Jumbo Kenya

Jumbo Kenya, kwa heri Tanzania.

Well today is the first full day in Kenya.  It was a bittersweet farewell from Tanzania.  I was excited to see a new place, but sad to leave Tanzania.  Now that I’m in Kenya, the reality that I’m actually in Kenya and am done with Tanzania is hitting me.  The last night in Tanzania was particularly sad.  The Iraqw staff members did a farewell ceremony for us, which included a dance and prayers for safe travels and a good semester.  After talking to one of our professors, we found out that this was the first time the staff did the ceremony for a group, which was so neat and just made me want to stay with the staff even more.  The staff was definitely one of my favorite parts of Tanzania.  It was weird to see the Kenya group driving away from the border with our drivers.  It was weird to drive into Kenya with new drivers. 

We got to Kilimanjaro Base Camp (KBC) around 4:30 yesterday and had orientation, a tour of the camp, supper, and unpacked.  KBC is definitely different than Moyo Hills.  For one, its huge, we have a running track that circles the inside of the camp that is a mile long.  We don’t have a separate classroom and dining room, they are one in the same here.   The bandas are thatched roof and don’t have electrical outlets or bathrooms.  The bathrooms are open air have three toilet stalls and three shower stalls. We don’t have bunkbeds in the bandas, we also don’t have desks.  We have wildlife roaming around the camp.  I woke to the sounds of baboons this morning, a change from the cows and chickens in Tanzania.  Apparently there are hippos that walk around outside of the camp.  Finally, the closest village is an 45 minute long walk from here.

We can see Mt. Kilimanjaro from KBC, which is really cool.  Kilimanjaro is actually in Tanzania, but the best views are from Kenya.  We’re close to Amboseli National Park. 

We jump right into the schedule here; today we had academic orientation and this afternoon we’re going to a cultural boma and to a market.  Then tomorrow we have community service.  This Saturday, we leave for our second expedition to Lake Nakuru.  After we get back from Lake Nakuru, we pretty much start on our directed research.  From the sounds of it, it’s going to be a busy few weeks.  Also, the Internet in Kenya is worse than in Tanzania.  Only ten people can be on at a time and we have to sign out when we want to use it.  It’s definitely a change from Tanzania.  I think I’ll enjoy Kenya, but I have to get used to the fact that I’m not in Tanzania anymore.  It’s definitely a great opportunity to be able to get to know two countries while studying abroad, I just have to keep that in perspective. 

Well I hope everyone is doing well back in the states.  I hear there are crazy storms and hurricanes on the east coast? Scary! Ill be sending prayers up from Africa.  Kwe heri.