Kat in Kenya

Rear Window

2006-04-27T05:21:00.000+02:00

Interesting things happen to the unemployed:

- yesterday I got free Baskin Robbin's ice cream and didn't have to wait in line for long because I went when everyone else was in work!

- this morning my closet exploded. Ok, didn't explode but the bar fell out of the wall. The repair man who is in the house renovating the other bedrooms said he would fix it but never came back. I guess I will have to sleep on top of all the clothes and hangers on my bed.

- my pen fell out of my mouth into the depths of the gas oven. Turns out you can access under the elements from going in from the back of the oven. You learn something new every day.

- if you apply for enough jobs you will start to dream about it. One dream had me getting a job I didn't apply for. The other dream had me calling a company to see why they didn't hire me.

- there is a slightly batty woman living next door who sometimes walks up to the window in the backdoor of her garage and stands there yelling at her reflection until her daughter comes out and tells her "That is enough mama!"

Movin' on up

2006-04-23T05:41:00.000+02:00

This week I moved in to my new place (with the help of my parents). It was relatively quick and painless. The only problem I face now is that much of the apartment is currently under renovation and thus other than my room, it is mass-chaos everywhere else with boxes and furniture from the rooms under renovation in all extra spaces. At this point though I am just worrying about my room and getting myself all settled in. So far so good.

People in Toronto often seem in bad moods. I think I am realizing that my time in Nairobi was more akin to spending time in a small community than a big city (which it was) because within my neighborhood I got to know a lot of people and they sure recognized me quickly. Also, as far as the expat community went, it was pretty easy to pick out people you knew if you were in a crowded marketplace! And people were all just so friendly there. People sneer here more.

Although I have to say that no one has tried to rip me off yet because of my skin colour. But CRAP everything has gotten SO EXPENSIVE! Prices have risen so much in the past 9 months. I will need a job a lot faster than I expected at this point!

I'm still wrestling with whether or not I should continue some type of blog. I want to but I just am having a hard time coming up with things to say other than me complaining about things. I don't want to be so negative.

I like it here, don't get me wrong. It is just this adjustment period that is a bit painful.

Snowy Spring

2006-04-10T00:17:00.000+02:00

Snow at Camp, originally uploaded by Kattaka.

I went to Thunder Bay to visit some family. It is in Northern Ontario and is quite cold there. I saw my 90 year old grandma, had some Finnish pancakes, played with my cousin's 3 sons, ate a lot of food and tried not to freeze.

Last night I was back in Sault Ste. Marie and went to my friend's place for a belated birthday dinner and then to a house party. It made me really miss Kenya and my friends there because the parties in Kenya were always so much fun and this one kind of sucked. It is hard not to compare everything to Kenya but really it has only been 3 weeks since I have been there so it is hard not to.

I don't think I am allergic to alcohol. I haven't drank in a few days and have still gotten the allergic reactions. (WHEW!) The investigation continues...

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

2006-04-07T05:38:00.000+02:00

I am trying my best to have the same outlook and excitement about what I do here as I did in Kenya. Today I went to watch my mom curl. You know, like curling, the winter sport? I used to curl when I was in grade 7 and 8. It was what made me so popular back then. :)

Then I found a great pair of Kenneth Cole pants for really cheap at Winners, this store that sells brand-name clothes at affordable prices. Imagine! I envision myself wearing said pants to an interview where I knock them dead and get the job on the spot. Such are the day dreams playing out in my head these days.

While I was in the mall I saw that we have a store in Sault Ste. Marie that is called "SABERS" and it sells... SWORDS AND SHIELDS! (And sabers I am assuming). What is this world coming to? Seriously, is such a store necessary? Slightly frightening that there is enough demand for swords and shields that warrants a store be in the mall providing such goods for 365 days a year.

Tonight I pretended I was a teacher and went to a teacher mingling party with my teacher friends. I got free appetizers and got to watch Rob perform in a kind of retro soul band. They were really good.

But I have some potentially terrible news. I have been having these weird allergic reactions nearly every time I eat since landing in London (it seems) and even more so since I have been in Canada. And tonight I figured out what it is that is making my throat itchy and swollen. It is ALCOHOL! Is that not nuts? I drank so much in Kenya and had NO PROBLEMS and now back in Canada I have a few sips of wine or beer and my throat is totally itchy. I'm not sure what to do about it but I'm trying not to think about it too much. My whole world is changing. How could this happen!?!?!?

