It's been a week full of adventures.

Instead of going through my daily routine, here are a few highlights since my last post.

1. Took a bus back to town one morning and it got into an accident, I look around I am in the middle of this enormous second hand market (Gikomba Market), at this point I really had no idea where I was and saw the entire Nairobi skyline ahead of me, so I knew a long walk was about to happen. Luckily the guy sitting next to me was also heading to Town so I made a new friend chatting on the 45 minute walk we had ahead of us. 

2. Friday there was this show put on by a traveling Circus (Let's Circus) at Sarakasi that a lot of my friends were in/ my boss was helping put together. So I went with Eliza (who is now working with the Sarakasi Trust Hospital Project) and we helped out there. Imagine 400 primary school children with THREE TEACHERS. who sat away from the children, so they were going crazy- it was ridiculous. But a lot of fun, just exhausting afterwards.

3. I began fully teaching my Saturday class again, and all of my kids were back! I was so happy to see them all, and they were excited I was back- I was greeted with a ton of hugs, which I was loving of course. 

4. Sunday Mandela's band (Sarabi) had a performance near where I live, so I got a big group of us to go see it. We ended up hanging out with the band for a bunch of hours, and had a great time. They were the closing act, and were fantastic. It was the first time i've seen them perform (besides rehearsals/ practices i've been to) so that was a ton of fun, then I had dinner at his brother's house. His niece is possibly the cutest child I have ever seen so I spent most of my time playing games with her, and watching Kenyan Soap Operas. Always a lot of fun. 

5. Then yesterday (Monday) happened, what a weird day. First it was dark when i woke up at 6:30 which is very strange and it was a bit chilly (which is also strange for January, it's the hottest month here). I had a meeting with a Graffiti artist I took him out to breakfast to go over some of the photos I had, so that was fun. Then I went to USIU for class, caused an uproar in my Gender and IR class because I said I pay on the first date (when discussing gender roles), and that does not fly with the ladies at USIU, let me tell you. So after that I caught my regular matatu to Town, but the conductors literally lifted me into the matatu, so that was strange too. THEN i get to town i turn the corner to get on my matatu home and HELLO my eyes are burning and my throat starts to as well, now there is a huge crowd of people walking at me. Some random kid I guess that recognized me from USIU yelled at me confirmed that I went to USIU and warned me not to go to the corner they were shooting tear gas to disperse hawkers on the street and it had escalated (i guess, who really knows?) but I had walked literally right into it not realizing, so thankfully this guy got my attention told me to turn around as I did and walked a few more blocks to another stage where I could get home. Then i hit the worst traffic (i know it can get bad here, but the roads are improving and so is the traffic- like a ton since November- that was the worst) but not ont this route I've never seen traffic nearly this bad, it was so bad people were just getting off and walking, like hundreds of people, it was crazy. 

6. Well now my Tuesday will begin I have work in the afternoon, set up a meeting to try and find a space for one of our out reach programs. SO here we go!

So those are my adventures for the past few days, here are some fun photos as well :)

Sarabi, Eastlandoz, and AU Abroad Kenya (part of at least).

Doing the Macarena (spelling? no idea)

how precious, i know, i know.

Mandela and Adam breakin it down for the audience.

Sarabi & Eastlandoz Performing!

and don't forget to smile today!

i am doing so much.

Ridiculous.

so today i've spent about 6 hours doing work non-stop AWESOME, only to have a HUGE to do list ahead of me.

luckily my work hours aren't intensive .... yet.

the amount of research that is going into this one independent study is absurd. it's like i'm trying to squeeze in research that would take years to do into 3 months. WHAT WHAT.

well I finally got in touch with one of the crew members of the biggest graffiti crews (Spray Uzi) in Nairobi, Smokillah, and spent all day yesterday watching him do a piece, and he is going to help me network, and possibly set up a blog for graffiti artists around Nairobi- which would help me in my studies (potentially, or it could turn into a whole extra project i'm doing- but really lets say it will help me greatly with my studies and networking).

on top of that i'm doing academic research on urban art in kenya, but guess what, there is little to nothing on it. so time to widen my search- if anyone has any helpful hints or sites let me know! i've also been using facebook, twitter, and other social media sites and blogs (because that is pretty much the only place to get access to any information about urban art/graffiti, especially in kenya/africa).

