Hey Now

I know it's been several days since my last entry, but internet is spotty at my place and things have been pretty quiet since the safari.  To keep things interesting, I am planning some trips for myself: next weekend, I am considering a climb up Mt. Kenya.  It is the second highest peak in Africa (after Kili) and only about a 3 hour drive from here Nairobi.  There are 3 routes to choose from and they range from 4-7 days and differ in level of difficulty.  I will have to speak with my supervisor at work (who encouraged me to visit Mt. Kenya) before deciding which route to climb.  My guide book recommends taking a day or two of rest at certain points on the mountain to get acclimated to the altitude.  I have never had any issues with altitude sickness, though, and may be able to expedite that.  


Ideally, I would like to find a group to join me for the climb and divvy up the cost, but I'm not sure that any of the friends I have made here would be up for that type of adventure.  If that's the case, I would hope to find a group when I get there, or just do it solo with a guide.


Thursday I had a small South African wine tasting at the UN Rec Center.  There is a full gym there and a beautiful pool, and I found out that I am eligible to join for a very reasonable cost.  It is right next to my office so I might actually use it...  
The UN Complex is giant and beautiful.  I will post some pictures.


I am finally going to the Millennium Village Sauri this week, and am very much looking forward to it.  A driver is picking me up at 05:00 Wednesday morning for the flight to Kisumu airport.  In Sauri, I will see how I can help out with the dairy cooperative - hopefully that doesn't involve milking a cow or sampling any fresh product (BTW they drink almost exclusively whole milk here with breakfast and in coffee, so be thankful for your Grande Soy Lattes).  I also am being introduced to Claire, a community health worker from the UK, for collaboration another project.  When we return Thursday, we go directly from the airport to the office to debrief the boss-man.  I will surely take pictures and debrief you as well.


I have really come to appreciate technology and some of the luxuries that I take for granted at home.  I've been without TV and internet for a week and it hasn't been easy (to make up for lost time I downloaded Season 1 of "Walking Dead", which I have heard good things about).  My iPod has been absolutely crucial for the hour-long walk to and from work.  After some heavy deliberation, I also brought with me some iPod speakers from home.  The housekeepers and maintenance man had never seen/heard anything like it.  I played some Marley for them while they cleaned and it almost brought me to tears.  


I am writing this from the Village Market and have to start walking home before dark.  I really appreciate the nice e-mails and comments I've gotten from some of you who have enjoyed reading.


Sawa sawa, kwaheri for now. 

Safari Pictures

I haven't been able to get my pics up on fbook yet, but my friend took some that actually came out better anyway.  Here you go...


http://picasaweb.google.com/zkomirenko/NairobiNationalPark#

Safari Sunday

Yesterday, a group of 5 of us went on a mini-safari into Nairobi National Park.  The park is just a 30 minute drive from where I am staying, and you can see the skyline from certain points.  We had a driver and a van with an open top allowing us to stand up straight and scour the savanna for wildlife.  I didn't have high expectations, knowing that the park was so close to the city and not one of the major safari destinations.  The scenery turned out to be beautiful, though, and there was plenty of wildlife.  We saw of all the following (had to use wiki to make sure I didn't forget anyone):

African buffalo, baboon, black rhinoceros, zebra, hartebeest, gazelle, eland, impala, giraffe, ostrich, vulture, and waterbuck

Also saw a croc and a couple turtles.  The only let down was that we didn't spot and lions or cheetas, but we made out pretty well.  I am trying to get some pictures up on facebook so check them out.  I would really like to do another longer safari in the country - an area called Masai Mara known for it's big cats.  However, Kilimanjaro looms and is my top priority before I leave.

On Friday I had my first night "out" in Nairobi.  We ate at a decent Italian restaurant and then were taken to a real Kenyan nightclub downtown called "Dolce".  I was little disappointed by the dancing of the locals, but I'm sure the feeling was mutual.  Saturday we BBQ'd a goat and had a nice time with it.  Below is a picture with Stella, one of the housemaids at my former hotel and a phenomenal cook.  I'm the one in the red shirt.

