First day of classes.

Oh my, let me tell you was it an interesting day. Again, in the best way. I'm learning so much, and not primarily in the classroom.

This morning we were up bright and early at 5:30 am to turn the water heater on (yes we have to do that) then went back to bed until it was hot enough to shower. Then we walked our everyday walk of 30 minutes to AU Center for our first Kiswahili class then right at 9 we walked out to the main road and hopped into a matatu to head into town and wait for the USIU bus, hoping to catch a 9:30 bus, but oh no.  We waited almost 2 hours for it to come and had to call our abroad advisor because it didn't come until almost 11:15- when class started at 11am and we still had a 30 minute bus ride. Welcome to Nairobi, and Africa time. It wasn't too fun waiting, but definitely a good lesson in patience.

The bus ride itself was semi-terrifying. it rained all last night, and with all of the dirt and mud and construction I thought we would get stuck. Traffic here is probably the scariest thing about the city. But eventually we arrived safe and sound... but very late.

Luckily there were about 6 of us on the bus that were late to my first class, International Organizations, where my teacher is pretty great, not the most engaging, but he knows a lot and worked for the UN for a long time, and is currently a Kenyan Ambassador. I also volunteered to be a class coordinator with another student (from Kenya)... this will be interesting.

We had a few hours to kill in-between classes and grabbed lunch next to campus at a bar/ restaurant place which was relaxing. Then did our own tour around campus for a little. I then had my Visual Arts class, which I honestly cannot wait for. One of my roommates is also in that class with me, so we are definitely going to be study buddies and the professor is fantastic. My biggest worry was about the classes from what I've heard from past students, but I think I really lucked out.

Belle (a friend of mine from AU who I knew before this trip) is also here, and she has a friend who goes to USIU who comes into town tomorrow, I can't wait to meet her and her friends, I really think I will get such a different experience knowing locals, and other students than the usual AU Abroad program in Kenya (they're known for traveling in packs and sticking together at USIU).

After my art class there were only 5 of us left on campus, but we missed the last bus to we took a matatu, let me tell you was that an experience. The 3 girls left together and Steven stuck with me so it wasn't just two girls traveling alone. The traffic was ridiculous and didn't get us into town until almost 6:30, which is crazy. We then ran to grab the matatu that brings us to our neighborhood before it got dark (luckily we made it on time)... however to cut the traffic he decided to drive ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY... during rush hour.  Even the locals in the matatu were not ok with it. let me tell you was that an experience. Luckily it was only a few minutes (but felt like a lifetime) that we had cars and buses and motorcycles swerving around us until we got to our stop, which everyone immediately jumped out of, and Steven and I just tried to understand what just happened. Again, welcome to Nairobi. Mom don't worry that isn't a regular occurrence- but definitely an experience you will probably have while living here (we were warned), so don't worry usually it's not that bad.

I just looked at the time and realized it's only 9:12pm, and it feels like midnight I"m exhausted, it was a longgg day. As I feel most days here will be. Tomorrow we have our first Politics and CUlture of Kenya class and are going to a much poorer part of the city to see first hand what Urban Slums are like. It will definitely be an interesting morning.

don't forget to smile!
and mom and dad, don't you worry I'm having a blast, and am being as safe as you can be here, I promise!

PS: i almost forgot, the Kenyans who are working with AU Abroad all call me crazy (but in Kisawhili) because i like to dance while i walk, and apparently i have a funny/ very loud laugh, Amin in particular laughs almost every time i open my mouth, i thought the fam would appreciate that anecdote.