Well, it is cold here.

2006-04-05T05:35:00.000+02:00

Me and the Queen, originally uploaded by Kattaka.

And no, I am not in London - despite the photo posted to confuse you - I just put that up to let you all know that I am finally caught up in uploading my photos. Check them out by clicking on the photo.

I am home in Sault Ste Marie visiting my parents. It is snowing here. They closed the highway for a few hours today the snow was so bad. What a warm welcome!

The reason I haven't posted in a few days is because the most exciting thing I have done is go to the dentist. NO CAVITIES!

Sometimes when I am home visiting my family I find that I get really lazy and it is difficult for me to get anything done. Even thinking about working on my resume or something is akin to running in water. Suddenly I am unable to act at anything more than a snail's pace. Everything distracts me and I am powerless to resist.

I want to have 2 job applications out by tomorrow. Wish me luck.

One down

2006-04-02T01:32:00.000+02:00

Ok, I got a place to live. It is in a wicked area (Little Italy) and is cheap enough for me to afford food and maybe a pair of jeans once in a while, at least until steady with a job. 2 roommates to share the top 2 floors of a 3-level house with. Just like my last living situation before I moved to Kenya but this time I don't know the roommates. They seem nice. And there is a 24-hour grocery store just 2-minutes from my doorstep. And it is the BEST neighbourhood in Toronto. Hands down. So that is good.

It has been quite stressful these past few days. I am finding that I am short with people and getting irritated by silly things. I scream a lot more here than I used to but in Kenya screaming at people was necessary to get anything done. I'm not sure yet how it will work here. I don't want to be bitchy but I think the screaming is better than holding things in and simmering with rage in silence. We'll see.

2 more people said I look taller. Ok, that is just messed up.

Sorry to Karen for insulting her driving skills in the last post.

I went for Dim Sum this morning and had pigs feet and they still had HAIR on them. Gross. I only tried them because I was hoping they would taste like bacon. They didn't.

Things to do

2006-03-29T06:25:00.000+02:00

1) Find a new blog. Think of a new handle. Deadline: 2 weeks

2) Find an apartment. I have 4 viewings tomorrow. All from craigslist.com or viewit.ca. Wonderful thing this internet. Would be even more wonderful if I am able to find a decent place in one day. Deadline: Sunday

3) Find a job. This is the toughy. I hope to have some interviews and good leads by Easter if not before. Deadline: May 1st?? (cross your fingers!)

4) Sign up for night courses at University. Deadline: Friday

That should keep me busy for a while.

The weather has been so great here. Sunny and warm and I didn't even have to suffer through winter for more than a couple of days. I feel like I have somehow cheated the system.

Today I told Karen that her driving was as bad as a matatu driver. I was exaggerating but was happy that she got the reference. That's why it is nice to have had friends visit me. It saves a bit of the explaining.

Today I was walking back to my uncle and aunt's house and was waiting to cross the street at a stop sign and a woman in a car approached first and waved to let me cross just as I waved to let her go first. This went on for a few seconds before I just gave up and crossed the street. Sometimes people being courteous makes things less efficient. But I guess I am just not used to it being done that way.

By the way, the spell checker for blogger doesn't recognize the word blog. It suggests that I use the word 'bloc' or 'blouse' instead. Silly blogger.

Landed

2006-03-28T02:42:00.000+02:00

I am back. In Canada. Ok, and I take back what I said in the last post, I am excited to be here. I was so happy to see the first glimpses of land and snow and trees... a small tear even came to my eye...

And it is so warm here. 11 degrees. And sunny! Take that LONDON!

Aunt Deb came to pick me up at the airport (with my 10000 tons of luggage) and now am basking in the amazement of high speed internet and cable tv, unlimited refills on drinks at restaurants, a pie made for my return and claims that I look taller. Somehow I grew in Kenya apparently! On the ride back to their place I thought I saw hippos in the frozen pond beside the highway. Jet lag? Craziness? A bit of both?

Heathrow

2006-03-27T10:43:00.000+02:00

In the airport waiting to board the plane back to Canada. Yikes, I am not looking forward to going back. I am VERY excited to see all my family and friends. But I know that what is really waiting for me as I step off the plane is the stress and responsibility of finding a job, finding an apartment, figuring out schools, beginning the process of studying for GMAT, etc, etc...

