Habari!
The suspense is over! I am safe in Westlands Nairobi! We have been here 9 days and it feels like a month. Every day here feels like a lifetime worth of experiences and emotions. I started school at the United States International University on Monday. I am taking US/East African Relations and Cross Cultural Management. On our days away from campus we travel around the city to visit possible externship sites. The sites range from upscale boutiques like Amani (peace) that feature handicrafts made by refugee women from across the continent to the Initiative for Sports and Social Arts deep inside Kibera, a slum filled with people, dirt, garbage, kiosks and laughter. I won't find out until next Friday where I will be working, but I hoping to be placed in the Kibera or Kanguare.
I hope to post at least twice a week from now on but the infastructure in Kenya is lacking and the internet is very expensive. I can only get on a cafes and even then there the connection is slow and frustrating. This is among the joys of living in a developing country. I have yet to have a warm shower, we have had rolling blackouts for the past week. At times we will be out of power for over three hours.
Otherwise the scenery and the Jacaranda trees are stunning and the people are generous, hospitable and funny! To call me you have to buy a calling card and my number is 011 254 714746668.
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5 comments:
Yay!! So glad to hear from you and good thing we got those cold showers in Dublin for you to get ready for cold showers- hopefully they are a little more refreshing in Nairobi!
Do you just take those two classes or are there more? How did your orientation/boot camp go!?
All is normal in DC! This is going to be a tough semester but I have Paris as a light at the end of the tunnel I am at SDI right now- big event on Sunday to commemorate 9-11 so all is crazy busy as usual!
Hey Justine
Sounds like you are having a great time in Kenya and learning lots already. I just wanted to let you know I am doing well back here in DC. I saw Lauren the other day for the first time - at the library go figure. Anyway I have been doing well in soccer and classes are starting up - I don't have a bad schedule. I am enjoying my classes; I have this one class that I am taking is called Games Gambling and Gimmicks... we basically learn how to count cards and gamble. Its a statistics course.
I saw Jackie Send for the first time the other day, she went ballistic in the middle of the LA Quad... damn shes cray but I guess she had a good time in Africa.
Also I had to talk to Hysong for the first time in like 6 months, that was a bit awkward.
Well, last weekend was the DC College Cup. This year the tournament is hosted here at American. We won 5-0 against Howard and we played George Mason on Sunday for the finals. we battled them all game and finally lost 1-0 in Overtime. Our team is looking really good this year. I got to play in two games (10 minutes each game - I know its not alot but its an improvement from last year of 0). I played really well and all the guys on the bench were screamin for me. I almost scored 2 goals. the goalie made two amazing savings... This weekend is a tournament in North Carolina. We play NC State and Duke. I didnt travel so I am hanging out with some people I don't normally hang out with this weekend. And I'm having a party at my house on saturday for some people. It should be a relaxing and fun weekend.
My parents came down last weekend along with 4 of the other guys' parents and they all brought food. Whereas other people parents bring snacks like chips, brownies, teddy grahams and cheez-its. My mom spends all weekend cooking real food for me like Lasagna, Chicken Devine, Black Bean Soup, Beef Stew, Pumpkin Bread, Zucchini Bread, Cookies, Cake. Also my uncle from Alaska just sent us 15 pounds of Alaskan Salmon and Halibut. So we are doing fine in our house.... it is definitely filled with food.
So yea, I was just trying to get acquainted with this blog thing of yours. I will continue to watch for any blogs from you or any picture updates. I hope you are having a great time and I cant wait to see you again in December or January.
Chris L.
Justine!! I am going to miss you when I visit my sister this fall in DC and you're not there. Will definitely feel like something is missing. DC has become one of my favorite places to visit..I love the city..seeing my sister and her friends is awesome...and everyone I meet there seems to really enjoy a good conversation.
307 hours on the boat this summer....DAMN thats crazy. Your Kenya trip sounds completely insane and fascinating. I'm curious as to 2 things, hopefully you can answer them in your next blog. What are you looking to accomplish in your time spent there...maybe you wont really know until you know what your job is? And when all is said and done and you are leaving Kenya what are you looking to take away from the experience?
hopefully it wont be a full year until i see you! Have a great time!
Hey Justine nice to hear your little voice on the phone...glad everything is good. Don't worry I got your Dad's special birthday present from you. Of 'course his phone is OFF today his birthday reminds me of my mother...haha Be careful and alert had to get my 2 cents in...Love ya, Aunti Chris
what is the time difference? Ok so i posted this on your first on gotta get the hang of this...
Thank you for my favorite gift and your loving remarks. Dads phone was off this morning and then we headed straight to Mt St Helens, no phone. I called still on my birthday. Your externships sound great, Dietz and Monica say hi, Dan came and was our third. Talk later Dad!
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