KENYA!!

JAMBO!!!
This is going to be a long one, bare with me.

I'M HERE!!! What a journey:3 planes, an 8 hour bus ride, a tuk tuk (<3), fairy boat, and matatu ride. I'll start from the beginning.So I arrived in Nairobi on time, but Cleo, the guy picking me up, was not. Some guy offered me his cell to call cleo and he said he was on his way, just stuck in traffic. I met up with a couple other volunteers at the airport and we waited together. We piled in the van and headed for Regina and George's house. They own an orphanage in Nairobi and some volunteers are placed there. It was cute, and there was about 10 or 11 other volunteers, all around my age. The next day we had orientation, and went to the mall to get phones and water (my cell # in Kenya is 00 254 731 114 1144). The next day a group of us went to the monkey park. The monkeys are quite accustomed to humans and its not uncommon for them to jump on you and snatch things. I had peanuts and I was all ready to feed them, and like 6 ran at me. I freaked out and dropped the peanuts. I was braver with the second bag of peanuts. I took one out and one was grabbing it out of my hand, distracting me (they are smart monekys) and then the other snatched the whole bag out of my other hand and the 2 ran up a tree and shared it. Then we went to the Masaii market: home to the pushiest sales people in Africa. This one guy followed me for 45 minutes, telling me that he is the "African Picasso" and I'll be sorry if I don't buy his masterpieces which will be worth billions one day. We then went back to Regina and George's for the night. Saturday night, I took the overnight bus to Mombasa with Becky, a volunteer from England.

I feel alot safer in Mombasa than in Nairobi, people stare at me in Nairobi like they are looking for something to steal, but in Mombasa they just stare cause I'm white. Mombasa is on an island, which I didn't know. Mombasa iS HOT! No, like really hot. A sauna 24/7. I sweat so much I pee like once a day, and that's saying something. I am ALWAYS hot and sticky. I'm getting used to it though. The home in Mombasa is not as nice at the one in Nairobi. I have no running water, and I think she said something about rats, I couldn't really understand, but I didn't want to know so I didn't ask her to clarify. I live in the hood. Needless to say, its dirty, and there are random goats and chickens hanging around. The family is really nice though. I actually really like Kenyan food. I eat lots of rice, and chipati (sp?) which is like a tortilla. Home is only a 3 minute matatu ride away from the beach. The beach is GORGEOUS!!! It's paradise. There is snorkelling and camel rides on the beach as well. Camels are HUGE!! I was thinking like cow-size ish, but no, they are really tall! The beach boys walk around trying to sell you stuff (they start by asking you if you are a celebrity). The best way I've discovered to handle the beach boys is to say you're here volunteering and you're not on vacation so to go down there (point far away) cause you think you saw some tourists on vacation over there.

Whenever Becca and I walk around town in Mombasa, the kids stop and stare and yell "mzungo mzugo!" (white person) and say "jambo" (hello). So we basically walk around saying Jambo Jambo Jambo, because every few feet a group of children are talking to us.
The traffic here deserves its own paragraph. CRAZY DRIVERS times a million. Like I've been in 2 accidents already. Well just other cars lightly bumping into us. The main way to travel is Matatus. THEY ARE NUTS. They are these little 14-seater vans that pack in up to 28 people ) the max I've seen). They take you places for like 20 shillings (1000 shillings=12 dollars, you do the math). They crank music and some have tv's and black lights. They are hilarious. People jump in and out and there is a faretaker who like hangs out the window trying to recruit people.

My placement is at Mama Hope's orphange. I met Mama Hope, she's alright. I didn't go to the orphanage today though, just a rehab center that is run by my host dad, who also runs the orphanage. The rehab center is for teen boys, but most are in their 20's. Becca and I cooked the boys (there is about 9 of them) spaghetti for lunch. They never had it before and had no idea how to eat it. Some ate with their hands, and some with 2 forks. I want to spend some time volunteering at the rehab center as well as the orphanage and a clinic. I've been talking to Cosmas (host dad), and he's trying to develop a rehab center for girls. We also talked about setting up a needle exchange program, as there is nothing like that in this city. I don't know how easy that will be to do, but if anyone has any idea's I'm open for suggestions. Cosmas also needs any type if information on rehab, and the process of stopping addiction. The common drug here is heroine. Anyway, if anyone has an information, ideas, or suggestions, send me an email (ally18_@hotmail.com).

Anyway, I'm going to the beach! I feel like I'm melting. I'll try and write again soon!!Kwaheri!