Adventures in Obamaland

After 4 weeks of a superb holiday, I'm back in the country. Still dealing with jet lag, but feeling very rested. Infact I've added weight, which is a pleasant surprise. I figure it's more to do with the absence of job related stress than the food, considering we were living on a Kenyan diet mostly.



So some highlights from the vacation:
- I didn't see Obama. Or Bush, despite the fact I was in Texas.
- Missed the sevens tournament in San Diego, but still had fun, posed in dream cars at the Dallas Car Show, and caught beads during the Mardi Gras parade. And finally got to figure out American Football, watching the Superbowl is the premier social event!
- You can actually have too many ads on TV. Spoils the watching experience entirely once you've gotten over the creativity bit.
- I've finally figured out the slow internet myth. It's all due to where the server is located. Opening yahoo and facebook is superfast but try nation or stockskenya, so slow!!!
- Recession is a reality. Companies shutting down, mortgage foreclosures, layoffs etc.
- Despite the domes in Runda, our best bet is in roads. I was impressed with the multi lanes (including a dedicated lane for high occupancy vehicles i.e. more than one person), massive interchanges (instead of stifling roundabouts) and general all round organization. Despite this they still have traffic jam especially going to downtown, and taking the train is the more convenient option.
- Telecoms have gone a long way. I was roaming on my local line during that period and 30 minutes talk time and some 60 odd texts cost only 5k.
- Being Kenyan is something good actually, when you are in another country. The community is so vibrant, you can attend a Kenyan church, go to a Kenyan club, and pretty much have your entire social circle being all Kenyan all the time!
- And finally, let's just say I've overcomplicated my social status. Details will not be broadcasted but in short new competition has shaken the incumbent up from their slumber...

So back to work for another 11 gruelling months ahead. With South America, Ocenia and Asia left, I wonder where the next vacation will lead me to.

Vioja Ujerumani

After 4 weeks of European adventure (read technical training) I'm back on home soil. 1 month bila ugali na chapati was bearable considering that it was a first time trip, so sampling sights and sounds of majuu was definately worth it.



After Brussels came 2 weeks in Munich, Germany. While the sight weren't as picturesque as Brussels and Paris, the infrastructure and the cars were something else. Seems that German engineering is all that and more. We used the train system and it is absolutely reliable. The roads are partitioned for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, and alot of times, we were found on the cyclist lane, quite embarrassing!! The beer glasses were humongous, and also I found the closest picture of home i.e. Hakuna Matata pub. Cost of living is slightly lower than Brussels, and there are good prices for electronic equipment. I came into JKIA lugging a whole CPU, and went straight to customs just as formality, since computer equipment is tax free.




Interestingly, this was one place where the small world theory was proven kabisa. First I had the opportunity to hook up with several Kenyan chiles who went there under the banner of ‘Language Students’ i.e. Aupairs. It was interesting hearing their vibe on their mboch lives, and the search of a hook up that will get them papers (they call them Makara - short for makaratasi). The bottom line is that Aupair is just an entry point and the marriage (or kid) is the passport to full status change. So sad, coz these chics say they don't have any job opportunities back home so this is the only way for them to make a life and care for the folks and siblings.

The other thing is the 'solidarity' thing that black Africans (not from North Africa and Nigeria – they have their own mingi crew) have, that you acknowledge one another on the streets. Guess when you are few in number, seeing 'one of your own' makes you feel at least welcome. There's no open discrimination, but the atmosphere just isn't welcoming, and especially when you don't know the language.

East or West, Home is best. Isn't it?

Chronicles of Belgium (& a bit of France)

So sad but my 2 weeks in Belgium will be over in 6 hours time. But, due to public demand, here is a bit more on maisha in Ubelgiji. For starters, it is quite a lovely place, as I'd said earlier. Due to the well organized infrastructure, and being the capital of the EU, Brussels is a classy place. Here are some of the sights i.e. Grand Place and the Atomium (a must visit - awesome).

Brussels isn't the cleanest of places (lots of cigarette butts dropped in every street), but I finally understood what's all the hullabaloo about road reserves, bypasses and overpasses. When you see them in good use, especially with the well organized bus and tram services, then it makes sense for Nairobi city to get a master plan ASAP.

Another nice thing about Brussels is that it's just 300 km from Paris. 4 of us coughed 100 Euros each to have the cab driver drive us there and take us round the major sites. I'm sure that Ksh 9300 will never in a lifetime deliver the whole day experience that is Paris. Travelling by road (at 150 kph) isn't that fast, but when you are in a Peugeot 807, confort is far better than economy class flight. And since there are no border checks on the roads, no meetings with nasty immigration officials. Here are a few sights:


Disclaimer: Yes she's happily married. No, I'm not running towards her. Wait, Maybe, I think...



Surprisingly, a few guys mistook me for a local both in Brussels and Paris. This evening, met two women looking for an African restaurant that happened to be across the road from my hotel. As I showed them the place, I asked them whether they were Africans, and they replied yes. Then one of them asked me my country of origin. When I said Kenya, she switched to Coast swahili! Apparently she used to work at KPA kitambo before immigrating these sides with the husband. Yaani, this world is quite small...

Young Kenyan Man in Belgium

Nilipanda ndege, nikaenda majuu!!!

Hi good people. This is what happens when a Kenyan is translated to the first world. The same short I was randarandaring with all over Nairobi on Saturday, is the same one doing rounds in Brussels on Sunday. I'm here for 2 weeks, technical training (that's what the company sent me for) and hoping to get the most out of the experience.

Apparently this flying out thing isn't everything they say about it. Of course the numerous passport checks (4 in Kenya, 2 in Belgium) were a bit too much. The flight on SN Brussels was quite smooth, considering everyone has been a bit touchy about flying lately. The stewardesses however were not the kindest (is it coz we were in economy or coz we are black?) and the food was not the best.

Brussels is a beautiful city (as the picture outside our Hotel clearly shows) and we've spent the whole day roaming the city, visiting some of the major sites such as the Grand Place. My colleagues are wholly dependent on me, being the only chap in this group of 5 who can vibe french (Thank you Lord for the strength to skuma 4 years of KCSE French) and I actually have a good command of it, or is it the pressure coz guys don't vibe english alot. Surprisingly, we overheard a group of black jamaas vibing Kiswahili, the Nairobi dialect kabisa!

It's actually quite easy to visit and the street signs and maps guarantee that getting around is a piece of cake. The prices on the other hand are another thing, especially if you keep automatically converting everything to Kenya shillings and gasping in despair! At least it's the company footing the bill...

It's the beginning of summer and the sun set after 10 p.m. which was amazing to behold (despite learning all about it in school, looking at your watch is so surreal!). My first experience with a chic hasn't gone down well, jungu chile asks me if I wanted to use the net (computer at the hotel lobby) after her, and my high school french + all the english potead!!!! Let's hope that the rest of the 2 weeks brings better tales. A bientot!!!