Three weeks today since we've been in Kenya- and it has been a crazy time thus far. The first week we randomly had orientation at a Bible Translation Center in the Central Province, but since then we've been back in Nairobi, adjusting to life here. Everything's dustier, the sky's bigger and everyone stares at us since we are the Mzungus (a.k.a. white people or foreigners) -although people have also enquired as to whether I'm Hispanic, Caribbean, Kikuyu or Obama's sister- since I've been here.
I'm living in a fabulous apartment in Westlands, which is probably the equivilent of Embassy Row in DC. It's super spacious, and we have a little verandah. (Also, apparently house cleaners and laundry women are a standard part of relatively well-off Kenyan households- which was actually kind of weird at first- but I'm having no problem adjusting in that regard ;) My roommates are great too and we cook dinner and eat together every night.
As far as classes go, I'm taking Photography and International Organizations at USIU (the United States International University) and they are definitely different than AU classes- it kind of feels like being back in high school again- that is- if the professors even show up. But we're also taking a Swahili class and a class on Development in Kenya (that are thankfully not through USIU) and I think thouse should both be really interesting.
We also found out where our internships are going to be (which is a relief-because visiting all the internship sites all over the city and having to make a case for the ones you wanted was quite a process.) But I'm going to be working with this organization called Sarakasi, which supports performers and acrobats that come from the slums. Their aim is to use art and culture for social and economic empowerment (yes- I know- blah blah blah) but they have all kinds of cool programs going on at any given time- and I can't wait to actually go and get started- whatever it is that I'll actually be doing.
So that's basically what's going on. Of course there are the unfortunate events like being mugged on way home froms school, on Matatus (the crazy vans- with blaring music- that people are packed into for public transportaiton), or more than half of the people in our group coming down with mysterius African stomach viruses. But we've also gone to some great clubs and kissed giraffes and met really great people. Overall I'd say I'm adjusting well, and very glad I came.
till next time..
I'm living in a fabulous apartment in Westlands, which is probably the equivilent of Embassy Row in DC. It's super spacious, and we have a little verandah. (Also, apparently house cleaners and laundry women are a standard part of relatively well-off Kenyan households- which was actually kind of weird at first- but I'm having no problem adjusting in that regard ;) My roommates are great too and we cook dinner and eat together every night.
As far as classes go, I'm taking Photography and International Organizations at USIU (the United States International University) and they are definitely different than AU classes- it kind of feels like being back in high school again- that is- if the professors even show up. But we're also taking a Swahili class and a class on Development in Kenya (that are thankfully not through USIU) and I think thouse should both be really interesting.
We also found out where our internships are going to be (which is a relief-because visiting all the internship sites all over the city and having to make a case for the ones you wanted was quite a process.) But I'm going to be working with this organization called Sarakasi, which supports performers and acrobats that come from the slums. Their aim is to use art and culture for social and economic empowerment (yes- I know- blah blah blah) but they have all kinds of cool programs going on at any given time- and I can't wait to actually go and get started- whatever it is that I'll actually be doing.
So that's basically what's going on. Of course there are the unfortunate events like being mugged on way home froms school, on Matatus (the crazy vans- with blaring music- that people are packed into for public transportaiton), or more than half of the people in our group coming down with mysterius African stomach viruses. But we've also gone to some great clubs and kissed giraffes and met really great people. Overall I'd say I'm adjusting well, and very glad I came.
till next time..
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