So a month into my move and resettlement in Nairobi and things are goin' well for the most part. I've gotten a quasi-schedule going in the mornings (those with no power outages) that now includes fresh ground coffee to wake me up for my 45+ minute walk to work. The bonus of which is a less pasty tint to my skin, learning the back roads of Nairobi, and lots of exercise. And on those days I'm running late I've discovered that the number 46 bus camps out in Jamhuri picking up the likes of me so that's a relief.
Top Ten Things I Miss About Dallas
Plus a special extra just because of the snow I'm missing this week:
11. Random Texas weather
10. my car
11. Random Texas weather
10. my car
9. drinking water from the tap
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| Photo credit: seanmunoz.wordpress.com |
8. being able to walk outside after dark
7. the lack of blood sucking mosquitoes
6. no rolling power outages
5. sidewalks
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| Photo credit: debateitout.com |
4. my condo
3. Mexican food
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| Photo credit: cndoscotland.com |
2. my cats
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| Wylie and Fleur |
1. my friends and family
Pants vs. Trousers
Colleague: You wore a dress today?
Me: No, I'm wearing pants.
Colleague: (smirk)
Me: (oblivious)
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| Photo credit: ck-blog.com |
Water is Life
One of my favorite things about working in Kenya is the opportunity to go into the field and see how the projects work firsthand. Fortunately for me, this past week was chock-full of opportunities to travel and see completed projects and get a handle on what it is exactly that I am fund raising for. I visited four sites over two days throughout Laikipia West and was treated to great receptions at all of the locations, with program chairs happy to show off the completion of their projects.
Dating Dos and Don'ts: Take One
As mentioned in a previous post I have decided to venture into the dating world during Nairobi 2.0. As my friends know, I tend to go for a specific "type" of guy, looks and personality wise, which I'm trying to steer clear of this time around. I meet a ton of guys every time I go out (mostly due to the magical ratio of 8 million guys to 1 girl- I'm not complaining) which is not the best way to meet a potential date, but will lead to fun stories for you, my loyal readers.
No one got eaten by a hyena...
...though there was some thoughtful positioning during the ill-advised night time safari walk as to not be in the hyena bait position.
To clarify, I went on my first "real" camping trip this weekend. I qualify this because I'm fairly certain, though eventful, that my other forays into camping do not qualify me as experienced or even allowed beginner* status. 1) sleeping in my sister's new Care Bear pup tent in her upstairs bedroom at age 4, b) Girl Scout camp, iii) the 5th grade class camping trip to Camp Classen, D) church camp, 5) sleeping in my grandparents' camper in their backyard. I rest my case. So needless to say this was a whole new experience for me.
To clarify, I went on my first "real" camping trip this weekend. I qualify this because I'm fairly certain, though eventful, that my other forays into camping do not qualify me as experienced or even allowed beginner* status. 1) sleeping in my sister's new Care Bear pup tent in her upstairs bedroom at age 4, b) Girl Scout camp, iii) the 5th grade class camping trip to Camp Classen, D) church camp, 5) sleeping in my grandparents' camper in their backyard. I rest my case. So needless to say this was a whole new experience for me.
There's no place like somewhere to call home....
So after a long day of waiting my move did not occur once again. This is becoming the never end saga of my failure to move into my flat. As recounted in my previous post, I spent the entire weekend waiting and most of Monday until the hotel staff informed me they had someone checking into my room that evening and no other rooms to move me to. The frantic search to get a hold of someone, anyone in my organization before I get kicked out the hotel ensues.
Hello, Monday, You Fickle Beast
This weekend was my first back in good old Nairobi. After a day with my ever friendly Skillshare guide, Evans, going over induction material I had some delish Malaysian food at a friend's house before heading out to catch up with peeps at the always memorable Gipsys. Proving once again that I have returned to an alternate universe where my charm knows no bounds, I was chatted up by a couple of guys. On second thought, it might be the ratio of single men to women. I think the odds are definitely working in my favor. My foray into dating life may begin sooner than expected. Thinking I had to move early the next morning I called it an early night (for Nbi anyway) and headed home.
Top Ten Things I Missed About Africa
10. monkeys
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| Picture taken in Nairobi National Park |
9. weekend trips out of Nairobi
8. the smell of East Africa
7. baby ellies
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| Picture taken at David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi |
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| Photo credit: http://www.wix.com/aladorgod/zembaba-2 |
5. Gipsys
Induction? You mean, orientation?
After arriving late in the evening in Nairobi on 1/11/11 (I just wanted a reason to mention the fun date) I spent the next day recovering from jet lag and lounging about the guest house and trying not to scare others with my lingering manly voice. Eugene from the Nairobi Skillshare office came by on Thursday morning with Evans, my guide to the "induction" process. This must be a Britishism* (look it up, I swear it's a word; if it's not it should be) because I laughed out loud (also a possible side effect from jetlag and being heavily medicated for a sinus infection) when he told me that I would spend the next few days getting inducted and he just looked at me strangely. I refrained from asking what I was getting inducted into, the Hall of Fame for Awesomeness perhaps? A cult? Childbirth? (*My theory was confirmed when I got a follow up email from the UK office wishing me a nice induction.)
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