Here was one of the few places where photos of children did not bring them running. Sometimes they were even hostile, but not this group.

(All photos and commentary pertain to the 1984-86 period.)

More on the people of Kenya.

Note the variety of coloring, the effort at being neat. These are poor, rural children.

Shyness and curiosity.

Dignity and presence.

I don't know, but this might have been their first time looking through a camera.

To me, this photo is a symbol of the ambiguous nature of cross-cultural communication. It is easy to become arrogant and dismissive of people who can be thrilled by something we take for granted. But, with most of the (1st world) people I knew, occasions like this were both taken as an obligation - part of our duty to be friendly and to share - as well as a chance to remind ourselves of how fortunate we were.

Note the variety of expression in this and the previous photo which were taken close together.