Hi all,
How are you? I'm doing fine.
Today, I'd introduce you to one of social aspects of Nairobi. It's about traffic.
In one word, traffic in Nairobi is bad.
First, traffic regulations are practically non-existent. We hardly have traffic lights. Even when we have one, it is ignored all the time. However police here are very strict(at the same time the most corrupted) and you get arrested only because your seatbelt is not buckled, so drivers always pay attention to the figures of police officers.
Second, exhaust gas of cars smells terrible and is black. I feel guilty as well as disgust when cars pass me by, since many cars are second-hand Japanese cars. I think nearly 90% of cars are either TOYOTA, NISSAN or ISUZU's.
Lastly, roads are bad, too. My host's cousin studies civil engineering, and told me that construction companies make roads of worse quality than have agreed upon with the government, to make profit. That's why roads begin to have countless holes in several months' time.
The biggest characteristic of Nairobi, is small buses called Matatu. We don't have any train service and taxis are expensive, so without Matatu, no one can go anywhere. A Matatu has a driver and a conductor, accommodating 15 people maximum.
When it approaches, you need to recognize its number, and if you want to get it in, you give a signal to the conductor. It stops anywhere. You get in, and after a while the conductor taps your shoulder. That's when you pay. Most Kenyans are trustworthy, needles to say, and they rarely try to overcharge you. When you want to get off, you tell him, either by gesture or words. He drops you off if you tell him your destination in advance.
The fare is around 0.2-0.3 dollars, and drivers are said to earn much money. Some play loud music inside, and even DVD. Others are run by companies, clean, calm. People decide which one to take according to their mood, if they have options. Matatu reflects people's life, and very interesting.
See you then,
Kei
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Masai Mara
Hi all,
I'm just back from my 3day trip to Masai Mara National Reserve. Do you know of this name? It's the most famous park in Kenya, where you can see wild animals.
I don't know where to start. I went there with other 5 AIESEC trainees( 1 Japanese, 1 Chinese, 2 Germans, 1 Dutch). We stayed in a camp site, where at night we talked with many other tourists around a fire, having coffee. Many of them were from Europe. I had trouble joining their conversation, but it was a good experience, too.
Now for animals! Our group was able to see many kinds of animals, including three of BIG5( elephants, lions, rhinors, leopards, buffalos) in the park. However, I couldn't help feeling funny about ourselves, since many animals were so used to be surrounded by cars and taken pictures. Looking at a chitah lying midst ten cars and a lion walking past the nose of a car, I felt I were in a zoo. The most excting moments are gnoeus(wild cows) crossing a river in hundreds, a lion catching a gnoeu. We were lucky, I think.
The scenery was truly authentic. The sunrise, morning, afternoon, sunset, every moment was breathtaking. Endless plain, low trees, bushes, everything was shone by the sun, rising or setting. It was so nice.
In the endless grassland, a life, including ours, doesn't effect the movement of nature at all. However, we are definitely inside the grandeur circles of life. So we don't need to be sad or afraid because of that. Seeing many phases of life- baby animals, hunting of a lion, several wild cows drowning while crossing a river, scavenger birds eating bodies, and white bones-, I felt that way. Maybe I'm influenced by "The Lion King" and Elton John's song "Circles of life" and Buddism.
We also visited a village of Masai tribe. We saw their dance, ceremony, houses, way of making fire, etc. For them, cows are the most important property. The number of wives a man can have is based on the number of cows he possesses. They eat cows' milk and meat. Their houses are made of cowdump and branches. I cannnot introduce other parts of their culture today, but the visit was very interesting.
Anyway, it was a good trip, except for the terrible condition of the roads to the park...
See you,
Kei
I'm just back from my 3day trip to Masai Mara National Reserve. Do you know of this name? It's the most famous park in Kenya, where you can see wild animals.
I don't know where to start. I went there with other 5 AIESEC trainees( 1 Japanese, 1 Chinese, 2 Germans, 1 Dutch). We stayed in a camp site, where at night we talked with many other tourists around a fire, having coffee. Many of them were from Europe. I had trouble joining their conversation, but it was a good experience, too.
