Nairobi and Host Family

1/23/10

Nairobi

I’m all moved into Nairobi with my host family! I can’t believe I’ve only been in Kenya for 1 week, it feels like I’ve already learned so much and classes haven’t even started yet. As all of the MSID-ers were leaving each other to be picked up by our parents there were big hugs all around, and I realized how lucky I am to be here experiencing all of this with such a uniquely awesome group of friends. We’re going to be separated from each other and the outside world until Monday when we have our first day of school and will be taken to buy cellies. Apparently it helps us to have the full weekend alone with our families so we’re forced to dive right into the situation. I did see two classmates of mine this morning though, Dan and Alycia’s families go to the same church as mine so we got to have some quick hugs which was a nice reassurance.

My host mom and dad are young and so warm and welcoming, and my siblings are great. Wangari, my sister, is 9 and the most adorable little girl ever. She’s already started teaching me the Kenyan National Anthem and was so excited to help me unpack and look at all of my pictures from Lake Nakuru. Mugambe, my little brother, is 4 and so full of mischief and energy. I can tell they’re going to be so much fun to live with.

Wanga has been having a great time teaching me Kiswahili, and loves that I already know a little bit. The two of us walked down to the corner store to buy more minutes for my host mom’s cell phone, and I had a little, shall we say, “adventure”. I got hit on by a Kenyan guy really intensely for the first time. We were all told to expect this but it really came as a surprise. He knew my friend Martinez (who studied abroad here and then was in my Swahili class) so my guard was down. Before I knew it he was trying to get me to go drink with him (it was roughly 3pm) and asking me where I lived so he could stalk me, in his words. I came home and asked my host Mom for advice and she was so wonderful to talk to. Let’s just say I now know how to say ‘please go away’ in Kiswahili… Tafadhali niache!

Last night as I went to bed I was so full from our delicious chapatti dinner and felt an unexpected peace. Everyone I’d heard from said the transition from orientation to the homestay is so hard, but I felt so ready for this and so appreciative to have this opportunity that it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had feared.

…but really though, African showers. Can a girl get some running water? (hint: no.)

The lesser known face of Nairobi

MSID girls... love them all.