I have a feeling I’m going to get along just fine in my newly adopted homeland. Kenya is lovely, as are Kenyans.Â
Since landing two nights ago, I have trudged around to multiple government ministries locating the required maps for our engineers and my upcoming population density assessment. As bureaucratically inhibiting as the process has been, I must say, it could have been worse, much, much worse. The current President (who is up for re-election shortly), has been credited with making the government more accountable to the people, and anti-corruption measures and campaigns are in place most everywhere.Â
I think that my innate openness when dealing with people, new and otherwise, will serve me incredibly well here, because though Kenyans are extremely polite, I have found that they are incredibly appreciative of straight forwardness as well, something which I have certainly have a surplus of.
My mother made the comment that in talking to me, it sounds like I have just moved to a different suburb instead of a different continent. I attribute her sentiment to the fact that I feel quite comfortable here, though I truly feel comfortable everywhere. People are people, and people are good, and as long as there are good people, I am good to go. Copy that down, that was deep. In all seriousness, yes, everyone around me is as black as the Nile is long, and yes, I am surrounded by a million and one (at last count) things that are new, and some even incomprehensible, but ultimately, I don’t feel out of place nor out of my element, so hakuna matata (no worries (and yes, most of you are familiar with that phrase from the Lion King)).
Several observations:
1) The Nairobi City Council is incredibly progressive, and has even outstripped America’s hat (aka: Canada) in protecting non-smokers from the evil cigarette puffing menaces amongst us! Smoking outside in the city is not prohibited, unless in specifically designated areas, of which I have counted no more and no less than exactly one!
2) I suck at math, as if there were any doubt. The exchange rate between the shilling and the dollar is 70:1, and multiples of 7 are not conducive to calculations on the fly. Until I start thinking in shillings, I will rely on my cell phone, which mercifully, comes with a conversion tool.
3) Nairobi has a bad ass reputation, replete with its own name for theft: Nairobbery. It is even said to be the most dangerous city in Africa, and that puts it in some seedy company… Jo’burg or Lagos anyone…? Despite this, the city is teeming with people and commerce during the day, and is generally quite safe to be out and about. It is only at night that the streets empty and the shadows creep sinisterly…
4)Â Swahili is beautiful and I am going to learn it, all my past attempts at languages (with the notable exception o English) be damned!
5)Â Begin planning your trip to Kenya.
More to come as I go apartment (the one which I was supposed to have fell through) and furniture shopping in the days to come (I fly to Mombasa this evening)…
prohibited means not allowed… not prohibited means allowed.
hahah. I had to say that just because I know the exact reaction you had as you read it, which means my plan fell into place perfectly.
How’s shit going? Get me a baby cheetah.