It is kind of taking away from the excitement of my homecoming!

My last couple of days in London were fun. After Camden Market (and rain) on Saturday, we went to a club that night (and somehow managed to avoid paying cover - I'm not sure how). Sunday we checked out a few of the parks and then went to a "NUN FUN CHURCH SEARCH" that was a fundraiser for Dave's friend who wants to raise money to put on a play for the Fringe Festival. It was basically a tour of churches around London. A bit dry but Dave and I were making wisecracks the whole way through and thus made our own fun.

I have the worst heartburn EVER. I think it is a combination of the indian food, my malaria pill (last one - they always give me heartburn) and the stress of coming home. I think I will have a milkshake. That usually helps. :)

I can't believe it is over.

That's a bit better

2006-03-24T14:32:00.000+02:00

It never fails, I complain about the weather on the blog and it improves. It has been a little sunny, blue skies and warmer pretty much ever since I posted on Wednesday. Yesterday was gorgeous and I had a great time strolling around Cambridge. It is a lovely city! And a nice University!

The night before we were front row for Who's Afriad of Virginia Woolf? and were being practically spit on by Kathleen Turner and her manly voice. It was good. I went to Harrod's today and then to the National Portait Gallery and will probably see the British Museum after lunch. Tomorrow is Camden Market and the Opera. Keeping busy is good. I am already forgetting that I used to wear flip flops every day.

I am invisible here. No one notices me or yells at me ("mzungu!") or asks me if I want a taxi or to book a safari.

Suddenly - the COLD

2006-03-22T15:40:00.000+02:00

After a nice dinner with about 18 friends at my favourite Indian restaurant, I head to the airport with tears in my eyes. Luckily, once I was checked in I found something to distract me. I still had Alla's keys! Alla had been letting me stay at her place for my last couple of days and when we all met up for dinner I forgot to give her the apartment keys! Panic! Luckily, my friend Sophie was dropping off her boyfriend at the airport (same flight as me) and I managed to go back through security and find them and give them to her to give to Alla.

Then I flew to London. The weather really makes it seem like another world. The cold makes me forget that I was ever warm and that Nairobi and Kenya was just a few days ago. I checked my big huge heavy suitcase into a luggage storage service at the airport (saved me from taking a taxi and was CHEAPER than a taxi - only 30pounds for 6 days storage... and took the tube to meet up with Dave!

I am a bit in shock here over everything... all the white people, all the nice clothes people wear, the traffic lights, the crisp air, the sidewalks without things sticking out of them (or open sewers waiting for you to fall into them), the beautiful architecture everywhere, how organized everything seems, how on time everything seems, safe drivers, mothers pushing their babies in carts instead of strapping to their bodies using colourful fabrics. Most people here are dressed in black.

I have managed to find ways to do London cheaply! A 7-day subway (for 2 zones) pass is only 21 pounds. There are tons of museums and galleries that are free to the public (fees were dropped after the London bombings to encourage tourism) so I have been to the National Gallery and will go to 2 or 3 others. Most of my days are spent walking around the city. Tomorrow I head to Cambridge to check it out and visit a friend. Tonight we got 10 pound front row tickets to see Kathleen Turner in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe. On Saturday Dave got us free tickets to the Opera.

Last night was VERY fun. Dave and I went with one of his co-workers to her local pub and played in a TRIVIA competition! It is a very British thing and was very fun despite our lack of ability in answering the questions that focused on Britain (which was about 60% of them). But we did come 5th. And ate fish and chips.

My face and lips are peeling because the cold is cracking my skin and all the tanned bits are falling off. NOOOOO! I am still dark compared to all the brits, but that doesn't take much.

I Caught Crabs in Watamu

2006-03-20T10:16:00.000+02:00

I leave tonight. But it is ok.

I had the best weekend. 7 of us went to Watamu (a beach town on the Indian Ocean) and rented a beautiful, huge, airy house for about $10 each a night (including people to cook and clean for us) and spent our time playing trivia games, throwing around a coconut, having races, jumping waves, swimming, sunning, eating, drinking, having nighttime bonfires and swims, catching crabs and then racing them, and just having an amazing time.

