Kenya Begins
Hey Everyone,
Well I was planning on updating my London Robbing and Poland Adventure blogs first, but I need to buy a flash drive to pull the already finished updates form my laptop, which is currently charging.
As it stands now I have 3 days worth of updates and insights that I have come across in my time here in this amazing country. So much is different, so much unexpected, but the fundamentals of humanity still ring true in this country.
Here will be my first days recollection Dated September 7, 2006:
The plane flight from Poland to Kenya was a bit of heaven. After what seemed to be 2 weeks worth of struggle and sleeplessness it was time to enjoy the hospitality of Emerites Air. They had AMAZING food and incredible entertainment. If you ever have the chance to utilize emerites, be sure to do so. See the pictures (when updated) to see the menu I had to choose from and a picture of the entertainment unit in each seat. Definitely light years ahead of North American flights.
As I touched down in Nairobi Kenya, I was filled with much excitement and wonder, although the country its self did not look as green as I anticipated, I saw my first "tree" which really made me realize I had touched down in a land which I had never seen before.
I was received by Miano and a few of the other AIESECers I will be working with for the next 4 months, and I was then wished off to Miano's parents house, who were kind enough to take me in as I awaited finalized accomodations. The scenery was nothing I had ever dreamed about. Thousands of people walking along the streets of tar and dust. Businessmen in suits marching side by side with beggars in a case of co-habitation captured in a single image. I remember distinctly watching 5 men dig a trench with pick-axes and old shovels and realizing that "blue collar workers" knew nothing of what took place in the third world countries. It was also at this point that I realized that this truly would change my perceptions on the world. In what I am sure will become a common theme for the rest of the blog until I leave Kenya... the people of the westerm world are blessed beyond their wildest dreams. More to come on my feelings surrounding the world outside of downtown Nairobi, and the inhabitants therein.
We then travelled to the University of Kenya where I spent some time in the Kenyan National office and was then immediately taken to my first meeting (remember at this time I had no more than 5 hours sleep in 3 days). The spirit of AIESEC is very much alive in the LC's of Kenya who were enthusiastic to see me and hear me speak about my project for the next 4 months.
The really huge part of my first day here came during my first party, the first night I was here.
We started off the night by walking over to Central. Central is the main police station here in Nairobi. Why the police station you ask? To drink cheap beer of course. So I slid into my seat and was immediately presented with a drink of "Fanta". By fanta I of course mean the orange fanta drink mixed half and half with a strong light alcohol called the "King of Kenya". So picture this: The only white guy in the bar, filled with drinking on-duty police officers and 10 other AIESECers. I am drinking "King of Kenya" half and half with a gross orange drink while I hadn't eaten a real meal in 4 days. Basically... a gong show. The experience was really heightened by the fact that the AIESECers began screaming at each other about the Premiere League (read: Soccer, foolish Canadians). Ohh yah.. and then after that we started singing "In the Jungle" and continued to drink until about 1 or so.
The night ends in Canada around this point. But as I quickly found out. 1 is about the time the REAL drinking starts in Kenya. We traveled to Miano's (Miano is the National President of Kenya by the way) dorm room on the campus of the Nairobi University. It was here that I really got to hear stories from the heart of the Kenyan youth. Those striving so hard to make changes whcih will be sustainable for their countries and their children's future. We are talking about highly educated, motivated and capable people discussing what they felt was the root of their countries problems. It was truly an enlightening experience, where while I was aked for my input I could hardly speak to many of the situations they were discussing. These people have been through so much to arrive where they have become. Many of the people in the room came from very humble beginnings, and it was through their hard work and the work of their parents that they, and their country, truly have hope for prosperity for the future.
As a humerous note, I was the first to pass out, although everyone else had way more to drink than me. When I awoke, I found myself in a single bed with two other people, with 3 others on the floor. That makes 6 in a tiny dorm room no bigger than 6*8, with no more than 15 square feet of floor.
Ohh and after that, Miano was promptly thown out of his dorm room by the landlady. First night on the job and already people are getting kicked out of their houses. Sounds like something that would happen to those who hang out with me.
More to come in the next edition.