Now for animals! Our group was able to see many kinds of animals, including three of BIG5( elephants, lions, rhinors, leopards, buffalos) in the park. However, I couldn't help feeling funny about ourselves, since many animals were so used to be surrounded by cars and taken pictures. Looking at a chitah lying midst ten cars and a lion walking past the nose of a car, I felt I were in a zoo. The most excting moments are gnoeus(wild cows) crossing a river in hundreds, a lion catching a gnoeu. We were lucky, I think.
The scenery was truly authentic. The sunrise, morning, afternoon, sunset, every moment was breathtaking. Endless plain, low trees, bushes, everything was shone by the sun, rising or setting. It was so nice.
In the endless grassland, a life, including ours, doesn't effect the movement of nature at all. However, we are definitely inside the grandeur circles of life. So we don't need to be sad or afraid because of that. Seeing many phases of life- baby animals, hunting of a lion, several wild cows drowning while crossing a river, scavenger birds eating bodies, and white bones-, I felt that way. Maybe I'm influenced by "The Lion King" and Elton John's song "Circles of life" and Buddism.
We also visited a village of Masai tribe. We saw their dance, ceremony, houses, way of making fire, etc. For them, cows are the most important property. The number of wives a man can have is based on the number of cows he possesses. They eat cows' milk and meat. Their houses are made of cowdump and branches. I cannnot introduce other parts of their culture today, but the visit was very interesting.
Anyway, it was a good trip, except for the terrible condition of the roads to the park...
See you,
Kei
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
To AIESEC memebers in Tokyo
Hi all,
Some of you AIESEC members are coming here soon, right#
The rainy season is still lingering, so hot sunny days and cold rainy days are coming in turn.
But Kenyans say dry season is supposed to arrive soon.
So, as for clothes, you'd better bring at least one warm sweater.
They are dressed like Japanese in Nairobi, but since we naturally stand out, you should wear dark, loose clothes, hopefully without glasses when walking in the town.
I'm usually dressed up in T-shirt, sweater(I mean 'tore-na- ka atumeno uwagi') and jeans.
Try to look as strong as possible!
As for food, fried potatoes and roast chicken are available anywhere in the town.
I often eat local stew and fruits, and my stomach is so so, so you should bring some medicine against diarrhea.
You should carry some water, I think.
When going out, I usually carry my rucksack, but not my wallet. I carry money separately in my pockets, just in case. However, many Kenyans actually use their wallets. And, I think at least one member should carry his\her cell phone.
See you then!
Some of you AIESEC members are coming here soon, right#
The rainy season is still lingering, so hot sunny days and cold rainy days are coming in turn.
But Kenyans say dry season is supposed to arrive soon.
So, as for clothes, you'd better bring at least one warm sweater.
They are dressed like Japanese in Nairobi, but since we naturally stand out, you should wear dark, loose clothes, hopefully without glasses when walking in the town.
I'm usually dressed up in T-shirt, sweater(I mean 'tore-na- ka atumeno uwagi') and jeans.
Try to look as strong as possible!
As for food, fried potatoes and roast chicken are available anywhere in the town.
I often eat local stew and fruits, and my stomach is so so, so you should bring some medicine against diarrhea.
You should carry some water, I think.
When going out, I usually carry my rucksack, but not my wallet. I carry money separately in my pockets, just in case. However, many Kenyans actually use their wallets. And, I think at least one member should carry his\her cell phone.
See you then!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
A SMALL TRIP
Hi all,
Today, I went to Naivasha town with my friends, which is famous for its lake and birds, animals.
The bus left Nairobi late as usual, so we arrived at the lakeside near two. That's OK.
The lake was just nearby...., it must have been nearby. Every farmer we came across said the lake was ten minute walk from there. We faithfully followed the direction, but somehow, we couldn't reach the lake! After a while, we found ourselves deep inside the field. Imagine a field in the film 'LION KING'. Nobody was to been seen, except for deers, monkeys that appeared behind bushes suddenly. The departure time for the bus back to Nairobi is coming. But where should we go?
