Habari za mchana

Not much going here, lots of fun, but besides that...
Friday night Damian and had a date night. It was so nice...to celebrate his new job we went to the Westlands for Indian food (which was amazing, so so much better than the shit we get in NC) and then out for drinks. Saturday we walked to City Center-shopped and went to the City Market. Got my 100ksh (~1.50usd) bouquet of roses (gotta love it!!|) and looked for suits for Damian (Kenyans really dress up for work). Sat outside and had some Kenyan bbq'd chicken and cold Tuskers with Kristin and Brandon (her husband who arrived for 2.5 weeks on Friday). D and I made our famous Arrabiata for four of us for dinner. At 8am, got a drunk dial from my family who were all in Chicago (midnight their time) celebrating my brothers 30 (!!!!!) birthday. Missed them, alot. Happy Birthday today, brother!!!

Sunday night we went to Tamasha, which seems to be a regular thing. Great bar/restaurant in Buffet Park, completely devoid of mzungus (I think they'd prefer it stayed that way...hum..). Had dinner and listened to the great live bands that are there on Sunday nights (they are packed from 5pm on). Monday was movie night...ticket, pop, popcorn and a mars bar or hotdgo for 450ksh (~6usd). We saw Public Enemy which Damian had really wanted to see in the States...but we never get to movies in the States. Odd that we do here!

We are trying to buy a car, which is difficult since they are really expensive. We finally found a few in our price range that are small 4x4's. Heading to a mechanic today to get one checked out...fingers crossed. Since you can't walk ANYWHERE after dark (around 6:45 in Nairobi), a car will be sooooo nice. Negotiating with the taxi's all the time is exhausted (getting ripped off because you are white is exhausting as well).

We are heading to the Kenyan coast this weekend, YEHA! We leave for Mombasa on Thursday, spend one night, then two nights in Tiwi beach, and one night in Diani. We are staying at a private cottage in Tiwi on a deserted beach (thanks goodness no beach boys!). Here, the plan is to sit in the sun, read, swim, walk the beach and drink Tusker (a fine Kenya beer that, even after several liter bottles, never seems to go to your head...though we'll push the limits this weekend, I bet). We can buy fresh fish, fruit and veggies by our cottage. Then, in Diani, which is much more a tourist beach, we are staying at an all-inclusive resort for one night (can only handle to crowded beach and beach boys for so long). There is a night life in Diani, and just south there is a great reef that we are going to dive/snorkel.

We've also started our Swahili lessons, twice a week. Today is our second lesson. Our tutor, Ruth is great!

My walk to work continues to be a new experience everyday. Definitely my least favorite part of my day. Men are always on the side of the road/dirt path peeing or defecating, uhg. If I escape that pleasantry, there's always the honking or mzungu yelling from the matatus (crazy mini-van type buses that blast gangsta rap or congelese music) or the sight of so many sick people lining the lawn and hospital hallways. Once I get through the hospital to the research buildings, I'm in the clear. It just takes so much concentration to get there (not getting hit by a car, avoiding people who are starring intently at me, keeping my footing on the rocky, uneven pathway with huge ditches next to them). Besides that obnoxious data entry that seems to fill my days, my walk to/from work is the only I'd change!