Devan
Well I was planning on updating my London Robbing and Poland Adventure blogs first, but I need to buy a flash drive to pull the already finished updates form my laptop, which is currently charging.
As it stands now I have 3 days worth of updates and insights that I have come across in my time here in this amazing country. So much is different, so much unexpected, but the fundamentals of humanity still ring true in this country.
Here will be my first days recollection Dated September 7, 2006:
The plane flight from Poland to Kenya was a bit of heaven. After what seemed to be 2 weeks worth of struggle and sleeplessness it was time to enjoy the hospitality of Emerites Air. They had AMAZING food and incredible entertainment. If you ever have the chance to utilize emerites, be sure to do so. See the pictures (when updated) to see the menu I had to choose from and a picture of the entertainment unit in each seat. Definitely light years ahead of North American flights.
As I touched down in Nairobi Kenya, I was filled with much excitement and wonder, although the country its self did not look as green as I anticipated, I saw my first "tree" which really made me realize I had touched down in a land which I had never seen before.
I was received by Miano and a few of the other AIESECers I will be working with for the next 4 months, and I was then wished off to Miano's parents house, who were kind enough to take me in as I awaited finalized accomodations. The scenery was nothing I had ever dreamed about. Thousands of people walking along the streets of tar and dust. Businessmen in suits marching side by side with beggars in a case of co-habitation captured in a single image. I remember distinctly watching 5 men dig a trench with pick-axes and old shovels and realizing that "blue collar workers" knew nothing of what took place in the third world countries. It was also at this point that I realized that this truly would change my perceptions on the world. In what I am sure will become a common theme for the rest of the blog until I leave Kenya... the people of the westerm world are blessed beyond their wildest dreams. More to come on my feelings surrounding the world outside of downtown Nairobi, and the inhabitants therein.
We then travelled to the University of Kenya where I spent some time in the Kenyan National office and was then immediately taken to my first meeting (remember at this time I had no more than 5 hours sleep in 3 days). The spirit of AIESEC is very much alive in the LC's of Kenya who were enthusiastic to see me and hear me speak about my project for the next 4 months.
The really huge part of my first day here came during my first party, the first night I was here.
We started off the night by walking over to Central. Central is the main police station here in Nairobi. Why the police station you ask? To drink cheap beer of course. So I slid into my seat and was immediately presented with a drink of "Fanta". By fanta I of course mean the orange fanta drink mixed half and half with a strong light alcohol called the "King of Kenya". So picture this: The only white guy in the bar, filled with drinking on-duty police officers and 10 other AIESECers. I am drinking "King of Kenya" half and half with a gross orange drink while I hadn't eaten a real meal in 4 days. Basically... a gong show. The experience was really heightened by the fact that the AIESECers began screaming at each other about the Premiere League (read: Soccer, foolish Canadians). Ohh yah.. and then after that we started singing "In the Jungle" and continued to drink until about 1 or so.
The night ends in Canada around this point. But as I quickly found out. 1 is about the time the REAL drinking starts in Kenya. We traveled to Miano's (Miano is the National President of Kenya by the way) dorm room on the campus of the Nairobi University. It was here that I really got to hear stories from the heart of the Kenyan youth. Those striving so hard to make changes whcih will be sustainable for their countries and their children's future. We are talking about highly educated, motivated and capable people discussing what they felt was the root of their countries problems. It was truly an enlightening experience, where while I was aked for my input I could hardly speak to many of the situations they were discussing. These people have been through so much to arrive where they have become. Many of the people in the room came from very humble beginnings, and it was through their hard work and the work of their parents that they, and their country, truly have hope for prosperity for the future.
As a humerous note, I was the first to pass out, although everyone else had way more to drink than me. When I awoke, I found myself in a single bed with two other people, with 3 others on the floor. That makes 6 in a tiny dorm room no bigger than 6*8, with no more than 15 square feet of floor.
Ohh and after that, Miano was promptly thown out of his dorm room by the landlady. First night on the job and already people are getting kicked out of their houses. Sounds like something that would happen to those who hang out with me.
More to come in the next edition.
Devan
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