That was when we came across a farmer, maybe for the first time in one hour. We asked him desperately how to get to a road where cars run, then he kindly showed us the way, walking more than 20 minutes! After that, we went back to Naivasha, then Nairobi, and I'm writing this blog near my house, feeling this safe arrival a kind of luck or miracle... if we hadn't met the farmer...
After all, we didn't see the lake. Oh we did, on our way back, from the rear window of the bus...
Today, I went to Naivasha town with my friends, which is famous for its lake and birds, animals.
The bus left Nairobi late as usual, so we arrived at the lakeside near two. That's OK.
The lake was just nearby...., it must have been nearby. Every farmer we came across said the lake was ten minute walk from there. We faithfully followed the direction, but somehow, we couldn't reach the lake! After a while, we found ourselves deep inside the field. Imagine a field in the film 'LION KING'. Nobody was to been seen, except for deers, monkeys that appeared behind bushes suddenly. The departure time for the bus back to Nairobi is coming. But where should we go?
That was when we came across a farmer, maybe for the first time in one hour. We asked him desperately how to get to a road where cars run, then he kindly showed us the way, walking more than 20 minutes! After that, we went back to Naivasha, then Nairobi, and I'm writing this blog near my house, feeling this safe arrival a kind of luck or miracle... if we hadn't met the farmer...
After all, we didn't see the lake. Oh we did, on our way back, from the rear window of the bus...
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Under sunshine
Hi all,
How are you? I'm OK.
Little by little, I come to understand the present situation and the outlook of my workplace, MUYOG.
As I wrote before, we currenntly run projects such as garbage collection, community center, bakery. And, the money to buy computers and a photocopier, for example, seems to have come from our sponsor. This June, our proposal was accepted by the ministry of Agriculture, and 1.2million Ksh(17 thousand dollars) were granted.
The other accepted projects include rearing chickens, expanding bakery, buying books for our library,etc. So from nowon, we will carry out them. However, expenses for opening cyber cafe-which I'm keen on- are not included. But I and the chief-Sospeter- agree that it's significant in our area, so we will manage somehow. In fact, we are visiting an Internet service provider this aftertnoon.
By the way, it's very cool here in Nairobi. When I sleep, I wear long-sleeve shirt and long pants, and with a blanket.
The food is good. Staple food may be beans and Ugari, which is made from maize. So, the common meal forKenyans is stew of potato and beans, with staple food( chapati, rice, Ugari, etc.). I'm attracted by mangoes, by the way. It's soft, sweet, smelling good, .....
See you,
Kei
How are you? I'm OK.
Little by little, I come to understand the present situation and the outlook of my workplace, MUYOG.
As I wrote before, we currenntly run projects such as garbage collection, community center, bakery. And, the money to buy computers and a photocopier, for example, seems to have come from our sponsor. This June, our proposal was accepted by the ministry of Agriculture, and 1.2million Ksh(17 thousand dollars) were granted.
The other accepted projects include rearing chickens, expanding bakery, buying books for our library,etc. So from nowon, we will carry out them. However, expenses for opening cyber cafe-which I'm keen on- are not included. But I and the chief-Sospeter- agree that it's significant in our area, so we will manage somehow. In fact, we are visiting an Internet service provider this aftertnoon.
By the way, it's very cool here in Nairobi. When I sleep, I wear long-sleeve shirt and long pants, and with a blanket.
The food is good. Staple food may be beans and Ugari, which is made from maize. So, the common meal forKenyans is stew of potato and beans, with staple food( chapati, rice, Ugari, etc.). I'm attracted by mangoes, by the way. It's soft, sweet, smelling good, .....
See you,
Kei
Thursday, August 9, 2007
My work
Hi all,
Let me explain the present situation of my workplace, Marurui United Youth Group(MUYOG).
It is a community based organization(CBO), where youth in the community gather and carry out various projects. MUYOG's basic aims are; eradicate poverty through job creation/ become a role model in its community/reduce HIV/AIDS infection, etc.
On mondays, we collect garbage in the community and charge each household a small fee. We also recycle part of the garbage and make plastic posts, sheets, etc. This project has long been supported by World Vision, an international NGO. I' ll experience this garbage collection next Monday!
On Thursdays, we hold "school clubs" in nearby schools. We teach knowledge on HIV/AIDS, childrens' rights to students there. But this school won't start until September, when schools begin.
