Nairobi, Kenya I wrote this story while working in Nairobi, but I held off on posting it because I didn’t want to scare people. However, reading back through it, I realize how much I changed while in Nairobi, and how quickly we adapt and become desensitized to our environment. My first month of walking home, … More A Walk on the Wild Side
Lamu, Kenya I spent one of my last weekends in Kenya moving from lounging on the beach to lounging on my balcony. Lamu is awful. Don’t come here. #alltomyself
Hell’s Gate, Kenya I spent the weekend, camping, hiking, biking, and rock climbing at Hell’s Gate, the park that The Lion King was modeled after. It’s one of the few parks in Kenya where you can walk/bike along side with the wild animals, because, despite what Disney says, there are no lions here. We … More Hell’s Gate: Picture Blog
Nairobi, Kenya This is not how I expected to spend my Friday night. In the dark, whispering with my roommates while peeking out one window to the next. I had heard about mob justice in Kenya. The guidebook even warns to be extremely careful before yelling ‘thief’. But I hadn’t expected to witness it so … More Mob Justice from my Apartment Window
An hour outside of Kisii, Kenya I arrived to a tiny, dusty roadside stand with three wooden stalls and a few locals hanging around. This was Matutu, a small village in Western Kenya. I hoped this Matutu anyway. There were no signs, and it isn’t on Google maps. A boda boda driver took me to … More Invasion of the Mzungu
Somewhere between Matutu and Kisii, Kenya I hugged Martha and Joyce goodbye as they put me on the matatu back to Kisii. We had spent all day together exploring their small village, Matutu. (Matutu, Matatu. Try saying that 10 times fast.) I was a little embarrassed when they insisted that people get out of … More Marriage Proposal on a Matatu
Nairobi, Kenya Compared to museums in other cities, the Kenyan National Museum feels small and antiquated, but I think it’s worth the money for a glimpse into Kenyan culture. It includes exhibits on local tribes, Kenya’s struggle from pre-colonialism to post-colonialism, the evolution of man (after all Kenya is the Cradle of Man) and … More Kangas: Fabric of Kenyan Culture
Nairobi, Kenya A big, huge, massive part of any expat experience is learning to cope with change and new obstacles. Myers-Briggs says I deal with change via freedom, flexibility and action. (ISTP- It’s creepy how accurate Myers-Briggs is.) However, since moving to Nairobi, I’ve been struggling with a lack of these. Lack of freedom … More Nairobi is Cramping my Style
Nairobi, Kenya What Africa lacks in cuisine (in my humble opinion) it more than makes up for in music. Music has an incredible power to lift your spirits, energize you, and draw strangers together in an incredible collective experience. Whether it’s music blasting in a matatu or a free weekend concert, it’s hard not to … More Slum Drummers: Music Does the Soul Good
Mount Longonot, Kenya It’s not all serious business in Nairobi! The Kiva Zip team decided to escape the smog and traffic of Nairobi, and headed northwest of the city for a good hike. Mount Longonot is a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley area of Kenya. We hiked up the side of the volcano … More Mount Longonot- These Feet are Made for Walking
