From a Peopled out Introvert

Hello all! So, personal space and quiet time are challenging things with a roommate and 33 kids around anytime you leave your room, so I am definitely feeling my introvertedness right now! My brain is tired from all the communication work. But that is okay- life here is good!

So, I have started a new chapter of life in Kenya and it is great so far! Yesterday, Stella (my roomie and friend) decided to head into Nairobi a day early to hang out with a volunteer stranded in a hotel since her flight couldn't leave on Sunday morning. We were so excited to be clean! We got dressed up and went out for supper and bought a bunch of snacks and had a great time. We are now staying with a family in Nairobi for a week and then heading to an orphanage on the slums of Nairobi. Stella and I are hoping to try and get around a bit by ourselves and explore places while we are here. I don't think I would ever try by myself since I am so directionally challenged, but between the two of us, I think we will have fun.

After the two weeks in Nairobi, I am planning to head to another area of Kenya and work in a school for orphans that is there. I have emailed previous volunteers and they assure me that it is not as remote as I had heard and they loved their experience.

On a less details level, I have been thinking a lot about the different way that Kenyans treat each other. There is a respect for individuality that I can't really put in words. Some days I think it is the best thing since margarine on bread, but other days it drives me nuts! There are so few expectations on who you are- there are expectations on what you do in terms of doing chores or something, but who you are is just accepted. There is a child who cries all the time at WWB and the response is 'Oh, that is okay, that is just her way.' Not like they don't care or anything, just that they are not judging her or trying to make her change or something. There is a child who whines all the time and the only person who got frustrated at the whining was me. I can't quite find words to describe it, but I wish I could bottle it up so that you could all experience it for yourself. I think that it is definitely something that would fix a lot of the brokenness in the western culture.

I had the most interesting matatu ride yesterday- sheesh, those things make me nervous sometimes. There was a fight between a lady and the conductor about change and I thought for sure someone was going to get hurt. After that was solved, the men around me assured me everything was okay (I wonder how often I look confused). The man beside me chatted for awhile. And then all of the sudden, we were stopped at the edge of Nairobi and all told to get out. My luggage was unstrapped from the roof (I have left WWB for good so have everything for five months with me) and Stella and I looked at each other and said "HUH?" Apparently the driver didn't want to head into Nairobi because of the bad traffic, which would cut into his profit. I had no idea where we were or where I needed to go because the Matatu was supposed to drop us off at a spot I knew and then I would be able to find the Hotel. Thankfully, Kenyans are fantastic and very friendly. The man I sat beside and the man behind me took me, my luggage (largest, stupidest, clumsiest piece for mud roads and small spaces!) and Stella and got us on another matatu and escorted us to our hotel. What would I do without friendly people?! I find that most people here are really nice and really willing to help, although some treat me a little like a freak show.

Anyways, that is enough writing for me. I forgot to post a quote I found in a newspaper that cracked me up (the writing, not the situation). here it is

"They fell asleep drunk, and woke up dead." Ahhh.... gotta love newspapers.

Anyways, that is all for now.