Reflections
Well, as I finish things up here at work and start to pack up all of my stuff, I’ve been thinking about the things I’m going to miss about Nairobi and the things that I’m really not going to miss about Nairobi. So …
Things that I will miss about Nairobi.
1. The people. First and foremost, I will miss all the great people that I got to know/live with/travel with while I was here, especially Eleonora, Joe, Annika, Gillian, and Kristina. I’ll miss all of our jokes about cheese pies, masks, peeling hard-boiled eggs, “Kenya time,” the bible, and the mystery of the disappearing mouthwash.
2. The National Parks. What can I say? Nairobi, Amboseli, Aberdare, Mt. Longonot, Ol Donyo Sabuk, Mt. Kenya – these are some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The hiking’s been amazing, the scenery’s been amazing, the wildlife’s been amazing. The only problem is going to be deciding which of my photos I should print when I get home – I have to remember that I don’t have unlimited money or wall space!
3. The newness/adventure. As much as I’m looking forward to getting back to my “real life” in DC, there’s something so wonderful about being in a place that’s entirely new and completely different than the places that you’re used to living. I also love those moments of recognition when you realize that something that was so recently utterly foreign/unknown to you becomes familiar (i.e. seeing a Maasai walking down the street in traditional dress next to a guy in a business suit). It’s also great to experience a different culture firsthand. And there’s something pretty exciting/gratifying about successfully navigating your way through such a crazy city!
4. Little things. Indian food, pineapple, mangoes, the chocolate cake at Nairobi Java House, just about everything at Trattoria, shopping in the markets, no homework and no TV (and therefore plenty of time to go to the gym), getting tanner, Tusker.
Things that I will not miss about Nairobi.
1. The dirt. The soil in Nairobi is so fine it’s more like dust than soil, so it gets on everything. Add to that the fact that the cars pollute like there’s no tomorrow (emissions laws, not so much), and people burn anything and everything (including plastic!) out in little piles in front of their houses. After I’m done washing my clothes and I spill out the water, I swear it looks like chocolate milk – it’s disgusting! I’d really hate to see what the inside of my lungs look like right now.
2. The safety thing. Even though I’ve gotten used to the fact that my house has bars on every window, a huge wall around it, and a 24-hour security guard, even though DC isn’t really the safest of cities, even though I live in a relatively safe part of Nairobi, and even though I’ve not yet had any experiences where I’ve been really scared about my safety, it’s always kind of in the back of my mind. Shit happens here, and it’s happened to people I know while I’ve been here. I’m definitely looking forward to being home and just feeling a little more comfortable about my surroundings. Anyway, here’s hoping for an uneventful next 2.5 days!
3. The mzungu thing. Being a mzungu here, I feel so many conflicting emotions. On one hand, I feel so guilty to be so fortunate when there are so many people around me who are struggling to make ends meet. On the other hand, I hate that so many people try to take advantage of me/rip me off just because I’m mzungu. I hate that we live in a world where there’s such inequality that I can totally understand why someone who sees me wants to try and get some money from me. I hate that I’ve become a bit suspicious and quick to jump to conclusions that just because a lot of people are actually trying to take advantage of me/rip me off that that everyone must be trying to take advantage of me/rip me off. I hate that I don’t know what to do to try and make things better. For now, I’m going to be more vigilant about buying fair trade products when I get home, but that just seems like such a small drop in the bucket.
4. Little things. Mosquitoes, lack of good cheese that doesn’t cost a fortune (the imported cheese is so expensive domestic stuff is pretty tasteless), the international fee my bank charges me every time I go to the ATM, getting blonder (seriously, the sun is totally bleaching my hair – I’ll have to dye it brown when I get home), pretty much having one choice of beer (Tusker).
Things that I’m not sure whether or not I’ll miss about Nairobi.