So there is this show at Sarakasi this friday (put on by: http://www.letscircus.com/ )  i'm kidogo helping out with since James is helping run it (cause he does everything in the world).

And on top of that trying to meet with 5 million people, and do my assignments, and USIU on top of that- not that the work load is a lot from USIU, it's really just the time it takes to travel to and from- but thank goodness the construction is nearly finished it only takes about 1/2 the time it did last semester, the roads are improving so quickly here! they are supposed to be done by "June" but we will see... we will see.

hahaha- so, socializing, how funny of you to worry about if i have the time to.

my days have become: wake up, make eggs, go to kiswahili/do work, meet with whoever i have scheduled for that day, go to class/ do more work, go to actual work, come home, shower (shocking i shower almost everyday WHAT WHAT), cook dinner, eat, sleep. repeat.

ok, slight exaggeration - i am so busy during the week so I can have weekends to myself to see friends and maybe go out. except Saturday mornings I have work/ then usually work again saturday afternoons, and sundays are also for homework. but friday and saturday nights i have to myself, mandela usually hangs around on weekends, and Nyos and Kate live really close so usually while i'm at work Nyos and Mandela hang out, it's pretty awesome that they get along so well.

OH also, i'm trying to set up a page for Mandela's music, since he doesn't have access to do it, I told him if he gets me recordings i can make him a YouTube account and Facebook/Twitter/MySpace, all those fun social media things: i've been trying to upload one video of him singing, he has an incredible voice, seriously it's amazing. don't worry i will update you with all the links, once they've been made.

And me time, my "me time" is right  before i go to bed, i either read on my nook (THANKS SANTA, i've already finished Alice in Wonderland and am starting Through the Looking Glass) or i watch a nat geo or history channel documentary.

So my time here is busy- as usual- but honestly thank goodness it is, otherwise i would probably be going crazy, i need to be busy, busy, busy.

Oh also fun fact: i've cooked large meals quite a few times now we even had a fajita night!

also we had a BBQ for all the internship sites this past weekend, here's me with james!

OH ALSO bid day was today for AU's PanHel (in normal people talk that means sororities got new members today)

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON PHI SIGMA SIGMA - BETA UPSILON SPRING 2012 CLASS!

and a special congrats to Tania and Gibby for putting up with so much and creating an incredible recruitment weekend  ΦΣΣ litp




SO I know that was a long post, but I think it's time for me to eat something.


don't forget to smile today! 

I almost forgot...

That this was Nairobi, and not my home. I had gotten into such a routine here, knowing how to get almost anywhere, running into people on the streets, working with familiar faces. But then yesterday happened. I forgot that it can get overwhelming here at points.

I went to Sarakasi in the morning before the Hospital Project had their staff meeting to say hello to anyone I hadn't seen since I have been back, and invited them to a BBQ we (AU) is having this weekend. It was nice to see everyone and to wander around the Dome and run into some of the dancers and other people I hadn't seen in a few weeks.

I then came home did some house/home work then headed back to Sarakasi to meet with James, I ended up watching some of the acrobats for a while. Then met with James and this couple from the UK who are putting on a show here. They're basically a traveling circus. And I'm going to help out with the show they're putting on next week! well with feeding the participants really.

After that we took a very extremely long matatu ride to the Kivuli center, where I will be helping out with a class one day a week for my internship. It's beautiful plopped right in the center of a slum neighborhood with a lot of people. I then observed a class, and helped out kidogo, just so I would know what I was working with next week. We then took THREE different matatus home, but it was much faster, although James got into a fight with the conductor because he raised the price because I was white, and James "doesn't like when they take advantage of people" so that was slightly uncomfortable while I was in a place I wasn't familiar with and people were yelling in fast Kiswahili so I didn't understand most of it.

But I finally made it home and chatted with my roomies for a bit, actually one of them, Yuli, is helping me with my hair! here's an updated pic:

I've been working a lot with networking on my IS (independent study), so off i go. This weekend (as usual) is crazy busy. So lets get started.

Don't forget to smile today!

Game Time.

So it's official. The semester is back and in full swing. And i've been hella productive today. I did my Kiswahili homework, emailed some people I needed to contact, (I've been networking my ass of for this project i'm doing) got in touch with some big name graffiti artists (finally), rewrote/ organized my journal/interviews from the past 2 weeks, went grocery shopping, AND finally went to "Artcaffee" this fancy place at the mall that everyone has raved about so I went and used my nook for the first time, started reading "Alice in Wonderland" I cannot believe I read 100 pages by the time I had finished lunch. crazy.

