New Beginning in Nairobi

This is gonna be the stupidest blog entry in this blog.

So I woke up and felt like I need a change in my life. The win yesterday wasn't enough to make me feel better. So I walk to the office today, said hi to Joel as I pass by and he yelled that I needed to smile. I get to the office and you know, whatever. So long story short, I took a vote and decided to get a hair cut (and highlights but that's not important).

So I went to Sarit Centre to get my hair done and good god the salon here is definitely a whole new experience. They are a bit pricey but what made a bit uncomfortable is.. everybody is too... servant-y. When I get to the desk, the receptionist was a bit too polite and she won't stare in my eyes. The whole process from me waiting to get my hair washed to the actual color and hair cut was too quiet. No one was talking to me, they were too polite and won't stare in my eyes, they were also a bit to accommodating (ok so I bursted out crying in the salon, a whole nother story).

I eavesdrop on people's conversation and observe a lot of things. I feel that the employees act that way because most of the clients in the salon treat them like a servant. Like these hair stylists and manicurists are way below them. That's sad. But anyway, I got a hair cut and hair coloring and surprisingly, not only my head feels lighter but also my heart. It feels like my stress is gone with all those hairs.

So here's to new beginning in a new city. There will always be good time and bad times in Nairobi but I'll try to be positive about it.

Hapa ni kuwa na mwanzo mpya!

I Needed a Win Today... and I Got It

So I've had a horrible start this morning. Let's just say that I embarassed myself in front of my roommate this morning by bursted out crying and ended up making G getting me some tea, Katty giving me girl pep talk while we were sitting in the balcony and you know.. sitting in the balcony. So this morning I just felt like... I need some sort of a win. I need something good to happen. As it happenned, today is also our Scavenger hunt day. Unfortunately, the rest of the AU abrad program is uber competitive, so I really needed to step up my game (well, I kinda knew I would lose anyway). But you know what, I got a win today in a way I would never imagine.

First of all, I got to spend the whole day experiencing the town with SiNae (the other half of this blog :) ). It was wonderful! We went all over town today and get a better sense of the town and where things are. To start our adventure, we went to places that's around Westland like the British Institute:

Then we walk along and find stuff like YMCA and the syngogue where I got my second win of the day. I got a new friend named Elvira who ended up showing us half of the place we were supposed to visit that day. She also show me where to get cheap (legit) hand bags. One of the hardest place to find is the Nairobi Gallery:

But then Elvira had to leave us, so we continued our journey alone and well... we got lost. A lot!!!

The freaking Freedom Corner is an actual corner.. a very... very very tiny corner.

As I predicted, we lost. But at least it's only by a point. I walked a lot today which kinda took my mind off of things so that's a win. I laughed a lot today. I talked to Karl today (I f***ing love my brother). You know what, today was a great day.

My Daily Routine

So.. I got nothing interesting going on today. I figure well I'll just tell you my daily (ok, more like Monday Wednesday Friday) routine is like. So I wake up at 6 am and turn on the water heater. Eat breakfast, maybe read the news or chat on facebook (okay yeah more than likely faebook). Take a shower, get dressed, drink my malaria pill, and then walk around my room asking SiNae if she's seen my [insert object name here]. Say bye to G and Katty if they haven't left yet and go around 7.15 at the latest.

Now, my first class of the day is Kiswahili at 8 am. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from our apartment to the class at AU Abroad office. It's a pretty nice walk though! So we talk a 15 minute walks down Rhapta Road towards Mombasa Road/the round about. But then, right before the round about I take a right down a dirt road that clear has a sigh that says ROAD CLOSED. But that's okay, it's just you know.. people with heavy machinery paving a road and such. There's no way you are going to fall or anything like that. After that, we cross the (according to Katty) Scary Ass Bridge that's basically made with planks with  pretty huge gaps in between. It's totally okay. Then at the end of the bridge I'll say hi to Joel, the shack owner/my mandazi guy. Joel refuses to speak english with me because he thinks it will help me learn Swahili. Then we took a left turn then somehow see the office.

