Hujambo!

In search of fresh dates this weekend I went to Eastleigh, Nairobi’s prominently-Somali suburb. I had bought dates before in Nairobi supermarkets, but they’re both expensive and processed; I wanted the real deal, straight from the tree, man! The last month or two I’ve been going every other week or so to replenish my supplies. One kilogram costs 180 - 200 shillings (about $2.50) and it’s totally worth it. I also had some camel stew. When in Rome, right?

I have also discovered sweet potatoes. I never liked them when I was in the USA, I dunno why. I have learned that they’re pretty good here when you mix them with githeri (maize and beans). What I like is that I don’t have to add ANYTHING other than a few tea spoons of oil. No spices. No salt. I just boil the maize and beans in water for an hour or so, then peel, boil, and mash the sweet potatoes and then fry it all together with some oil. Natural goodness! Now all I have to do is start eating raw, uncooked vegetables.

Yes, I will cook authentic Kenyan food for you when I return to the USA.

By now most of you know that I run a small animal shelter out of my house here in Kenya (I guess I am following in my friend Marg’s footsteps). I made a fun little discovery in my house last night. “Fun” being that it was a scorpion. “Little” being that it was hardly an inch long. My camera is completely worthless these days so all I have is this terrible picture. I poked him and he definitely tried to sting my toothbrush with his tail. Who knows what other tiny monsters are lurking around my house… ahhh!!!

I was in Nairobi this weekend and some friends and I happened to stop by Carnivore for “Rock Night.” I had never been to Carnivore before, and all I had heard about it was that they serve crazy meat like giraffe, alligator, rhino, and who knows what else. I guess “game meat” is the proper term, maybe someone can enlighten me. I’m still not sure about the meat part because we were their for the dancing. Who knew it was a restaurant by day and a club by night!

Because it was “Rock Night” I put on the only “rock” shirt I have, a Ramones shirt I had just randomly found earlier that day for 150 shillings ($2). Most of you know that my taste in music is a bit extreme, so what may seem like “rock” to the average Kenyan sounds like a lullaby to me. The music on the dance floor was about 50% rock and then some crunk rap and even some trance house music. The place was packed and the crowd was lively so dancing was a lot of fun. I was surprised when I found that a local coffee chain has a little kiosk near the bar because, of course, my drink of choice is not alcohol or soda!
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I was in Nairobi for a few errands this weekend, one of which was to go shopping for some clothes. I realized recently that my wardrobe was in pretty bad shape. A few months ago my Che Guevara shirt was stolen from the laundry line and last week my bike accident destroyed my only pair of jeans and one of my nicer shirts. I decided it was time to invest in some clothes.

After spending about $30 on a pair of new jeans I walked over to Nairobi’s Ngara district, where a friend of mine had said there were lots of street vendors selling second-hand clothing. As I approached the line of hawkers they all panicked, picked up, and ran (in like ten seconds flat). I wasn’t sure what made them flee, but it didn’t matter because they were back after a few minutes. In the meantime I had stumbled into an Indian bulk retail store and picked up 100 grams of garam masala for real cheap. In walking back towards the hawkers my eyes started to water and I thought I had rubbed some spices in my eyes until…

Boom! And all the hawkers were running again. Down the street I saw some smoke but couldn’t make anything of it. As I kept walking a police officer ran past me with some canister and then boom! Tear gas! I briskly walked away from the action and saw a big truck full of police officers. I thought, “this is crazy” and, as I had already bought one shirt for about two dollars, headed back towards Nairobi’s town center.

Crazy Kenya.

I’ve often felt all eyes in Tala were focused on me. Yesterday I was riding my bike pretty fast and I hit some loose dirt and ate $#@% pretty hard. So everyone was laughing and pointing at me, but then they ran to see if I was ok.  I am totally fine (a few scratches) but I ripped a really nice shirt and destroyed my only pair of jeans.

I don’t think it takes much to make people in Tala laugh. For instance, when I wear shorts they all laugh because my legs are so hairy.  I went to greet a woman one time and she shrieked when she saw the hair on my arm.  I’m a MONSTER!

I will be more careful from now on, mom! Anyways, maisha iendelee (life goes on)!