Sorry I haven't been blogging much recently--it has been very crazy, busy and exciting for the past two weeks. The story goes like this: I have been in the urban home stay component of my program where each student stays with a affluent family of the greater Nairobi community. From the sounds of my fellow colleagues everyone is very happy with their situations, and I am no exception!
Disclaimer: The names of my family members remain anonymous because we were told by St. Lawrence, specifically not to include names because Kenyans are very tech-savvy and could find and read your blog if you're not careful! (As if I would have anything bad to say about my family anyhow..!)
I am living in a very nice, well decorated, exceptionally kept house with 4 family members--the 5th is in Canada for University. We have shared many laughs, insights and cultural exchanges that I cannot wait to show you all back home! My family is very well off and has been able to show me a side of the Nairobi elitest life that I would have otherwise not have been exposed to. To me, this whole affluent life, is very interesting I feel like the best way I could describe it all is by saying that my family, as well as many other SLU students host families, could be the stars on Real Housewives of Nairobi if there was such a thing.
Heres why I think this:
- My mom gets her nails done once a week. Along with her hair "touched up" twice a month
- My sisters wear white...only white clothing (purely out of choice)
- My father owns a Range Rover...and a BMW.
- We have a house help, driver, gardner and driveway keeper (yes, I had that same confused look when I heard this too)
- My family gets over 300 channels of T.V--all American, British and Kenyan channels!
- My mom hosts "girls afternoon" every other day at my house. This is basically where all her girl friends come over, drink tea (a lot of it) and gossip about their money, friends and house helps (yes, sometimes our sweet househelp is even in the room) It is times like this that I wish I was fluent in Kiswahili...what ARE they talking about?!
Basically, it is to my understanding that my family is very well off--and props to them, both my host mom and dad work very hard and they deserve it all. However, it is just not the lifestyle I was picturing living in and even more-so is such a contrast to my rural home stay!
Moreover, my home stay experience has been nothing but great and I have no complaints. Some of the more interesting things I have done so far include:
- Clubbing--Kenyan style (yes, there is a style!)
- Making a vegetarian pizza dinner for my family (Don't you worry dad--yes it was homemade dough and caramelized onions)
- Attending my first Catholic mass---in Kiswahili
- Eating Chinese food in Kenya (it was actually really good...nothing compared to you, Kai!)
- Bargaining HARD at the Maasai market
- Attending various election campaigns (sometimes more scary then fun)
- Going to the Rift Valley
- Seeing Hippos...real life wild ones!
- Attending a Kenyan wedding...and passing out in front of everyone...
Here is the story for that one: I went to my host fathers, nephews wedding on Saturday. It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding in Nyvasha (the Rift Valley) right on lake Nyvasha. So we get there at 11:45 am and the wedding is projected to start at 12:00 pm. Thanks to the wonderful africa time the wedding service didn't start until 1:30 pm. Classic. Lunch was supposed to be at 2:00 pm but the service didn't get over until 3:30pm...(yes, it was a long service). Then we went to refreshments which consisted of boxed fruit juice (it is Lent so everyone is giving up alcohol so this was a very alcohol free wedding). Anyhow, at this point in the day it was 4:00 pm and we had not eaten lunch yet...actually I had not yet eaten ANYTHING all day. I clearly wasn't thinking because I chose not to eat breakfast in the morning, just took my normal cup of tea, thinking I would be able to eat at the projected 2:00 pm lunch time...turns out I was wrong...so wrong. So I am standing amongst a group of Kenyans sipping my juice (I was actually chugging mine, because I was SO hungry/thirsty). I start to feel light headed and sweating a little more than normal. As a disclaimer: I have only passed out one time prior to this so I was very unfamiliar with the feeling/symptoms. I quickly realized this was a very abnormal feeling and decided I should do something about it. I politely excused myself from the group to go sit down. I started to walk to the chair area with my host sisters trailing behind me...I made all of 5 steps (to the nearest chair) and BAM--I passed out. Don't worry, I some how, miraculously made it on the chair and must have woken up all of seconds later. However, it felt like a lifetime and I am sure that EVERYONE at the wedding saw me because I woke up to the entire "refreshment section" staring at me... Turns out everything was alright, the bride and groom were fine with it. They thought it was funny having a Mzungu pass out at their wedding. I'm glad someone found it funny hah! I've learned my lesson--eat before any Kenyan wedding...things never start on time!
The rest of the week was a lot more relaxed...thank goodness. I visited the Maasai market with my family which was great because I didn't receive the haggling or Mzungu Tax that I would have if I were by myself!
Tonight is my last night here...we are planing on having a "pizza, movie, cake and games night". My sisters and I baked a cake and decorated it (it looks very professional) and we are going to play our favorite games together Uno, Spit and Catch Phrase!
I will post pictures as soon as I can! Secondly, I am leaving for Tanzania...actually more like running away to Tanzania on Saturday (March 1st) because the Kenyan elections are on March 4th. My family thinks, and I agree, that it is silly that we are running away from the election--Kenyans have learned their lesson and we will not see a repeat of 2008. One can only hope. We'll be gone in TZ for two weeks and be returning on the 17th. See you then!
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