Part of me wonders if it was a bad thing to have such an amazing weekend right before I left because it will make me all the more sad to leave, but at the same time it sure was a nice way to finish off such an amazing 9 months. I have met some of the most amazing people here and I will miss them very very very much. Kenya is so beautiful it is hard to imagine not being here.

And yes, in the photo those are cows on the beach. Not sure what they were doing there other than maybe they just wanted some sand and surf like the rest of us.

The people who came along for the trip were (L - R): Me, Alla (Russian/American), Anna (Finnish), Ally (British), Peder (Norwegian), Matt (Canadian), Alex (Kiwi).

Tonight I have a final dinner at Open House (great, cheap Indian food) and then head straight to the airport. I am trying to get excited about all the free movies I can watch. Trying not to think about actually leaving this place.

Finally..

2006-03-17T09:29:00.000+02:00

Looks so surreal, originally uploaded by Kattaka.

I uploaded most of the rest of my photos to flickr. Check them out. This one is one of my favourites - it is in Sossuflei, Namibia. Such a crazy landscape.

Today I am off work and it is WONDERFUL! This morning I got a paper and had a leisurely breakfast at Dorman's (local coffee bar). Poor suckers who are at work!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I am officially retired as of today!

2006-03-16T08:13:00.000+02:00

I have decided that working is not for me and after today, my last day of work, I will be officially retired. I am hoping to find a nice community in which to settle, play shuffleboard and watch gameshows.

Quite happy actually about it being my last day of work. I have finished everything up as of Monday and so have been rather bored these past few days. It will be nice to finish on a Thursday as I don't leave for the coast (Watamu) until Friday evening so I will have time to get little things done like buy more gifts and upload the rest of my photos to flickr (FINALLY!).

This week has been great with seeing everyone and going out for "one last dinner" at all my favourite places. But it is also depressing and sometimes I don't even want to go out and see my friends because it just makes me feel sad because I have to say goodbye to more people each day. Monday will not be fun.

Sunblock, Ace of Base and the End of an Era

2006-03-13T14:00:00.000+02:00

I have to buy sunblock for this upcoming weekend (final trip to the coast) and was thinking about getting sunburnt and how when you are a kid sometimes it is kind of funny to get a sunburn and you are kind of excited about it – because it is something new and different from the norm. Maybe it gets you some extra attention from your friends or parents. Now if you get a sunburn you only really concentrate on the fact that you are in pain and you are ruining your skin. Nothing fun or exciting.

This is the best way to explain my experiences in the really typical Kenyan bars here. Not that they are as enjoyable as getting a sunburn but rather that because it is a new and interesting environment, they are far more enjoyable and interesting (fun) than they would be if you had gone to them for years. I guess it is just all in your perspective and it turns into a cultural experience so the little things that could be seen as irritating or silly are actually quite fun and interesting.

We went to 2 bars this weekend – on Friday at Winkers – EVERYONE in the club was dancing (except for us – the table of mzungus). One guy was standing in front of the tv and dancing and pointing to the tv along to the music. Someone was dancing with a chair. I don't think that it was necessarily the alcohol that inspired this, but rather just that Kenyans love to dance. It was hilarious and fun despite the bad music and dark, dingy atmosphere. We were even inspired to chair dance due to the high energy of the other patrons. On Saturday at Club Soundd there was a live band playing covers (they were pretty good) and then when they took their break the music played was completely cheesy but everyone, including us, were completely into it. I am telling you, Kenyans LOVE Ace of Base.

Today Lauren leaves to go back to Canada (via France). Very, very sad. Last night we went for dinner and then to play pool at the Crooked Q one last time. Chokey McPhee and the Elephant completely obliterated Red-Rum and the Janitor (these are our pool playing aliases). Although we just let Lauren win because she is leaving and wanted to be nice to her as a going away present.

I can't believe she is leaving today and I leave in one week. It is the end of an era. (Or nine months - if you want to be technical.)

Just your average day in Nairobi

2006-03-10T15:28:00.000+02:00

A few things I have seen over the past couple of days that I realize don't even faze me anymore: Yesterday, driving to Indian food - there were a bunch of kids paying soccer. The thing that made it interesting was that it was 8pm, dark out, they were street kids and they all had bottles in their mouths with glue in them so they could inhale the glue fumes while playing soccer. Wow, great way to multi-task!

