Hi Everyone!
It has been a few days, and I apologize for not getting a chance to write any these last couple of days; we have been in route home and were in the Masai for 2 days with no internet or barely any electricity.
Good news is I’m home now, and although I want to get back to blogging about beauty, I know I can’t stop telling you all about Africa. I still have a few more blogs to write to tell you about my travels.
Great Rift Valley- Africa
First off, I am very happy to be back in Minnesota. But, so grateful for the experience Royce and I got to have. This whole trip was about learning for me.
I had no strong expectations going to Kenya. But, it was similar to some of the things I had always pictured in my mind. I knew I would feel like a minority, a little out of my comfort zone, and I did. But, every person we came in contact with there made Royce and I feel so welcome. It is there tradition to shake hands, and say “karibu” which means welcome.
This trip was uncomfortable, exciting, and rewarding. The more I travel the more I realize when I step out of my comfort zone I gain the most knowledge, and personal growth. The things about Africa which are:
- Faucet water is not clean in Nairobi; you cannot drink, or brush your teeth from the tap. It is important for your health to buy bottled water.
- The air pollution is outstanding. I noticed both in Vancouver and here how fresh the air smells. Many times my nose burned a bit from the polluted air and it left me craving cleaner breathing air. Garbage, gas, the air just seemed thicker in Nairobi.
- Driving is pretty much chaos when you’re used to driving in the states. The roads are always, busy, bumpy and there isn’t as much “order” to driving in a straight line down a lane. People drive on the right side of the car and there are two lanes, but you don’t always abide by them. You drive on the side that is smooth…and avoid oncoming traffic.
- Everything is gated. If you own a home or business there is usually a gate with a guard for security purposes.
- Must sleep with mosquito netting. Not as much in Nairobi, I heard Malaria is not as much of a problem there…but we still had netting and were advised to use it at all times.
- Airports are not as efficient, clean, orderly or comfortable as in the states.
- Animals in Africa tend not to be pets. People don’t have dogs or cats that live indoors. It just doesn’t happen. And, if you see an animal on the street, a stray cat or dog you are advised not to pet or touch it for fear of disease or rabies.
- Internet is not as easy as it is in the U.S. We had to buy a modem which you put money on and it counts how much data you use. So, that means, I couldn’t upload as many pictures, videos or write a lot of emails because it would use a lot of data. Here in the U.S we can have unlimited internet time if we have a wireless connection.Which is not always a good thing, but true.
There were probably many other things I encountered. But, these are the major ones I can think of. I loved the experience, so I am not trying to be negative. I am trying more so to be informative of what to expect if you decide to go to Nairobi or a surrounding African country someday.
This journey broadened my world view. It enlightened me about other cultures, helped my geography (lol) and made me grateful.
Sunset in the Masai Mara
Talk to you all soon with more about Africa
Love and God Bless,
Lauren
