Jambo everyone! I am writing you from the lovely Easy Surf internet store in the Westlands neighborhood of Nairobi. The plane rides were an adventure in themselves. Both my flight to Houston and my flight to Nairobi were delayed for 45 minutes so it actually took over 24 hours to ge here. Continental's planes were by far the best with their on demand movies. I watched Confessions of a Shopoholic, Bride Wars, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and Mulan. The Amsterdam airport was very different. I wanted to take pictures of the giant cheese and liquor kiosks and their painted cows (like the turtles in St. Pete), but I think taking pictures in airports is still frowned upon. The flight to Nairobi was packed (over 400 people) and I got a middle seat next to a medical anthropologist from Washington University in St. Loius. He was going to do some archeological stuff with his wife in the northern deserts of Kenya, and was very helpful navigating through the Nairobi airport.
I was so excited to see someone holding a sign with my name on it at the baggage claim area! I waved to him to let him know I was still waiting on my bags (which, with 400 people stuff, took forever). Once I had everything, I met Peter and Ben from VICDA. Peter is very lively and shook my hand and wished me 'Karibu' or welcome. Ben, the driver, was a little more reserved but they both took me to the van outside where Matteo, another volunteer, was taking a nap. We then drove down Mombasa road, past the Nairobi City Center and into the Westlands neighborhood. Driving here is crazy! There isn't really a concept of lanes or right of way, but I've only seen one accident so far at a roundabout. Anyway, we were dropped off at a sort of hostel for volunteers who work in Nairobi at the children's home here until orientation starts. Everyone is vry nice, especially Charity the 'house mom.' There are 11 beds I believe (I got a top bunk!) and hot showers and food cooked for us. After eating some tasty veggie pasta, meeting a few of the other volunteers, and writing a bit, I finally fell asleep.
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