It's been a while.

First, apologies for not updating for a few weeks, I've been pretty busy.

Coming up this week I have two midterms for my USIU classes, a Kiswahili midterm, my take home final exam due as well as my research paper and presentation for my Politics of Culture in Kenya class.

I've been running around doing interviews, doing research, plus working, volunteering and going to classes.

I've had a chance to interview some really amazing people like an art professor, an employee of Kenya's first creative writing publisher, a local public school teacher, among others. In fact yesterday my co-worker Lillian invited me to her sisters home to interview her, a school teacher for a local slum area, I walked into their home and was immediately given chai (local tea) and a huge plate for lunch, which was beyond delicious. They have their own garden and chickens. The kids (5 boys) all came home while I was there and all looked very confused asking why a "mzungu" was in their home. Lillian introduced me as "rafiki yangu" or "my friend."

On top of my work I have been busy emailing back and fourth with AU trying to get approval to stay a second semester, which is quite frustrating. But hopefully I will have conformation by the end of next week.

Although I haven't been posting on my blog I have had the opportunity to talk to a lot of different people from home, my family, and friends (both in DC and NJ) which has been great. Although the more I talk with people back home the more I miss everybody. Don't get me wrong everything is still beyond fantastic here, I love my work (I'm actually holding a team building workshop in November for the Hospital Project Team) and my volunteering with the Saturday class, I've been put in charge of the advanced acrobats- which let me tell you is hilarious, they love when I try and speak Sheng or Kiswahili.

I've also been socializing more with locals, including my co-workers, and peers at USIU which has been great instead of wandering around with the AU group.

The power keeps going out, it's become sort of a daily routine, which I don't mind- except I have SO MUCH WORK to get done, so i sit outside (the hallways are all outside) by the outlets connected to the generator to charge my laptop. Also I haven't taken a heated shower since last week because the water pressure/ hot water has been out- #thisisafrica

Hopefully the power will return later today and I can take that much needed hot shower.

Alright, it's time for me to get back to work. I probably won't have much time to update this week, and the following week is Rural week- no running water or constant electricity (aka I won't have my laptop). So expect a LONG update after then, because well, living in Rural Kenya in a home stay. It will be very different than my apartment with my roomies. I can't wait for it actually.

Also please feel free to email me (you can get my email from my parents) or send me a facebook messages if you want to chat before I leave for Rural Week (I always love to chat with people from back home) if you want a brief update! Especially with the Occupy Wall Street protests- I have to admit I am spending way too much time on Twitter readings articles from around the world and am trying to gather people's opinions and stories.


Until then, don't forget to smile today!