Today was another protest downtown Nairobi - of all the protests that go on in this city this is the first one I have encountered while on foot walking into town (to meet some friends for lunch). It was to protest the police raid of the newspaper and TV station and promote free speech. Despite the large number of people it was very peaceful and seemed well organized. I was tempted to join the march but figure it might be a bad idea - seeing as many of these protests usually end in someone getting shot "accidentally" by the police.

Because of the protest, the traffic was particularly bad. The matatus took matters into their own hands and drove on the sidewalks instead of the road. I'm telling you, these Kenyan matatu drivers are innovative. They think outside the box.

Shipping Woes

2006-03-09T16:31:00.000+02:00

I am trying to ship something home. There is no such thing here. To ship something from Nairobi costs as much as it does to courier it. It all has to do with corruption. Let me explain.

The roads here are so bad that it costs as much to ship (drive) something from Nairobi to Mombasa as it does to put something on a boat from Mombasa to Europe. THE SAME. INSANE.

There is plenty of money allocated for roads that never seem to get fixed. Yet the government keeps getting richer, corruption scandals emerge, nothing is done about them, the roads are still bad.

I mean, just think of the business possibilities for the country if the roads were improved and shipping costs could go down. The cost to export things would go down so much. More jobs could be had. People would have more money and live better lives. All from decent roads. Imagine.

This packing thing is stressing me out. I have a lot of stuff. And I want to bring things home for gifts but they take up so much space. There is so much cool stuff here. I would start an export business if the roads weren't so bad.

There are these 2 restaurants that I really love in Nairobi that I want to tell you about so that if you ever come here you can visit them. I have already told you how I love Nyama Choma (roasted goat) so if you went to any Nyama Choma place that would be sufficient. They are all pretty good. But if you want GREAT, cheap, authentic indian food there is Open House which is in Westlands across from Steers and while the food is great the atmosphere is pretty terrible (it looks like a food court). Still, you can't beat the quality and the price so that is why I love it.

The second place is called Habesha on Argwings Kodheck which has a great atmosphere - lots of gazebo little tables and outdoor stoves all over the place and unbelievable Ethiopian food. If you don't like ingera (the sponge-like bread thing that comes with Ethiopian food) because it is too sour - this place is for you - the ingera is milder than most places and it is also dirt cheap. Tej (Ethiopian honey wine) is $2 a bottle (brewed on site) and you get a huge veg or meat platter for $2 and that is enough for 3 people easily. Their goat is also the best in the city.

Droughts, rain, mountains and rivers

2006-03-06T16:28:00.000+02:00

On Sunday I joined 4 friends in climbing Mount Longenot – a dormant volcano in the Rift Valley. It was a bit of a tough uphill climb for the first hour and then got quite easy as we made our way along the rim of the volcano. It was beautiful. The view was amazing. Around the time we were at the highest peak we started to hear the rumble of thunder and noticed the dark clouds surrounding the mountain. We were still had half way to go. We could see the rain moving closer to the mountain and lightning and the thunder was coming closer. I guess hiking along the highest peak in a mountain during a thunderstorm isn't the smartest thing to do but we had to stay on the path in order to get back to where we were being picked up. Luckily when it did start raining we weren't struck by lightning. We only got a little wet and made our way around the rim to the path down to the gate of the park. It had apparently REALLY rained at the bottom of the mountain where the dirt road out of the park was now a river. We ploughed through the deep water in the car and somehow made it to the highway. Some parts of the highway were completely submerged in water as well but due to the talent of our driver Robinson – we made it through...

There has been a drought in most parts of Kenya and East Africa) for the past months and many people are on the brink of starvation. One of the guys I went to Mount Longenot with works for the World Food Program and was recently in Northern Kenya where he said the landscape was littered with dead livestock – starved and parched from lack of water and food. The people haven't started dying yet but it is now just a matter of time. For those who don't parish during this drought their livelihoods have been completely destroyed with the death of their cattle, goats and crops.

The Nairobi area has seen heavy rain all week (probably because of the monsoon off Reunion and Madagascar) and the difference it has made is unbelievable. Just since last week the city and surrounding area have gone from parched and dry to green and lush. The cattle, goats and donkeys have bellies again (rather than looking emaciated) and I have witnessed people dancing in celebration of the rain and praising God for its arrival. The rains have made traffic a nightmare as some busy roads and intersections flood every time it rains. Did I mention that this place is crazy??

