I arrived in Kenya on February 28th 2011 and will be here for 3 months. Should be interesting. I've settled into a flat, but only for a night or two until mine is ready. Not bad - hate the fluorescent light bulb in my room but apart from that all is good. I've packed and taken way too much stuff, but this is the way things go when you pack over a series of days. Next time, I will pack all in one go and i'll remember what i've actually taken. Not a clue where some things are!
What am i doing here?
I'm working on a project locally in Nairobi doing similar work I do in London, only completely different subject matter. I've got some high level objectives i thought I'd set out and see if i meet them as i go along:
What do i hope to get out of it? (in no particular order)
1. That the work and clients will be interesting
2. That i will meet, interact and make friends with local people
3. That i will learn some (more) Swahili
4. That i will travel and explore the country - especially the coast
5. That i will come home malaria free
6. That i will gain a better appreciation of the developing world and Kenya's own unique journey to a developed country and how this impacts the lives of people (hopefully positively)
7. To have a better understanding of IT work in the developing world with a view to re-confirming or changing my goal to work at the UN in IT for development (one day many many moons from now...)
Seven is a good number, i think that's a good place to start.
Key learnings from today
- It is preferable to drive in between two lanes rather than in lane
- It is acceptable to push into a lane anytime to the point where the car you push in on may hit you - this applies at any time when traffic is solid or moving at a steady pace
- That it is culturally unaccepted to be gay and some equal opportunity NGOs refuse to be equally opportunity in Kenya. Don't ask don't tell is apparently preferred by locals
- Don't drink the water, but ice is okay
- Little notes and people who care make all the difference
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