Personalities start to emerge. Laughter carries the conversation as old school Britney Spears radiates through the travel speakers. Campfire. TUSKER beer. Dancing. I subtly sit in the backdrop taking it all in.
As a creature of solitude, I wasn't sure how I was going to respond to traveling with a dozen others for six weeks, but it's comforting to see a new family already molding itself. We all are outsiders looking in, and it's that isolation that brings us together. We are all learning to adapt.
Nothing quite makes you feel like an outsider more than roaming the streets of downtown Nairobi. The crowds, the stares, the smells, the chaos of the market...stimulation overload. The anxiety kicks in with echos of Swahili all around me and the grab of an arm. I try to stay calm among the chaos, but I feel suffocated.
It's our first full day in Nairobi and our leaders proposed a challenge to bargain in the market with 100 shillings, which is equivalent to less than a dollar. I managed a knock off pair of ray bands and was out of there in 10 minutes. I felt claustrophobic. The market made jaywalking in the middle of downtown seem like a breeze.
It's the next day, and for the first time I'm genuinely happy to be here. We hop a bus to Kibera, one of the slums of Nairobi, where we engage with the Massai Mbili artists, including Solo 7. These guys are incredibly talented and just plain cool. I had never felt so much acceptance, love and gratitude from strangers so quickly before. Solo contributed to much of the peace made during the recent election in Kenya through his street art, which is becoming recognized all over the world. I encourage you to research these guys. It was humbling getting to sit with them over a meal, admire some of their work and hear their perspectives on peace and change taking place here in East Africa.
The slums were calm and peaceful, which made me feel calm and peaceful. I felt so comfortable there, I was almost oblivious to the heart wrenching poverty taking place. It's not until I stop to look around and snap a few images that I realize the devastation taking place in Kibera. My heart stops for a second as reality sinks in. I'm left speechless as I scan my surroundings. A beautiful school girl asks me, "how are you?" with a subtle smile and I'm aware of the simple joys this community clings to as they are forced to live with little. Change still has to happen, but for now resides a lot of love and a lot of hope inside Kibera.
Yesterday we got to act like true "mzungus" with the excuse of a photo scavenger hunt. We made asses of ourselves as we ran like a hurd of monkeys all around Nairobi, but it was probably the most fun I've had since I've been here. I can say confidently that I now feel much more comfortable with the city, which was the goal of the whole game.
We haven't declared any winners yet due to one of our trip leaders, Josh, getting very sick yesterday. He went to the doctor late last night and I am awake with the sun waiting for others to get up and hear the verdict of the situation. We're hoping its not malaria because he will probably have to hang back in Nairobi today. We are supposed to hop a 2 hour mutatu ride to Naivasha this morning. We are going to rid the comforts of our hostel home and camp outside Hells Gate National Park to the sounds of hippos grunting. Tomorrow we will take an epic bike ride through the park and reinactments from the lion king are bound to happen on Pride Rock. To say I'm excited would be an understatement. We are just hoping Josh will be able to join us.
On the 19th we head out to Kisumu for our big 2 week project working with Young County Change Makers. I know very little about that project thus far, but I will keep y'all posted.
Upenda mwenye furaha,
Alex
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