2 weeks until I leave for London.

Hockey Night in Kenya

2006-03-03T12:58:00.000+02:00

Last night I played ice hockey for the first time in my life – and it was in Kenya. How messed up is that!?! It started a few weeks ago when a group of researchers from Winnipeg were coming to complete some work in Nairobi and an American architect (who has lived in Kenya for 10 years) who works with them decided to organize a game at the new PanAfric Hotel Ice Skating Rink! The Winnipegger's brought some sticks and pucks and a local carpenter made a few as well. You can read a news article about the first game here.

The visitors from Winnipeg are back in Canada now but some Canadians, Americans and Europeans still gather every second week to play. I was the only girl who showed up this week and although I was far from great, I don't think I embarrassed myself too badly (then again, I had low expectations of my skill level!). Some of the players are absolutely great and it was just so much fun to be on the ice and playing hockey! I think I will try and take it up when I get back to Canada.

I fell a few times and have huge welts on both of my knees but I'm proud of the battle scars and hoping that there is at least one more game that I can attend and play before I leave.

Free Press???

2006-03-02T13:11:00.000+02:00

Read this.

Once again Kenya's government has illustrated how unbelievably corrupt and messed up they are. There was a police raid on a major Kenyan newspaper and a tv station and arrests and interrogation of journalists early this morning after the government didn't like how the media covered a story this past weekend. 3 journalists are in jail. Computers and broadcasting equipment have been detained or destroyed. Holy Crap!

The worst part of this is that in my online searching this morning and watching the CNN and BBC International news there is little to no coverage of this in the international press! So who is going to put the pressure on the Kenyan government to stop these kind of atrocities? Apparently the trial of Gary Glitter is far more important.

This place is absolutely insane. Yesterday I was helping Lauren move out and her landlord was trying to get out of giving her back her deposit. Lauren has a signed contract stating that she should get that money back and the landlord was trying to say that because of a miscommunication the money went to an agent and she might not be able to get it back. Lauren said, "But I have a legal document stating that I will get this money back" and the landlady said "Well, I can make a new legal document!"

No wonder the locals have no respect or understanding of the law! The government has a complete disregard for the law and people's rights!!!

ANYWAY... I need to calm down. Things are NEVER boring here. NEVER. That isn't always a good thing.

Dreamz

2006-03-02T12:49:00.000+02:00

I have been having these weird nightmares lately that a black or a green mamba (venomous snakes) are going to bite me in my sleep. It is strange. Mostly I wake up in the night, still half asleep and check under my bed to see if there are any snakes there. Then I usually am so tired that I decide just to go to sleep as to stay away looking for them would be more irritating than it would if I just go to sleep and allow myself to be bitten. I blame this Roald Dahl autobiography (Going Solo) that I recently read about his time working in East Africa and his traumatizing experiences with a black and a green mamba snake. It is a great book and I would highly recommend it.

These dreams are most likely the result of the anti-malaria medication that I am taking which warns that side effects may include psychotic episodes, vivid dreams, hallucinations, and depression. Other than the vivid dreams I don't think I have experienced any of the other symptoms (other than my usual psychoticness).

A terribly funny thing happened on my trip in Botswana We had been sleeping in wet tents on wet sleeping mats for a few days and some of us decided to rent a cabin at the next campsite to have some luxury for one night. There were 4 girls in my cabin and Nicola (from the UK) was sleeping in the bed next to me – both of us had mosquito nets over our beds. That night I was woken up to Nicola sitting up in her bed shouting “Somebody help me! Somebody help me!”. I was still completely groggy but I sat up in my bed and looked at her through the mosquito net and asked her what was wrong. She pointed and said “They're getting in! The lions are getting in!” I was having a hard time seeing in the dark through the mosquito net to where she was pointing, plus I had NO idea what she was talking about so I started to look around for the lions and asked her where they were. It was then I think she totally woke up and quietly said “never mind, I was just dreaming” and rolled over and went back to sleep. I took one last look to make sure the lions weren't there and then went back to sleep.

Apparently one of the other girls had woken up when Nicola started yelling and witnessed the whole bizarre incident and thought we were both nuts. Anti-malaria medication is fun.

