Nairobi

Alright, went into Nairobi today, that was interesting. From getting there to being there to leaving, it’s not quite a normal trip to a city. To get there first we must walk about 3 miles to the matatu (bus) station. After that we cram on matatus ranging from 14 passenger busses to 25 passenger busses, though even if it’s a 14 passenger buss we usually have at least 20 people in it. From then on imagine the bumpiest, most painful wooden roller coaster you can think of, for an hour and a half, with other cars coming at you head on half the time, that’s what riding into Nairobi is like.

Once in Nairobi things sort of turn into chaos. To get from place to place you have to play the most extreme game of human frogger you can imagine, there are no cross walks and cars don’t stop, they don’t even really slow down, you just have to dodge and run and yes I’ve seen people get clipped while crossing the street, cars don’t stop when that happens either. All while doing this, we are pretty much the only white specks wandering the streets. It’s an adventure going through the city.

Once we were done there we got back on a matatu and headed home, on the same bumpy, crazy road. I’m not sure this little trip will ever be something I get used to, but overall the trip is good. Maybe the city will seem more normal the longer I am a Temporary Kenyan.