On Friday, I stay there until 1 but on MW I go home before my class at USIU. On MW, on my way back I usually buy Mandazi or Donut from Joel. He is really nice, sometimes he gives me a free Mandazi. Around 11.30-11.45 I usually leave the apartment again with SiNae to go to USIU. Follow the same road again to Mombasa road, stop by Rajasa, my fruit guy to get pineapple slices or banana then catch a matatu to Jivanji. After that it's just you know, whatever, cross the road get to the USIU shuttle, try to get busy in my own little world or look at Ameiva. After class, I either follow the route back or catch matatu 48 to town. So that's my pretty lackluster routine :)

Kibera.. and how it reminded me of home

So today for Politics of Culture in Kenya instead of sitting in a class room, we went to Kibera. Now, when I think about slums, I automatically think about the slums in Indonesia, especially Jakarta. I grew up with that sort of environment around and it saddens me everytime I think about it. Everybody took different route to get to ISSA and I am surprised that Kibera is a LOT better than home.

Yes, the houses are informal and made out of iron sheeting. Yes they live very close to the railroad and they sell second hand stuff. But people are happy. Kids are smiling and they greet foreigners with "how are you" and try to shake your hand. SiNae and I were the first people that get to ISSA so I decided to come downstairs and play with kids. Gosh I love kids! I played with three kids today they all oh so very adorable! I threw them up in the air, did the helicopter, played tag with them, and people even said I'm really good with kids. I love kids, they make me happy. But I am totally paying for it right now cause my back is sore and everything else is also sore.

Oh I also started a trend in Kibera today. One of the kid I played with kept calling me Mzungu. So I told her my name is Yuli and she still called me Mzungu. So I just repeated my name over and over until she called me Yuli. Well, turns out now she calls EVERYBODY Yuli because she thought Yuli and Mzungu is the same thing. So if you come to Kibera and people start calling you "Yuli" I am soooo sorry. I finally get to eat tripes again today (after a looooog time). I am quite happy about it.

Okay, so my day in Kibera is quite lackluster but I did had a fun experience :) Also, on my way back to Westland, a guy was talking to me while I was sitting in the star bus. We had a pretty basic conversation in Swahili and he asked how long I'll be in Nairobi. He also said that he likes my attitude that's open and not superly cautious because that means no one will harrass me. Actually, he said that if anyone ever harrass me in town, I should find him and he and his brothers will take care of it for me. I think I just met the head of a gang...

The Crap that is United States International University-Africa (or How Crappy my First Day of School is)

I've had quite a day today.

So at 2 am-ish this morning, Katty woke me up and told me she had to go to the hospital. Being the dumbass that I am, I said "uh... okay.. as soon as you find my glasses." I was telling a very very ill person to find my glasses for me. Yes. I was awful. But all the ruckus woke SiNae up and we all get dressed (sort of) to take Katty to the hospital. The Aga Khan hospital was a lot like Sibley, only a bit more depressing. So we waited on Katty and watched CitizenTV for hours and hours (unfortunately, our TV at home also only shows this particular channel). They were showing Al Jazeera for a while just to wait until they show the weather for East Africa (which they never did). The TV then suddenly turn into this random weird fitness show called Body and Soul.

OK, the main fitness guru is called Jeannie Weaver and her assistants are this 90 year old lady named Frances (she said she is 90) and this teenage girl. What a weird way to try to appeal to a wider demographic. The entire time, Frances looked like she might keel over from all the work out. Good god she was shaking hard when she had to strecth a towel! At the end of the program,
Jeannie: "[with creepy smile] Did you have fun Frances?"
Frances: [in a very meek voice] "I.. had fun"
Jeannie: "Of course you did!"
That's like.. robbing me on gun point and ask "you're giving me your money willingly, right?!"

