I have arrived!

Africa. I have arrived.

Jambo from Mombasa, Kenya! We arrived in Kenya tuesday night safe and sound and with our baggage in tow, so already we were off to a good start.

When i was reading about Kenya, it was often referred to as the "cradle of humanity", therefore, i took on that and named this blog Journey to the Cradle of Humanity.  There's something about this place that makes you feel it.  The land is raw, it really looks as if it has been treaded on by human beings since the earliest time.  The air has a distinct scent to it that to be smells like time (mixed in with a lot of pollution) I was mentionning to the others today that even the sky looked a different shade of blue, but they claimed it was because of my sunglasses (i took them off and i still say its a different shade - again this may be due to pollution)!

Our schedule so far has been hectic to say the least.  We landed in Nairobi tuesday evening (via Amsterdam) and by the time we got to our hotel it was about 10pm.  THe following morning we were picked up at 7am for a full day of stuff that was mostly logistics (i.e. cell phones, registering with the high commission).  Nairobi is a busy place, traffic is a nightmare, and to make it worse, you can't roll down your window (so we're told because of the crime).  we then spent the afternoon touring Nairobi and some of the sights.  It was a short trip there as this morning we were on the first flight out to Mombasa (so again an early morning).  We went straight Mariakani which is just outside Mombasa and where one of the interns will be.  We spent the day touring different projects being coordinated by AKF and their Coastal Rural Support Program.  It was amazing to see that amount of innovation and resilience some of these people have when faced with challenges we don't even think about at home.  They bring true meaning to the quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world".  Their innovation is only surpassed by their enthusiasm for what they do.  Its very inspiring.  

So tonight we are in Mombasa at a hotel, and then tomorrow it will be my turn to visit my placement and meet the team i will be working with.  I am very excited about it.  We will be moving into our permanent home on sunday so keeping my fingers crossed.   The weather is so far been pretty good, but keeping in mind its winter here and kenyans are complaining that its been cold.  My mind has been a little cloudy so far which i attribute mostly to jet lag,  just a flurry of thoughts and observations and questions, many of which i hope will be answered over the next 8 months. 

The journey begins...

cheers

n