January 13, 1975

Dearest Mother & Daddy--

Dr. Teer to Nairobi yesterday morning and Iım still trying to adjust back to something like 
our routine existence.  Dr. Teer said he would call you when he gets back to A&M so I 
hope he doesnıt forget.

Dr. Mcharo talked briefly to Dr. Teer & Joe while they were waiting for the plane to come 
and pick Teer up.  He told them that Joe can probably collect birds in the park but that it 
must be arranged & carried out _very_ quietly.  The director of National Parks hasnıt made 
an official decision but if he was called upon to, it probably wouldnıt go in Joeıs favor.  It 
seems to be the best policy to not force him to decide on anything -- because he doesnıt go 
back on any decision.  We will wait and see.

The Folses & the MacNaughtens (N.Y.) & the Bindernagels (Canada) ate roasted goat at 
the Mcharoıs house last night to celebrate the departure of all our guests.  We sat around 
and ate the goat with our fingers, drank beer, listened to Rock & Roll music of the late 
1950ıs, and let our kids run wild.    The Bindernagel baby, Sarah -- age 3 weeks, is really a 
darling.  Her mother, Joan, is doing very nicely -- playing tennis, etc.  She was miserable 
during her last three months of pregnancy (the heat, mostly) and we were all worried she 
wouldnıt be in too good a shape after the baby came.

Oh yes, Dr. Teer has agreed to A&M paying our rent though he really hates the idea.  The 
rent is only about $35 a month but our stipend wonıt cover it without us giving up 
something (like meat & eggs).  Of course the Kleburg foundation through Teer & A&M 
spent over $30,000 building this house, so they donıt want to pay rent either.  Then there is 
the 3rd side -- SRI by government decree must charge rent for all its houses -- so nobody 
wins.  Anyway, Teer said to pay it every six months or so but put it down on the receipts, 
subvouchers, etc as fees.

I just reread your last letter we received -- dated Dec 27th which we got on the 10th.  So 
there.  Now you canıt complain again that I _never_ tell you how long things take to get 
here.  Actually, mail service from the US. so far has been fairly irregular.  Anywhere from 
about 10 to 22 days for an airmailed letter.  During November and the first part of 
December the U.S. mail would come in large clumps: none for 10 days, then a great deal all 
at once.  Lately, however, we have received mail in a much more regular fashion.  I suspect 
that during the peak tourist seasons, more planes are scheduled from N.Y. to Nairobi and so 
better mail service results.

As for that tea service, it is a 5 piece, stainless steel tea and coffee st.  It has a tray, sugar & 
creamer, a teapot and a smaller pot for either hot water (to dilute tea) of coffee.  It isnıt at all 
elaborate -- so you forget the vision of a sterling silver, formal tea service with lots of scrolls 
& frills.  People out here do serve a lot of coffee & tea.  Since people do their ³office² 
work in their homes, people do visit others quite frequently and you service coffee in the 
A.M., tea in the P.M., and either beer or coffee at night.

The Christmas card you enclosed which came from England was from one of Stephanieıs 
old baby-sitters.  Wanda is in the Air Force there (she was very big on the military -- high 
school ROTC in Bryan, etc -- Joe nicknamed her ³the sargent.²)

Mother, Iım enclosing a list of activity books which one company puts out.  Stephanie 
really enjoys these sorts of things, especially when we are in the car censusing birds at 
about 5 mph.  Iıve got some of those sorts of things here and more coming in the box but I 
can tell she will need more within, say, 6 months.  So if you could buy her some of these 
sorts of things and then mail them, _book rate_ by surface mail, I would greatly appreciate 
it.  These particular books Iım sending you the names of are fairly expensive ($1 each) but 
they are the biggest and the nicest.  Besides, I bought many books of this sort of other 
publishers, whch, since they are in the box, I canıt give you the titles and you might 
duplicate them.  Donıt worry about getting material too advanced for your granddaughter; I 
figure she is reading on about the 3rd grade level -- incredible, but true.

Much love,
Jan, Joe & Stephanie