houses a kerosene camp stove where all our meals our cooked. Besides Bernard and myself, two other guys live there. They are runners as well, but do not seem to be as serious.
Compared to Nairobi, Kapsabet people are unbelievable. Every single person (after getting over the shock of my skin color) are bend over backwards nice and everyone has invited us over for tea. The country side is beautiful, and the hills roll everywhere. I would guess this town has maybe roughly 10,000 people surrounding and no lie I think 1,000 are elite if not world class runners. I have never seen so many runners flying around in groups training. The town track is a bees nest of activity.
I have been reading a bunch, and finished all my novels already. I read the bible everyday, and if I want a headache open a computer programming book my boss, David, gave me. My roommates listen to Kenny Rogers and N'Sync on full blast at all hours, which doesn't really bother me because it could be way worse. I just never expected to hear 'The Gambler' at 6:15 am in Kenya!

Training:
For our runs we rise at before dawn and shuffle outside, for anywhere from 45-90 min run. This week is supposed to be a just get acclimated week, but we have run some of the hardest routes already. Thankfully have been able to keep up, and the few extra days in Nairobi seems to have helped a lot.
This morning I met with Martin Lel before he went out to run with his group of 30 runners in tow. It was amazing to meet a Beijing gold medal hopeful, up close and we had a nice conversation. It is amazing how welcoming he was. People yell at me from their homes 'Welcome to Kenya" or 'Karibu!'. Thankfully I have picked up a little bit of Swahili and can thank people and greet them.
I am feeling pretty good training but naps afterwards are a must to recover. I am going to have to adjust to eating less, and drinking copious amounts of Kenyan tea (roughly 10 cups a day!). H

I hope everyone is well and I appreciate the messages people have left.
Neil