1. Working for the UN. On one hand, I’ve been able to work on some really interesting projects this summer, and I really enjoyed working with my supervisor and the other people in my division. Plus, I have to admit, it is kind of cool to walk through the gates at the UN every morning and think to yourself, “hey, I work here.” On the other hand, this summer has made me a bit less optimistic about the capability of international law to solve environmental problems. I can’t exactly put my finger on what it is that’s made me feel this way, and I’m certainly not going to stop trying, but I just feel like I’m leaving here a little more pessimistic than I was when I got here. (I do generally go through peaks and valleys of optimism and pessimism about our ability to stop environmental degradation, so it could just be that I’m in a bit of a valley right now.)
2. Nairobi (the city center). Actually, it’s not that I’m not sure, it’s just that I’ll miss it and I won’t miss it. Going downtown is a good way to get an adrenaline rush – it’s exciting and crazy and busy. It’s also exhausting – the downside of crazy and busy. And to be honest, it doesn’t smell that great (see car emissions and burning trash, above). Anyway, there’s really no part of DC that I feel like I need to psyche myself up to go to, but there’s also no part of DC that I feel like, “woohoo, I made it, go me!” after I get back home.
3. Little things. The geckos in my house (on one hand, they’re cute and they eat the mosquitoes, on the other hand, they’re geckos in my house), the ginormous hill going down to my house (on one hand, it’s really annoying to have to hike up such a huge hill every time I leave my house, on the other hand, my glutes are in much better shape than they were when I got here), the weather (on one hand, I’m glad that once again, I missed the humidity and grossness of DC in the summer, on the other hand, it’s been pretty chilly here – it is winter – so I feel like I got a bit robbed of a summer this year).
Overall, I’m just really glad that I had this experience and I can’t wait to see all of you East Coasters soon!
Things that I will miss about Nairobi.
1. The people. First and foremost, I will miss all the great people that I got to know/live with/travel with while I was here, especially Eleonora, Joe, Annika, Gillian, and Kristina. I’ll miss all of our jokes about cheese pies, masks, peeling hard-boiled eggs, “Kenya time,” the bible, and the mystery of the disappearing mouthwash.
2. The National Parks. What can I say? Nairobi, Amboseli, Aberdare, Mt. Longonot, Ol Donyo Sabuk, Mt. Kenya – these are some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The hiking’s been amazing, the scenery’s been amazing, the wildlife’s been amazing. The only problem is going to be deciding which of my photos I should print when I get home – I have to remember that I don’t have unlimited money or wall space!
3. The newness/adventure. As much as I’m looking forward to getting back to my “real life” in DC, there’s something so wonderful about being in a place that’s entirely new and completely different than the places that you’re used to living. I also love those moments of recognition when you realize that something that was so recently utterly foreign/unknown to you becomes familiar (i.e. seeing a Maasai walking down the street in traditional dress next to a guy in a business suit). It’s also great to experience a different culture firsthand. And there’s something pretty exciting/gratifying about successfully navigating your way through such a crazy city!
4. Little things. Indian food, pineapple, mangoes, the chocolate cake at Nairobi Java House, just about everything at Trattoria, shopping in the markets, no homework and no TV (and therefore plenty of time to go to the gym), getting tanner, Tusker.
Things that I will not miss about Nairobi.
1. The dirt. The soil in Nairobi is so fine it’s more like dust than soil, so it gets on everything. Add to that the fact that the cars pollute like there’s no tomorrow (emissions laws, not so much), and people burn anything and everything (including plastic!) out in little piles in front of their houses. After I’m done washing my clothes and I spill out the water, I swear it looks like chocolate milk – it’s disgusting! I’d really hate to see what the inside of my lungs look like right now.
2. The safety thing. Even though I’ve gotten used to the fact that my house has bars on every window, a huge wall around it, and a 24-hour security guard, even though DC isn’t really the safest of cities, even though I live in a relatively safe part of Nairobi, and even though I’ve not yet had any experiences where I’ve been really scared about my safety, it’s always kind of in the back of my mind. Shit happens here, and it’s happened to people I know while I’ve been here. I’m definitely looking forward to being home and just feeling a little more comfortable about my surroundings. Anyway, here’s hoping for an uneventful next 2.5 days!
