One Week Down...

Hujambo!

Wow. I can't believe I have already been in Kenya a week. I know that doesn't seem like much, but it is when you are half-way around the world! I am finally back in Nairobi after a wonderful week at Lake Nakuru National Park. That is about 3 hours away from Nairobi and is the 4th largest city in Kenya. We went there for orientation and it was very beautiful and relaxing. We stayed in student hostels in a compound in the middle of the national park. There were baboons everywhere and outside our compound were lions, rhinos, hippos, antelope, deer, water buffalo, flamingos, and so much more. These animals couldn't get in to our compound but we saw them when we drove around the park. It was unbelievable. Like a mini-safari in our back yard. Simon, one of the MSID Staff, said we are the luckiest group because we saw a lion 3 times and none of the other groups have ever seen a lion. I mean, this lion was walking right beside our bus...I have never seen anything like it. During our time in Nakuru we learned about the program, met the staff, got to know each other, learned a little Swahili from talking to the people who run the hostel, ate lots of Kenyan food and lots of Kenyan tea (people are serious about there tea here...mom, you would love it!) and learned about Kenyan time. Okay...time here is not the same as time in America and I am still getting used to it. One day the staff said we would leave for the downtown Nakuru markets at 10 am. An hour later, they said we would have morning tea at 10 am and go to the markets after that. Around noon we were having tea and we go to the markets around 1 pm. This was not just a one time, running late sort of thing. That is how everything operates. Church was supposed to start at 9 am today. We got there at 9:45 and the service had just started. Nothing is "on time" by American standards, but I seem to be the only one who doesn't know when things will happen. All of the locals knew when to show up for the service even though it was 45 minutes "late". I guess this will take some getting used to, but I don't really mind.
Wow, there is so much to write about I don't even know where to begin. The MSID staff is amazing. The main people are Simon, Jane, Haalif, Duncan, and Abdul-Aziz. They are such wonderful people and they have been so helpful. They have amazing personalities and I'm glad we were given a chance to get to know them during orientation. We spent our last night in Nakuru sitting around in a big circle with all of the students and most of the staff singing songs and laughing really hard for over 2 hours. They were teaching us Swahili songs and we were teaching them popular American songs. It was such a fun time and I don't think I will ever forget it.
While I was in Nakuru, I also found out about my internship. I am going to be in Mombasa (the large city on the coast) working with the Mombasa Youth Organization. They use theatre to educate the community about public health issues and I think it is focused on youth reaching out to other youth. It is a different organization than I had asked for because PATH couldn't take interns at the time, but they do basically the same thing. Simon said they will be sending details about what I will be doing very soon. I am so excited...this sounds like exactly what I want to do!
Yesterday we drove the 3 hours back to Nairobi and my host mom and one of my brothers, Eric, came to pick me up. We went to a supermarket to buy meat (ick...I have been having to force it down...actually probably the worst part about being here...so I guess I can't complain). We picked up Anthony (we all call him Tua) and came home. I live in a small compound (it's basically a gated community with about 10 houses really close together). My house is so nice. I never imagined things to be like this. They have flat panel tv, the wii and playstation, the internet (which is amazing!). I was roughing it during orientation and now this is luxury living...complete with a real toilet and shower! More importantly, my family seems really nice. They have been very welcoming and the kids are great. They seem to be having fun playing with me.
I go to school tomorrow to see the building, meet the teachers, and then take a tour of Nairobi (and buy a cell phone, finally!). Classes will start on Tuesday. There is another girl who lives in my compound who is on the program so we will be able to walk together. It is only about 30 minutes I think, which isn't too bad.
I am having a great time and starting to get used to the food. I'm not going to lie though...there were corn flakes set out for breakfast this morning and I almost had a heart attack I was so happy to see something familiar! I am picking up on some Swahili but it is going to be a long journey to learn more. I am so excited to start talking to people in Swahili...I hope I learn quickly.
I guess I should go for now, I don't want to take up too much time on their computer. Thank you all for reading and keeping up with my journey. Kenya has been amazing so far and I feel like it is only going to get better. Keep me in your thoughts and I will try to post again soon!

Kwaheri and Nakupenda!
(Goodbye and I love you)