We visited Kibera, one of the biggest slums in Nairobi. It was a crazy experience more because it was fun, and not as depressing as I though. Everyone seemed fairly happy, although everyone was mostly staring at us, rarely do any white people go into the slums, never mind this one in particular. When I spoke to students from Kenya at my University (most of the kids there are extremely privileged) they looked as if they were in disbelief.
Just so you have an idea here is what it looks like (thanks Google Images):
We then came back and discussed it as a group with a group of Kenyans in ICA (for details- http://icakibera.blogspot.com/) that lived in Kibera and were our tour guides over lunch. I just keep learning so much.
We then went grocery shopping and I MADE DINNER, a delicious chicken and rice dinner with green beans and onions and lemon and white wine and garlic and well, it was yummy. I am definitely going to try and learn how to cook while I'm here as much as I can (crazy I know).
Proof of my incredibly delicious food (I have conformation it was delicious because I made everyone in my apartment try it, and one of my roommates was eating it with me, so rude if you doubted me).:
Today we were up early and has Kisawhili then all caught a Matatu into town where Belle and I refused to wait for the USIU bus again and just walked into town and caught a matatu to the road campus is on and walked where I finally got to meet Aliya, Belle's friend that is a student there, who came to Kenya 2 years ago and started a Non Profit up north.
I had my first real day of classes, and I loved it. My IO class is going to be awesome I learned so much about African history, even though the teacher made fun of how I pronounced African countries in front of everyone. My Art class is going to be too easy, and I actually had to correct the professor (I waited until after class, since that would be beyond disrespectful to do here in front of anyone) but art is not popular in Africa let me tell you, except a lot of tribal traditions.
Honestly the school is more about the cultural experience than the education, luckily because I'm loud and my IO professor likes me (and knows me since I'm a class coordinator) answers all of my questions about the examples he gives. He mostly uses issues in Africa (some I know nothing about) but explains them for myself and about half of the class that is International and doesn't know much about African history, I've learned so much here.
I take two sets of notes in my classes, one for the class itself and one set is on the cultural differences, interactions, teaching methods, etc.
I also have a meeting Friday to decide on what my internship for the semester will be! I can't wait for that.
don't forget to smile!
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