I am ashamed to say that I couldn't watch the Bears game.  I can't get a good enough internet connection anywhere and I had a bad feeling about the game anyway.  All in all it was good season and I would still love to get rid of the entire front office and Lovie Smith.

Sorry for the boring entry.  It should be an interesting week so I'll have some more shenanigans for you next time.  Adios for now.

  

Settling In

I am happy to report that I have started working, moved into a studio and things are going well.  Being as it is my first week at work, I haven't taken on much responsibility yet.  However, I will be traveling next week to do some work in one of the remote villages.  The project involves the creation of a Co-op for dairy farmers in Sauri, Kenya.  I will be doing some supply-chain analysis and it should be quite interesting.  

It's seeming like my internship may be about three months.  Hopefully my experience here will just be the beginning of a career in this line of development work.  In just over week, I have met so many people from so many different places, each of them with their own unique stories.  One lady here from the UK on a two year project was saying how that much time in one place is too long.  I know I have only been here a week and change, but I can see why many of them have trouble "settling down".

I already shared the link to my new place.  I actually decided to scale it up a little bit and take the bigger apartment for a little under $500.00 USD/month. I felt spoiled doing it, but I needed the space for clothes and makeup.  It's a bit lonely in my apt, but I have been hanging out with really cool some mosquitoes and geckos and even snuggled with some bed bugs.  I was absolutely ecstatic when the pharmacy actually had allergy medication and ear plugs.  I do have cable and internet, though, so I can't complain.  

I took the "matatu" to work the other day and was 30 minutes late (though I think I was waiting for it in the wrong place).  They ghetto-blast old rap music, keep moving while they let people on and off, and when there is traffic, they drive right around it on the "sidewalk"...all of which you would get cited for at home.  Apparently you can go anywhere on a matatu for about $0.60.

Still, I decided I would be better off walking to and from work.  It is about 3.5 miles each way and takes me just under an hour.  It's been 80 and sunny every day I've been here, so I will continue walking for as long as I can.

That is all for now.  Go Bears.

Bears

This will be a short entry as I'm watching my recording of the Bears game and have to run to dinner in a few.  I had a brief introductory day at work today.  It was not easy to go back to work after over a month off, but everything went well and I saw some spider monkeys on my walk to the office.  It looks like I will be on a project in which I can visit some of the small villages where the organization is doing developmental work (namely Sauri, Kenya http://www.millenniumvillages.org/aboutmv/mv_sauri.htm).  I will have a better idea of my job details in the next week or so.  

I also found temporary accommodation.  It is on a compound that houses about 15 students/workers/visitors (I met one girl from Kalamazoo and there are some others from Germany) about a 30 minute walk to the Market and about 50 to my office.  Against my better judgement, I will likely need to use the  "matatus" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Share_taxi#Matatu_.28Kenya.2FUganda.29) for a portion of the trip to work.  Matatus make a ride on the CTA seem like flying on a Gulfstream Jet.  15-20 people in a VW size van.  I will be paying 32,000.00 KSH/month (about $380.00 USD), and supposedly that includes everything (+ cable, internet and laundry).  By far the cheapest I have come upon.  http://rosslynstudios.net/  I think they did some photo-shopping - the place is a lot more rugged then the site makes it out to be.

Finally, I saw my first White Sox hat today and I plan to take a safari this weekend.  Until next time.

Happy Friday

Hello Friends,


Sorry for the long delay between posts, I had a busy couple of days here exploring...


Since the last time you heard from me, I managed to have fallen in love.  Her name is Agnes - she is 20 with a baby girl and works as one of the housekeepers here.  We are to be married next month.


No I'm just kidding mom, nothing like that would never happen to one of your sons!


There is a housekeeper named Agnes, though, and she is very sweet.  Everyone at the hotel is kind.  They are happy to see you and it to be seems genuine, a feeling you don't necessarily get at some hotels back home.  The 3 other guests here are all UN as well: Abida, from Islamabad, Tuntu from South Africa, and Paulius, a large jolly bearded man from Lithuania.  They have been all over the world and spout off acronyms like you wouldn't believe.  I just try and absorb as much as possible hoping that one day I can keep up.  Paulius and Tuntu are both having their families move here soon.  Abida is on a 4-month assignment and will be staying at the hotel.


