Day 7 Victoria, British Columbia
8 years ago
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
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 :)
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 :)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Stopover in Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
View from my hotel window
Dinner at an amazing Italian restaurant (apparently the Dutch aren't known for their own cuisine but rather for importing from around the world). Took a picture of the water because it was imported from Italy and I figured it was going to cost us, might as well get more mileage out of the water :)
Evening view of Amsterdam, notice the bicycles, if you are not careful walking the streets of AMS you may get run over by one of these... in Amsterdam bicycles rule the road (and the sidewalk).
And the best part of Amsterdam... reuniting with friends.
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