Karibu Kenya

Between the grogginess of jetlag, the high altitude (mile high), and that funny deja vu feeling of living long-term in a hotel room again, I find myself waking, not knowing what country I am in. My head runs through possible options, Switzerland or perhaps somewhere else in Europe (no the bed it too big), India (no, I smell no spices and I am not sweating), Indonesia (no, I hear no call to prayer and my hotel room costs too much for too little). Until my mind finally settles on the idea that I am back in Africa.


It has been 8 years since I have been in Africa and I have finally returned. I wondered what I would recognize about it, having loved it so much but been away for so long. Oddly enough it was the smell that I recognized the most. The combined smell of burning garbage and wood being pre-burned to be sold for cooking charcoal. I've lived many other places where garbage is burned on the streets and I am learning that each place's burning garbage has a particular smell. So in some odd way, we are what we throw out, our garbage identifies us, just ask an archaeologist...

Nairobi is a sprawling city high up in the hills, though it has been only a few days I find myself feeling a bit isolated going from hotel to (outrageously expensive taxi) to office back to taxi then to hotel. I've been out once or twice other than this but don't feel like I am really getting a feel for the city yet, not to mention I have been warned severely about security issues (robbery, theft, carjacking) so I haven't made strong efforts to get out yet until I get a better lay of the land. However, these are the words I would use to describe Nairobi thus far: power cuts, water cuts, traffic, cheerful people, slowness, traffic, inefficiency (what is efficiency anyhow?), traffic, smiling people, chilly, mosquito free, gridlock traffic, thin air, and oh, did I mention the traffic?

It is odd and like riding a bicycle as some told me it might be but I do remember how to speak/understand Swahili better than I thought. Though I am not speaking it, I really enjoy knowing what people are saying about me :) I think I will do a little more study before I really get out there and speak it again.

So, having not been out much yet, this is all you get. A photo from my hotel room window. It will get more interesting. I have some trips to the field planned already so there will be more to come :)