But anywayyyyy, we left at 6.30 with Francis (the taxi guy, not the old lady from the show). Katty was looking a little better but she wasn't feeling well enough to go to school. As soon as we walk in, G was also sick. Great, so I am the only one who hadn't got sick yet in this apartment. So we walk up to the office, this time we kow our way so we actually got there faster. Swahili was great and I had my meeting with Lynsey. Went to the mall with SiNae to get the internet. Got a matatu to town for 20 bob. You know, pretty chill and lackluster day.. or so I thought.

So we got to USIU, wait around for Kellan (our academic advisor) for a little bit and she said I'm all set with that big "Welcome to our campus!" smile. We went to the library to get our textbooks (everybody got free textbooks here! outdated but free!). We stand in the line for 80 minutes and missed our first class by about 5 minute. So I figured, that's okay, it's only the first day of school and at least I got my  textbooks. But no... after all that waiting in line and heaing people talk shit about Texas, I got to the textbook desk and they said, "I am sorry but we can't give you textbooks. You are not cleared." What the duck?! So apparently I am financially cleared but my student account is not cleared yet (?!) That upsets me a lot so I called Kellen and apparently she was driving but she said she will meet me at her office in 10 minutes. What we called CPT in USA, they call it African time and good god 10 minute stretched into hours. I was cranky; I missed my class, I was tired, very hungry, and just need people to give me my space. So I snapped at someone in our group (sorry about that!). Kellan never shoed up and apparently my professor for the first class didn't show up either. Went to my second class and we just took syllabus and went home. I don't think I will ever get used to USIU. I think their system sucks and I think they need more librarian. I think that some of the people there are quite stuck up and I don't think I can ever get used to listening to people's conversation about how rich they are.

Anywho, that's all for today. I am super tired and cranky. Gotta go.

Maasai Market and Nyama Choma :)

Habari zenu!

It's Sunday, January 8 and I have had the most exciting day ever! For today, we went to the Maasai market to make sure we remember how to take the matatu to town and learn how to bargain for things. Boy, do I learn how to bargain for things.

First thing first, you gotta know that my mother is the master of bargaining and by following her around I learned the value of items. Or so I thought. These are the items I got today:

Pretty, right?? I spend about...KSH 850 in total. Yea.. it's pretty bad. I definitely paid too much for the giraffes and the spoon set. BUT! I won KSH200 top up for being the best bargainer :) But that's not the most interesting part of my day. So at the market I REAALLLYYY wanted this African map that is printed on leather. Beautiful and only for KSH 500. But you know, you always have to bargain for these things so I bargain for ksh 100 (I only have ksh 300 left). So there was this guy that keep on chasing me around for it but he got upset because I won't raise my bargain and left. So 30 minutes later, he walked back to me and said "fine, it's yours for 100. But let me see the money first." At that point, I was all giggly and happy because I really.. really.. REALLY wanted that map (hint hint for birthday present). So I walked with him, he got a newspaper t wrap it from someone and I pay him ksh 100.

If you think the story end there, oh my, you gotta learn much,, much more about me. Things are more exciting in my life than in yours lol jk. So after that I walked around and went to another guy that also sells the map. I asked him how much he sells the map for and told him that I got mine for ksh 100. He asked to see the map and I was a little confused on why. After we opened the wrapping and unfold the tattered leather (I didn't think much of it because some of the leather were tattered for the 'authentic' look) we found out that I have been duped. What's drawn in that leather was NOT a map of Africa but a very ugly stick figure painting. I was very very very upset to the point that I almost cried and hunted down that guy (yes, I almost beat him up). So I asked the guy that unfold the map (GTUTM) on a way to solve this without making a big deal. I don't want to fight him or accuse him of things so gtutm said he's gonna call the 'mama' so we ca deal with the matter properly. So I walked with the Mama to the guy who gave the wrapping paper and Mama started yelling. Then we went to the stall of  the guy who sold me the thing. Turns out, it wasn't even his stall.. So mama started yelling and everybody gathered and I explained everything and well.. no one knows where he is. So I said I am not upset, I just want my money back. They give me my money back and they pat my back saying that I was very brave to stand up for myself. After that, I met the rest of the group for nyama choma and that was one of the best roast meats I've ever had in my life. I feel really blessed right now. :) Well that's all for now.