20 days

2006-02-28T12:41:00.000+02:00

I am a bit in shock that I am leaving in 20 days. I can't get over how quickly these past 8 months have gone. I am sad to be getting ready to leave but it has helped that Lauren, who arrived to start her internship a week after I did, is getting ready to leave too. I am starting to get excited to see everyone again. I think I kind of deal with being away by not thinking about home very much and just concentrating on where I am so that I don't miss people and places. But now I am curious to see how people/things have changed and how my perspective has changed.

It is hard to get annoyed with things here because I know I will miss them soon. The smell of burning garbage. People asking me if I want a taxi every 5 seconds. Having dusty, dirty shoes & feet every day. Street kids following me around. The way that everything runs on “African time” here (very very late). Fighting with taxi drivers over how much my ride should cost. HOW AM I GOING TO LIVE WITHOUT THESE THINGS??

Lisa, it's your birthday, happy birthday, Lisa

2006-02-26T13:25:00.000+02:00

Do you remember the Simpson's episode where the crazy man thinks he's Michael Jackson and Bart gets him to sing to Lisa for her birthday? I always have that song stuck in my head when it's my birthday. Or Birthday by the Beatles.

So yesterday was my birthday and it was quite fun. I did relax for most of the day and got some phone calls from home (which was nice despite the bad connection). Lauren and Jill came over to help me prepare (and go swimming) in the afternoon and that night about 20 people descended on Alla's apartment to celebrate my birthday and drink Long Island Iced Tea and eat chicken kebabs with peanut sauce. It was quite the night. We made it to a bar nearby for more drinks (although sadly the dancing sucked so it was more of a chatting evening than a dancing one).

One thing that put a damper on the evening was when we were entering the club 2 of my Kenyan friends were hassled at the door and told they couldn't' come in because they didn't have proper i.d. They were the only 2 Kenyans with us and were the only 2 stopped and I had to go outside and scream at the bouncer for a while before they were let in and apologized to. This is a problem in many bars in Nairobi and it has lead to many of them being boycotted by a lot of people. Basically, because places want to keep prostitutes out of their clubs, they don't allow black females into their clubs without a guy or mzungu bringing them in. It is an unofficial policy and it is really stupid for them to assume that all African females going into a club without male or mzungu (foreigner) accompaniment are going to prostitute themselves. I was furious and upset. My friends were furious and upset. We won't be going back there but we tried to make the most of the night despite the stupid staff there.

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes...

Biting the head off a maggot

2006-02-23T12:35:00.000+02:00

I went to a dinner party last night and it was quite lovely. I felt very adult sitting around, drinking wine and chatting. Luckily as dinner ended the conversation quickly went back down to my maturity level when we somehow started talking about the most disgusting things we've ever eaten. I wasn't the one who bit head off the live maggot but let me tell you, I will never forget the detailed description of the experience that the guy gave us. I will spare you the details.

Today there is no power at work (they forgot to pay the bill) so I had time to come to the internet cafe and catch up on my blogs.

2 days until my BIRTHDAY! Whoo hoo! Wait - why am I excited again? Oh yeah, I will get lots of attention and free drinks. THAT's WHY. And my big plans for the day are sitting by the pool, relaxing, meeting some friends for appetizers & drinks, then going DANCIN'. I put almost no effort into the planning (compared to last year's "AMAZING BIRTHDAY RACE") so it will hopefully be a pretty stress-free birthday. We'll see.

Work shmurk...

2006-02-23T12:28:00.000+02:00

My return to work was a bit irritating. For starters the office manager (who I get the feeling doesn't like me) claims to have never known I was going away for a month (despite the fact that I wrote down my vacation dates for her before I left) and went on and on about how worried she was that I was dead somewhere having not heard from me in a month. Funny she thought I was dead but didn't think to call or email me or even just ask the director or my co-workers if they knew where I was. Whatever. Another co-worker greeted me with “Did you bring us presents?”. 2 others told me that I looked like I had gained weight. The rest were OK and seemed genuinely glad to see me back. I guess 4 out of 8 isn't bad.

Otherwise things haven't changed much. Some of the street vendors asked me where I was. I thought that was funny that they missed me! My taxi drivers also said they were glad to have me back. Aww!