As every day work, we run a bakery. It's not a big business yet, but we sell bread from early morning. The fried bread, called Maandazi, tastes so good!
The last one is great. I didn't expect it at all, but MUYOG has 6 up-to-date computers, a photocopier, scanner, binder, etc.! This is an attempt to make MUYOG's office a kind of information center in Marurui area. These purchases were done after Ministry of Agriculture accepted our solicitation. We offer services such as printing, photocopying, PC lessons. Our, and my ambition is to connect those PCs to the Internet and run a cyber cafe! I love the idea of connecting Marurui directly to the world.
We don't have much fund, so we always ask companies or NGOs to help us. Today, we visited several publishers in Nairobi to ask them to donate some books. We run a library, but we lack of books.
Huu, it's become such a long blog. I'm happy if you understood a little what I'm doing here.
See you,
Kei
Let me explain the present situation of my workplace, Marurui United Youth Group(MUYOG).
It is a community based organization(CBO), where youth in the community gather and carry out various projects. MUYOG's basic aims are; eradicate poverty through job creation/ become a role model in its community/reduce HIV/AIDS infection, etc.
On mondays, we collect garbage in the community and charge each household a small fee. We also recycle part of the garbage and make plastic posts, sheets, etc. This project has long been supported by World Vision, an international NGO. I' ll experience this garbage collection next Monday!
On Thursdays, we hold "school clubs" in nearby schools. We teach knowledge on HIV/AIDS, childrens' rights to students there. But this school won't start until September, when schools begin.
As every day work, we run a bakery. It's not a big business yet, but we sell bread from early morning. The fried bread, called Maandazi, tastes so good!
The last one is great. I didn't expect it at all, but MUYOG has 6 up-to-date computers, a photocopier, scanner, binder, etc.! This is an attempt to make MUYOG's office a kind of information center in Marurui area. These purchases were done after Ministry of Agriculture accepted our solicitation. We offer services such as printing, photocopying, PC lessons. Our, and my ambition is to connect those PCs to the Internet and run a cyber cafe! I love the idea of connecting Marurui directly to the world.
We don't have much fund, so we always ask companies or NGOs to help us. Today, we visited several publishers in Nairobi to ask them to donate some books. We run a library, but we lack of books.
Huu, it's become such a long blog. I'm happy if you understood a little what I'm doing here.
See you,
Kei
Saturday, August 4, 2007
From Nairobi
How are you?
At last I managed to access the Internet, but I do not have much time.
I am writing in an Internet cafe in the center of Nairobi with my host Ken and his cousins.
So far, I checked several ways of commuting to the slum I will work for, visited the slum, met members of AIESEC in Kenya, etc. The biggest impression I have now is that Kenyans are inconceivably friendly. I have been introduced to many relatives and friends of Ken, and although I stand out very much, no one have treated me as a stranger.
In Marurui, the slum, the situation is the same. All small children who notice me speak to me, saying, " How are you?". I will start to work from Monday, and I still do not know what I will and can do there, I will do my best, enjoying life here.
I have a bit more time. Today, I went to see a basketball match in a stadium. Ken's cousin is a professional player and captain of his team. We won the match, and drank some beer afterwards. I found "Guiness" too bitter and strong to me.
See you,
Kei
At last I managed to access the Internet, but I do not have much time.
I am writing in an Internet cafe in the center of Nairobi with my host Ken and his cousins.
So far, I checked several ways of commuting to the slum I will work for, visited the slum, met members of AIESEC in Kenya, etc. The biggest impression I have now is that Kenyans are inconceivably friendly. I have been introduced to many relatives and friends of Ken, and although I stand out very much, no one have treated me as a stranger.
In Marurui, the slum, the situation is the same. All small children who notice me speak to me, saying, " How are you?". I will start to work from Monday, and I still do not know what I will and can do there, I will do my best, enjoying life here.
I have a bit more time. Today, I went to see a basketball match in a stadium. Ken's cousin is a professional player and captain of his team. We won the match, and drank some beer afterwards. I found "Guiness" too bitter and strong to me.
See you,
Kei
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