Welcome to Kenya!

Jambo!

I have arrived in Kenya, safe and sound.

George (the supervisor of Education for Life) met Emma and I at the airport after our 19 hour flight here. I was a little frightened after finding out we would not be living in a church as originally planned but in the same apartment in the slum of Kariobangi that was broken into and robbed multiple times last year when Waterloo students were living in it. So far the apartment has been fine though, despite no stove, fridge, clean water and electrical down times.

The cost of food here is very cheap. A cup of tea or chapatti (pita) is approx. $0.10 each. We were able to have an entire meal for 3 people for $1.00. The rent here however is very expensive because it is owned by the government and taxed very heavily. For our apartment which is only 3 rooms (not bedrooms-rooms) is $130.00 a month. The people here are literally living in garbage. When the garbage truck comes to the area we live people dig through it to find things.

Yesterday, George took us all into Nairobi which is the main city. Quite similar to Toronto it is very busy. Emma and I rode a camel! We also went on a walking safari tour in Kenya's National Park and were able to go in where the cheetahs were and pet them (pictures to come!). The man here was not suppose to do this but let us (I assume because we were white). Where ever we go here children swarm and chant "mazungo" which means white people. In fact in the internet cafe I am in right now there are children outside shouting this. They all want to hold hands and touch us- really strange for us.

Time to head out though. More next time!

"Be strong my bothers" - George