Month: October 2009 | Page 3

Kenya

Niko Poa

I am realizing there is a problem with my Swahili: it’s too cool. Niko juu tu sana (literally: I’m just too high up). It’s probably something that most Kenyan youths experience when talking to parents, teachers, or other adults in their lives. When I was living in Tala my limited interactions with adults — like in the market — were usually conducted in English or Kikamba. Now that I’ve moved to Nairobi I am constantly around adults, and they know I understand Swahili so we use that to exchange friendly banter. Here are a list of phrases someone can inquire of you at various time of the day:

Umeamkaje? (how did you wake up?)
Habari yako? (how are you?)
Mambo vipi? (how are your issues?)
Niaje? (how is it?)
Niambie (tell me)
Sema (literally: “say” or “speak”)
Sasa? (literally: “now”)

Kenya

“The Boy” Has Come

No, not Jesus (but he is still coming), I’m talking about el niño! It’s all anyone’s talking about right now in Kenya. There is a drought in Kenya, and the meteorologists announced a few weeks ago that “el niño rains” will come to save the day. Well I think they’re here, because I just got home from walking around town and I’m soaked. I went to town with a few colleagues after work to drink a cup of coffee, but on the way home I was caught in a rain storm. It’s Friday so there are a million people in town enjoying the beginning of the weekend, all trying to catch matatus home. That’s nice and all but it means there’s no room for me to stand under the cover of the nearby shops while waiting for my matatu. I figured it just meant I’d be first to hop in the matatu when it came, albeit sopping wet.

Kenya, Miscellaneous

California Is Famous

I’ve come to the realization that California is famous. I don’t think I need to qualify that statement, but let me put it into perspective: I see people wearing San Diego Padres hats in Tala. I see them wearing UCLA hoodies in Nairobi. I’ve even seen things like City Council of Sacramento shirts. It really hit me the other day when I was in a matatu (minibus used for public transit) that was playing a CD of Tupac’s best hits. From California Love:

From Oakland to Sacktown
The Bay Area and back down
Cali is where they put they mack down

Dr. Dre even says something about San Diego in that song, hah! He and Dr. Dre really knew how to write lyrics. They just don’t make rap like that anymore (well, they do, but you’ll never hear it on the radio or in a club). I can’t say I was a fan of Tupac when he was alive, I think I was too young, but I remember driving around bumping his music in my minivan when I was in high school (maybe 2001?).