I'm making fajitas tonight for everyone, a nice group dinner. two of the girls had their wallet/phone stolen today so hopefully that will pick up the mood tonight.

tomorrow is another day of Kiswahili class, then a meeting with Lynsey, more research, USIU class- which luckily my professor seems incredible, she's been pushing for the Gender and IR class for 4 years! and this is the first semester they're offering it, and she sounds so passionate about it. In fact she told anyone who wasn't going to participate, be interested or may give out negative vibes to leave the class now. So i'm excited to see how this class goes, maybe I will ACTUALLY learn something from USIU.

Also from my Daily Nation post (2 posts ago) I got a message from a stranger thanking me for "my witty yet absolutely true" comments on the page, so that made my day. I also got in contact with this guy who is also trying to research street art in Nairobi AND my friend works for a publishing company here and they want to do a thing on graffiti and maybe use me for some help/ information- so cool.

Basically i'm trying to meet people like CRAZY, literally I think I might go crazy with the number of people i'm contacting, but they are all so cool, like really interesting people.

And I've been watching a ton of documentaries on graffiti (mostly in NY), but it's still fascinating. And thanks again Mom/Dad for the book of graffiti art you gave me, it's a perfect coffee table book my friends love looking through it (as do I of course).

I'm going to go back and do some work before I get started on cooking!

Don't forget to smile today!

Busy, busy. Again.

So here are a few pictures from Naivasha (orientation) i think you would enjoy:

Beryl, Eliza, and me at the great rift valley!

 The great rift valley!

 Flower Farm

 Group photo walking in the farms

 They told me I couldn't find art in Naivaisha- hahaha, look what i found.

So I was on my way to Mandela's band practice, and suddenly he informs me THAT HE GOT ME A KITTEN, she is 4 weeks old, her name is Mandi and she is the cutest thing in the entire world.

 GOOD MORNING MANDI

 Mandela with the best present in the world.

So after I had the best night/morning ever with my new kitty kat. I got to start up my Saturday classes with my kids again this morning, which was fun :)

Then I had a meeting with James (who will also now me by boss at Nafsi Africa Acrobats, an outreach program in the different slum neighborhoods. I start with them next week, and I can't wait.

I then came back to Westie, and Yusef (a friend from work last semester) was helping me out and set me up with a graffiti artist to interview. And hopefully I'll be meeting more and more people along the way.

(Sorry i never finished the post so i'm finishing it now- Sunday)
Last night I ended up cooking dinner for everyone, Mandela came over and Kate and Nyos have been crashing on our couch while they move into their apartment, so it's been fun around the apartment.

Today Lillian (a woman i worked with last semester) and her sister (a teacher i interviewed for my project) is coming over to teach me how to make Matoke a kenyan dish for an assignment/ because i want to learn how.

It's crazy hot now that it's late in January the sun is strong and oh man did I get sunburnt the other day. I forgot to put sunblock on my chest- I keep forgetting because last semester it was the rainy season so you only had to put on sunblock when it was really sunny out (which wasn't too often). but now i have to wear it all over EVERYDAY. just walking to and from the matatu stage i would get burnt if i didn't. so getting into that habit.

well now i'm going to head to the grocery store to get ready for Lillian coming over!

don't forget to smile today!

um, excuse me Daily Nation

So this was on the Daily Nation (one of the most respected news sources in Kenya) Facebook page:

now i've sparked a whole debate online, whoops, http://www.facebook.com/DailyNation


to see what i'm dealing with:

i have also received over 5 friend requests from kenyan men after commenting on this...bah.

also of course i got called out for being white.... knew that was coming. frustrating how some people think. also understandable when you're surrounded by it your whole life. 

she specifically asked if i was talking about "mzungu men" because obviously mzungu and african men are different species.... 

frustration. ok time to shower. i will post pictures and updates about my trip to Naivasha probably kesho.

DON'T FORGET TO SMILE TODAY!!!

Orientation, Take Two

Since Hurricane Irene cut my orientation short in the fall I hopped onto this semesters (although I didn't have to), because we take a trip to Naivasha (where most of the flowers Kenya exports are farmed and it's by a lake so it's pretty) and since I had never been i tagged along. Also fun fact: Flower exports are the third largest income (in trade) only to tea, and tourism in Kenya.

