Feb 2006

Hamjambo!

Kenya is a really amazing place. Mombasa is right on the water so even
though it is hot and sweaty we have a cool ocean breeze. We (there are 15 people in the program, all of of whom seem really nice) are staying in old town near fort Jesus, which was built in 1590 by the Portuguese. Right now we are in guest houses with beds- and yes dad, mosquito nets, with running water (most of the time), and flushing toilets. Many people here in Mombasa have such amenities but the power seems to be out for a good part of each day and as John warned me, toilet paper is often not provided. Also there are lots of people that are much less well off. The area has limited employment opportunities and as a result many people, including babies, beg on the street. The town itself is very busy. People are selling things all over the place and the men spend all day standing around on the street (Women, fully covered when on the street, spend most of their time at hoem). Many make a living off tourism by selling crafts or giving tours. When we walk around ethey all say hi and want to talk. We are recognized as mwanafunzi (students) and all the men humor us when we try to use your new kiswahili vocabulary.

Classes are going well, a can introduce myself in a new language, but the most educational thing has been walking through the streets and talking to the people we meet. We have been making friends with the street vendors by our houses and two of them took me and my friend Brian fishing the other night. We stayed out until 2am in a Dhow with fishing line wrapped around our fingers but did not catch a thing. Thats alright though. It was still a beautiful night.

There are some interesting differences between the culture in Kenya and at home. First, people here share there possessions with others, it is
considered an act of friendship to use something that belongs to others
(Jacqui, you know I fit in here!).... It is inappropriate here for a women to wear shorts or tank tops so instead I have been sweating through long skirts and shirts, but I realize I would be very uncomfortable wearing anything more revealing.... Also, the people I have met seem to think that Americans don't work very much. They always see Americans on vacation spending money so they seem to assume that we never work but always have more money than we need. We would look at them and think that they don't work much but I am realizing that is not true, they just like the slow and steady (poley, poley) way of life.

We are sooo busy and this place is sooo interesting. The food is really
good, a lot of chicken and fish, though I ate a bit of beef for the first time in 9 years yesterday.... This is really scattered, I don't know what to say... I cut off most of my hair,.... I meet with an officer in the regional economic development authority who told me all about there efforts over the past 10 years,.... we went to a school for children with cerebral palsied (at which the teachers are saints and if you have money it should go to wheel chairs for these kids!),... We are headed to Lamu in 2 days, and I will write more as soon as I can.
-Love Gabi

PS. Mom and dad, the plane was fine, the pack worked well, and I have not had free time to read yet!