Kwaherini!



Just Another Day in Naivasha

So, today is the drop off day. You don't know what a drop off is? Well... it's exactly what it sounds like. You got dropped off in the middle of nowhere with nothing. Okay, so most people carry their cell phone and camera with them but I decided to carry nothing but a piece of paper (with the questions I need to ask) and a pen.

I got dropped off in Lakeview drive area, it is a very beautiful and quiet residential area in Naivasha. I have to ask three questions: Who is Kenya's new chief of justice, who is Naivasha's Area MP, and what is the meaning of the word kigeugeu. After I got dropped off, I wandered for a little bit and soaked the beauty of this beautiful, gorgeous town until I remember, "hey! I am supposed to be making friends!" So I walked a little bit and rang someone's doorbell. While I was waiting for someone to answer the door for me (well, the fence.. whatever), the next door neighbour walked out. I tried to ask them the question but they said that they are late for work. Then the housekeeper from the house I originally tried came out and well, she doesn't speak english. However, the daughter came out of the house and tried to help me a little bit, tried being the key word here. So I wander a little bit more until I saw a guy and a little girl playing on a fence which makes me think "okay, so they are obviously conversing in english. It won't hurt to ask them, right? At least they can point me to someone who knows." I started talking to them and that just had to be the best decision I ever made!

I asked the son about my questions and he said, "I'm not sure. Let's ask Dad" which confuses me because he said that but wasn't moving anywhere. Suddenly, this really beautiful truck comes out of the driveway (which I thought was a road because it was just..ok, I can't see their house. that long) with two people in it. Dad was obviously busy and on the phone and grunt, "talk to mom." The mother is vey nice, she answered my question and when I asked her about the meeting place she told me that her boys will take me there. In addition, she insisted that I come inside and have some tea and snacks. The house is VERY nice, they are definitely a very well off family. Inside, I met the older brother, Shen, who told me that he has two older brothers and asked if I like the song that was playing on the tv. It was Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa's newest single so of course I said yea. He smiled and disappeared inside so I just played with Karo (the daughter) and Francis (the son I met outside). I played chess with Francis while rapping along to the songs that was playing and he taught me some popular Kenyan rap. He also taught me Kikuyu and all of this happened while Karo (tried) to corn row my (stubborn) hair. She is very animated and she wanted me to draw with her. Karo is a great hip hop dancer at the age of 9 and she was teaching me the "right" way to dance. Yea, me and my asian butt CANNOT shake like that.

My favorite part of the day was the conversation I had with Francis while we were playing chess. His understanding of American lifestyle is from Rap videos and Hollywood movies, where people carry around guns and big stack of money. Our houses are (supposedly) big and opportunity is abundant. He thought anyone who lives in United States can arrange it for other people to get in (not true!). We played with the animals on the backyard. I fed the chicken ad the geese, rode the cow, chased the turkey, and later we hiked a little bit and see the whole Naivasha. Shen came back and drove me to where I was supposed to meet the group. I've had the best day ever :)

Holy Crap! I'm Going to Kenya!

So this is going to be my first post on this blog. Sitting in Dulles at the moment and still can't believe I am going to be in Nairobi in approximately.. 19 hours. Oh.. well.. that's still a while. But still! I have been here since 1 pm for one reason or another (ok, the another reason is my dad also had a travel arrangement). It's interesting to see people coming in one by one to this amazingly depressing airport. I have never been to Zurich airport but I heard it's better than Frankfurt. Fingers crossed!
Alrighty, that's it for now. I'll keep you posted!