Some of the stuff is fairly boring when it comes to the actual orientation. But the new students also ask me a million questions so #1 i look pretty smart (haha not actually, i just have 4 months on them in the country) and #2 it helps refresh my memory  and bring me back into Kenya mode.

So yesterday I had to tag along and tour USIU (womp, the less time i have to spend there the better), then we had a picnic lunch at this park outside of Nairobi in Kiambu at a place called Paradise Lost (fun fact #2: i read Paradise Lost in high school and loved it- strange i know). We got to walk behind a waterfall and climb into a small cave. Of course had a group meet and greet name thing- the usual bonding. Then at night we went to the best Ethopian place in Kenya. it's delicious. i- love- ethopian- food. Also Mandela came with us to dinner so he got to meet everybody which was fun.

We left this morning for Naivasha, toured a flower farm, and lunch, walked around the small town for kidogo, ate again and now I"m fairly tired. I have to write a letter to myself (that we open at the end of the semester) so right now I'm just procrastinating.

My roommates are all pretty cool, one is from South Korea, another from Indonesia, and the last- Pennsylvania.

There is another girl from Haiti too, it's awesome we have a fairly international group of students this semester, and of course (because it is AU Abroad) four (i think, maybe five) of us from Jersey.

OK ladies and gentlemen, time for me to get this letter written and get some sleep- hopefully-

don't forget to smile today!
and while you're at it why not give someone a hug today too.

So it's a second beginning.

I've safely arrived. Back to Nairobi, Kenya. Back in to my apartment, and because Lynsey is the best she let me stay in my same apartment.... AND I GOT THE BIG BED. I think it was completely deserved after sharing a room for last semester.

Anywho...

I was traveling from London to Nairobi with three other girls on the program who all seem fantastic and really excited, which i'm pumped about, and I met another girl who was already here. Everyone else just got in actually so pretty exhausted and trying to unpack. more bonding time kesho (tomorrow).

We all hung out in the morning and I showed them into Westie- where to exchange/ take out money/ go grocery shopping/ get good coffee, the usual. Then headed into Town where I ran into two people form the hospital project I was so excited there was a lot of jumping and yelling in the middle of the street.

Then I met up with Ian and Mandela and got to hang out with them play music and eat food (finally! I'd been going on chex mix and airplane salads for two days at this point). Ian knew before I did that all I wanted was a chapati. So that worked out perfectly.

I got them both gifts from home, which I don't think I've ever seen any two people so excited about (gifts) before- so that was beyond awesome.

Of course walking through town I got called at a few times MZUNGU, MZUNGU -- oh Nairobi how I've missed you the past two weeks.

I do have to say though, being home was a bit strange I was experiencing some culture shock- but at the same time I was only home for 10 days, not enough to get readjusted, it was almost a vacation of sorts.

On the plane I could barely sleep I was so excited to get back.

Then i walked into my apartment and realized the amazing group of people who I lived with, and went through hell and back with the past four months are no longer here. And well that was depressing- I miss everyone WAY more than I imagined. I mean -duh- I missed them, but being back here, in this apartment without them was a little bit of a reality check. I forgot this semester won't be a repeat of last semester.

But then I also realized, holy crap, I get a whole new semester to meet new awesome people,  learn more Kiswahili, experience different work, and see different parts of this crazy city. As well as hang out with some friends that are still kickin' it in Kenya. (yeah i went there, sorry the alliteration was too perfect).

So keep alert because I'm sure there will be plenty more stories and blog updates to come.

and of course,
don't forget to smile.

Apologies!

I know I haven't updated this in forever- the end of the semester flew by, and all of a sudden i was back home!

And well, I'm not going to try and backtrack especially since I've talked with a lot of you in person.

Lets start with right now.

first of all: HAPPY NEW YEAR! if 2012 is anything close to how 2011 went i'd probably be the luckiest person in the world.

so I'm currently sitting at Heathrow International Airport, where I have my 12 hour layover (lucky me).

What a better way to spend my time then to write about myself? right, i agree.


So i'm heading back to Nairobi to start my second semester there- um, excuse me, what?!

I'm fairly excited to see what is in store for me this semester.

I kind of hope my luggage doesn't get lost- I have this funny feeling it just might.


Time will tell.

I promise to keep up with the blog again!

don't forget to smile today!
:)