hey everyone. I am safe and sound in Nairobi, Kenya and entering my second week here. Things are good for the most part, it’s exciting to be here and everyday is an adventure. It is def. eye opening but I am also trying to conquer some everyday challenges and the homesickness I am feeling (who woulda thought?!)….
The first week here was orientation in Nakuru National Park right in the rift valley region (look it up – it’s cool)…animals everywhere. It was like a movie. Giraffes, zebras, baboons (like squirrels in the US!), lions, hippos, rhinos, etc.
Everyone is so so so nice and supportive and understanding. The food is ok, sometimes good, sometimes bad, getting used to it everyday. There are a lot of differences and a lot of similarities in everything.
My family is great. Richie is the husband, Kathleen the wife, Wangari the 6 yr old girl, and Mugambi the soon to be 2 yr old boy. The kids adore me and the boy calls out my name constantly. They always make me feel better. There are always extended family, one uncle who is my age – Eric, he is very helpful and I’ve had lot’s of long talks with him about my challenges. He is really re assuring and walks me part way to school and tells me to pray, etc. Very nice.
Some of my challenges were little things at first, those who know me well know I like to be clean all the time and want everything sanitary – that kinda goes out the window here. The first night our bathrooms were a whole in the ground and our showers a bucket of cold water! That is minor – the poverty and garbage everywhere – slums next to mansions, being a minority, etc is more of a challenge.
Also, as everyone knows, I am bad at directions – I have not gotten home yet without lots of help!
Swahili is a fun language but hard for me to learn.
Things overall are lookin up and I hope to update once a week. The internet gets expensive, but I miss you all and I hope things are good.
I’m onto my next adventure (walking home!)
LOVE, CHELSEY
About Me
- Chelsey
- I started this blog in the Fall of 2008 to document my semester abroad. Now, the blog has turned into a journal of my most recent adventures! Stay tuned!
5 comments:
HI Chelsey! So glad to hear that you made it and that you are doing okay. I was just asking Uncle Matt if he had heard if you were doing okay, he had not, so I thought I would check your blog again (there was nothing here the last time I checked)...and here you are. It's very comforting to see your words and know that everything is going okay. Sorry for the sanitary conditions, but you had to know that was coming, right? How about meat? Had to eat any yet? :)
We are doing good here. I went to the foot doc on Monday, and unfortunately for me, I have to wear this boot for at least another 3 weeks! It might be off by the time you get back home! ;)
Take care and update your blog when you can!
Love you!
Auntie Andi, Uncle Matt and Steph
Hey Honey, Thanks for keeping all of us updated on your goings on, your doing a great job. Glad to hear things are going better for you and your starting to get into a routine. It was good to hear your voice the other night. Everything is good here at home. Nicklaus called last night and had some news for us, Amanda and him are engaged, they haven't set a date yet but it will be fun to have a family wedding. Uncle Mike gets to come home this weekend for a night and looks like next weekend he will be coming home for good. His therapist Elizabeth is working his butt off and he doing so well, we all know what a determined man he is.
Although it is warm out this week you can start to feel fall in the air and it feels great. Going to try and get to the North Shore this weekend and do some hiking. Weird to think we are going to do this and you are tninking about whitewater rafting on the Nile River in the next few weeks, you go girl! Continue to be safe O.K.
I love you:)
Mom
Hi Chelsey,
Just checking to see if you get this message. Put the last one in but it didn't post.
Grandpa
hey chelsey this mitch ur cusin i feel so bad that i couldnt talk to u sooner but my mom says hi shes doing good u should see her shes got short HAIR!!!!! my dads also is doing good. my brother is good and lacey says hi to im doing awsome to i took a 2nd in one of my races maybey when u get back u can come watch me and my brother. well we will see u when u get home ill talk to u later
love,mitch and the family
OK, Chelsey,
Just finihed reading your latest notes. I am more worried about your well being than ever.
But, so happy about the experiences you're going thru. Wow, will this be with you for the rest of your life.
Hope you're prepared to sit down and talk to Grandma and I for a few hours and show us the pictures that go with the words. Not Swahili!
Grandma and I tookMike down ro Bethesda for therapy this morning. After we returned... Mike was ready for a nap. And he should be. He worked really hard thid morning. You'd be proud of him
Then we scatted down to the golf course and played most of eighteen holes. The sun was really low in the sky and really difficult to see what was ahead. So, we stopped. Drove the cart back to its home and headed down the road to our home.
Needless to say we miss you.A LOT!
I'm headed down to Arizona tomorrow haveto get my car out of a friends driveway before he gets there late on November 1st.
Grandma will follow on November 23rd.
Hope you are well both physically and mentally.
Love Grandpa & Grandma
Post a Comment