Though I have been in Kenya for practically 5 days now, I just now have stable enough internet to use this abroad blog. Before I was able to steal wireless from the apartments surrounding mine, however the signal was weak and I was only able to log-in to one website at a time and it was incredibly slow. Kenyans don't really use routers, instead they use individual modems -- like the ones you see business men using in airports. They are like giant USB ports, so -- that is what i bought and am now using! It was 19,000 shillings, which is 20 dollars, and than unlimited internet is 30 dollars a month -- however calling on my nokia cellphone -- that resembles my first cellphone, is only 3 cents a minute to the USA, while it is 10 cents a minute to Uganda.
Enough about that. Due to Irene, 6 of the 16 people in the program were delayed in arriving, three came last night/this morning and three will come tonight (friday night). They missed our orientation in Nivasha -- a lake area where they are one of the largest exporters of roses in the world.
I won't rehash the same details as I did in the first email I sent.
Today we had our first trip to Nairobi -- it is unlike any city I have ever been to. The amount of pollution and people and lack of driving skills is indescribable. You tempt fate every time you have to cross the 4+ lane high way where cars drive on all sides of the street. Today, while we were on our way to USIU (where we will take some of our classes) our taxi realized he was on the wrong ramp and turned around and drove off of it -- while incoming cars/matatus (mini buses) dodged and honked at us. It is better to look out the window instead of straight ahead.
We toured the USIU campus, it is quite pretty. The State Department has built them a new library and it is absolutely gorgeous, so I look forward to utilizing that. I will be able to talk more about USIU once I begin my classes on Monday (bummmmer.)
We then went to "town" which is what they call the city center of Nairobi. The air quality is so poor that you often find yourself holding your breath or coughing if you breath in too much. I will have to carry my inhaler with me at all times, which probably isn't a bad idea to begin with. There is litter everywhere -- it is unfortunate that the beauty of the country cannot be extended into the city -- it is truly lost once you enter the city limits, you wouldn't think that you are in a lovely mountainous region where there are zebras and giraffes roaming in the wild.
Our days are packed with so many activities, that by the end of the day, we are all exhausted. However we still manage to enjoy a few Tuskers (kenyan beer) and have wonderful conversations. Tonight we made authentic kenyan food -- Chipata (which is kind of like a pita/tortilla flat bread, Ugali -- which is impossible to explain but is a maize flour mixture that you pick up food with -- i get to eat with my hands, fruit salad and other varieties of food that I can't remember the name of but will tell you when I remember.
We have all early mornings here -- i have to be out of my apartment by 7:30 am -- quite the change from my usual wake-up calls.
I am happy here.
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