Yesterday I went to the Nairobi Hospital to receive my immunizations for Meningitis, Typhoid Fever and Polio.  I waited get them done here because I knew I would not be at immediate risk of exposure and I was told that they would be a fraction of a cost that they are in the states (true).  I also heard the Nairobi Hospital was one of the best in the region, even the president and prime minister use their facilities.  Still, I couldn't shake my pre-conceived notions about getting injections in Africa. No matter how irrational it may be, I considered walking out at the last minute, before I finally manned up.  I did, however, pay close attention to the process: the needles and vaccinations were stored in a refrigerator and newly packaged in boxes.  I felt like an idiot asking the nurse what country the vaccines were shipped from, like it really made a difference.  Either way, everything went well and so far I am in the clear...


After that I had my driver (who waited outside for me) take me on a scenic route through different parts of the city.  It is divided into tons of small areas, "estates", which seems to have their own unique characteristics.  I read on wiki that the population of Nairobi was around 3 mil, but my driver and another friend both say it's really over 6, with several million living in the slums.  He took me through an area called Westlands where there are giant shopping malls and night life.  When he finally dropped me off at home, he was very reluctant to accept my $1.00 tip.  I probably should've checked ahead time, but apparently tipping is not expected here.  It is likely included in most cab fares, meals, etc and really only given out for "exceptional" service.  


I also went out looking for an apartment yesterday.  I didn't find one and the walk turned out to be like 5 miles longer than I had expected.  In several places there are huge groups of 20+ men just sitting along the side of the road as I walk past - I'd be lying if I said I don't get a little nervous.  If you haven't stopped reading yet, here is an article I found about being white (or not black) in Kenya.  It is pretty corny but may provide some perspective:  

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/64547/being_white_in_kenya_pg2.html?cat=16

I start work on Monday and am still trying to figure out how to watch the Bears game.  I might have to watch it delayed so please no score updates.  Other then that, I am looking forward to my first weekend and nights out in Nairobi.  I will surely report back.


By the way, not to rub it in, but I attached a picture the balcony that is attached to my room where I am writing from.  It didn't come out great because the big palm tree is in the way and the sun is just so perfectly warm and wonderful.  Enjoy.

Day 1

Hi hey hello.

Not only is this Day 1 of my time in Africa, but this is also Day 1 of me giving into the pressures of social networking, modern-day communication, and my mother, and writing my first blog.  I'll try not to make it as cheesy as the title might indicate, but if it is going in that direction please let me know.  Also, if it seems like I have deliberated over every word and item of punctuation, it's because I have and I can't help it.

I got into Nairobi late last night after an easy trip from Chicago through Amsterdam.  I was a bit nervous coming here, so I watched a couple movies and had a couple beverages on the plane to make those feelings disappear.  (BTW, check out Un Prophete http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Prophet - one of the best movies of the year...think Shawshank meets Lock Stock meets Goodfellas prison scene with Uncle Pauly slicing the garlic so thin it would liquify in the pan with just a little oil.)  My fears were put to rest when I got off the plane and my bags and driver, Aaron, were waiting.  For an extra $3,000 Kenyan Shillings, Aaron gave me a late-night tour of Nairobi's City Center, and some priceless advice (don't take your iPhone out of your pocket and stay away from the "night girls").  


We arrived at my hotel shortly thereafter: a 4-room B & B that mothers only dream about.  The hotel is situated in Gigiri, a safe neighborhood just a short walk from the UN Compound where I'll be working and surrounded Embassies from several other countries.  The grounds of the hotel are lush and beautiful and they offer free wifi so I'm in no rush to leave.  My only major hold up - I'm not sure if I can put the T.P. in the toilet or if it has to go in the garbage (as I've been told) because the flush is too weak, and I'm too embarrassed to ask.  It's a lose lose situation any way you look at it.  Other then that, I'm happy to be here and looking forward to exploring the city.  I am going to take a nap now under my lovely white mosquito net.  Thank you for reading.