First Post from Kenya

Not much time before my next class, so some quite notes:

- I finally got internet access!

- Kenyatta University is huuggge and generally isolated from the the large Nairobi area (a couple of walks beyond the university walls showed how startling the difference is)

- First trip to Nairobi city center hopefully this afternoon - requires that you take this Mutatu buses that are basically big (often sketchy) vans that account for about 70% of street traffic

- Going on a 3 day safari this weekend

- Classes are focused on nexus of development and environmental sustainability - a big part of it is picking a locally based NGO and doing a long-term research project on it (hopefully I will be able to do it on internally displaced people or slums)

- im living in a single (very well kept), eating extraordinarily well (and cheaply), and have all the amenities one could ask for - its almost toooo nice....

first big tourist moment: 20 some-odd people stuffed into a mutato drives into slum area with some interesting sights (mobile butcher, dancing, some interesting nairobi-meets-oakland cultural sights like snoop dogg decorated buses). we stop for some logistical stuff, and lots of people pop out cameras and gawk at the world outside while everyone outside gawks at the rich white folks in the van...meanwhile a bunch of kids demand we get the hell out of there.


alls well (with the predictable logistical hiccups)



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