3. The mzungu thing. Being a mzungu here, I feel so many conflicting emotions. On one hand, I feel so guilty to be so fortunate when there are so many people around me who are struggling to make ends meet. On the other hand, I hate that so many people try to take advantage of me/rip me off just because I’m mzungu. I hate that we live in a world where there’s such inequality that I can totally understand why someone who sees me wants to try and get some money from me. I hate that I’ve become a bit suspicious and quick to jump to conclusions that just because a lot of people are actually trying to take advantage of me/rip me off that that everyone must be trying to take advantage of me/rip me off. I hate that I don’t know what to do to try and make things better. For now, I’m going to be more vigilant about buying fair trade products when I get home, but that just seems like such a small drop in the bucket.
4. Little things. Mosquitoes, lack of good cheese that doesn’t cost a fortune (the imported cheese is so expensive domestic stuff is pretty tasteless), the international fee my bank charges me every time I go to the ATM, getting blonder (seriously, the sun is totally bleaching my hair – I’ll have to dye it brown when I get home), pretty much having one choice of beer (Tusker).
Things that I’m not sure whether or not I’ll miss about Nairobi.
1. Working for the UN. On one hand, I’ve been able to work on some really interesting projects this summer, and I really enjoyed working with my supervisor and the other people in my division. Plus, I have to admit, it is kind of cool to walk through the gates at the UN every morning and think to yourself, “hey, I work here.” On the other hand, this summer has made me a bit less optimistic about the capability of international law to solve environmental problems. I can’t exactly put my finger on what it is that’s made me feel this way, and I’m certainly not going to stop trying, but I just feel like I’m leaving here a little more pessimistic than I was when I got here. (I do generally go through peaks and valleys of optimism and pessimism about our ability to stop environmental degradation, so it could just be that I’m in a bit of a valley right now.)
2. Nairobi (the city center). Actually, it’s not that I’m not sure, it’s just that I’ll miss it and I won’t miss it. Going downtown is a good way to get an adrenaline rush – it’s exciting and crazy and busy. It’s also exhausting – the downside of crazy and busy. And to be honest, it doesn’t smell that great (see car emissions and burning trash, above). Anyway, there’s really no part of DC that I feel like I need to psyche myself up to go to, but there’s also no part of DC that I feel like, “woohoo, I made it, go me!” after I get back home.
3. Little things. The geckos in my house (on one hand, they’re cute and they eat the mosquitoes, on the other hand, they’re geckos in my house), the ginormous hill going down to my house (on one hand, it’s really annoying to have to hike up such a huge hill every time I leave my house, on the other hand, my glutes are in much better shape than they were when I got here), the weather (on one hand, I’m glad that once again, I missed the humidity and grossness of DC in the summer, on the other hand, it’s been pretty chilly here – it is winter – so I feel like I got a bit robbed of a summer this year).
Overall, I’m just really glad that I had this experience and I can’t wait to see all of you East Coasters soon!
posted by Erica at
11:27 AM
5 Comments:
and we can't wait to see you! Thanks for a fascinating view of Kenya
By
Erin, at 3:51 PM
We like gekkos Erica, because they eat cockroaches! (or so my mother tells me when I freak out as one runs accross the ceiling of our Calcutta apartment).
Thanks for letting me take the trip with you. Can't wait to see you!!!
Hugs,
PLB
By
Pritilata, at 5:59 PM
Glad you guys enjoyed the blog, it's been really fun to write! See you SOON! Have a safe trip, Erin!
By
Erica, at 2:15 PM
Getting to Nairobi
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya is a beautiful city to explore. It is well connected by air to some of the major cities of the world, while a good road network links this city to many of its African neighbors. Therefore, getting to Nairobi should never be a problem for travelers, both international and domestic.
Air: An important African flights hub, Nairobi is well connected to all major destinations of Europe and Africa. The international airport at Nairobi receives direct flights from cities like Frankfurt, London, Paris, Madrid, Brussels, Moscow, Amsterdam, Rome, Athens, Copenhagen and Zurich.
Read More
By
rahulv, at 8:54 AM
Funny how someone can come all the way from the US to Kenya and, after they leave, have so few memories of personal interaction with the "natives". The people of Nairobi are so much more than a bunch of Mzungus!
By
Gathara, at 11:35 AM
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