So Nairobi was a blast, though we only had a short time there unfortunately. We spent the day on Saturday in the slums of Kibera (one of the largest slums in the world with estimated over 1 million people) visiting a school for orphans, a crafts shop run by women with HIV/AIDS and a bone crafts shop run by a male youth group. We also visited a couple of community projects like a bio-centre for showers and sewage, as well as another youth group that volunteers going through the many mounds of garbage to recycle. It is a very dangerous place to be if a woman by yourself or anyone anytime at night, but by day it was a good albeit very eye-opening experience. I fell in love with the women and especially the children and definitely plan on returning and spending my next summer working there for some legal NGO in education if possible.
We also experienced actual Nairobi, went out to dinner to the infamous Carnivore (good food, but be prepared for 30% unexpected surcharges/taxes/etc) and then went out clubbing until 4:30am, which was a blast. Fed baby giraffes, saw baby elephants and one blind baby rhino, all very cool. The hostel was also very cool, it was like a campground, but also had a cheap restaurant with really good food and a bar. And a hobbit door!!! hahaha
But back to Arusha, which now feels like home. I was surprisingly really happy to be back after all the traveling over the weekend, especially after living in four person dorms that were smaller than my bedroom here. Still doing witness summaries at work, which is not so exciting, in fact quite boring. This weekend will be a chill weekend, probably including shopping on Saturday and then maybe we'll make it to the Hot Springs to go swimming if the weather is nice on Sunday, which would be awesome!! And it seems I may be going on a date this week with a gorgeous Frenchman ;)
I'll keep y'all updated!!! :)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Kick Off House Party!!
So the past week has been great. Finally feeling settled into our house of 10 interns, though we are considering moving for July and August. Went out to Via Via again on Thursday night, I had more fun than I wish to share on the internet ;). Friday we had a delicious true African dinner with our landlord's family, as a send off for their daughter Asha who is moving back to North Carolina after her internship at the UN.
Then Saturday our house threw the first intern house party of the summer. My good Irish friend David built a legit fire pit in the garden Saturday morning, concrete blocks, bricks and all, though he did get sun poisoning from that experiment. A group of us other housemates went out all day in search of fresh meat and sauces, etc. for the barbeque, and let me tell you, we found FRESH meat. I had the pleasure of meeting the whole cow carcasses hanging in the window of the butcher stall in the middle of a crazy maze within the central market. Have I mentioned how much I love this place?? We also bought fresh whole chickens, thankfully defeathered and all, though we had the option of buying them live. Many chickens being thrown around tied by their feet around the market. Again, sooo cool.
So the party went off grand without a hitch. Barbequed for several hours outside, had s'mores of course, then went inside to drink and played flipcup out on the second floor balcony. The one hitch being that everyone who actually lived in the house fell asleep early, I as the first one of course, before the party ended and people actually left our house... which was pretty freaking hilarious. But everyone said it was a great party so I would say it was a success. Sunday we then laid out by the nearby hotel pool, me with my constant re-application of sunblock and I still managed to get a minor sunburn on my back. Let's say the sun is just that strong here.
So crazy weekend coming up. Tomorrow starts off the weekend, yes that would be Wednesday, at the local French restaurant run by a crazy French guy named Michel, followed by Karaoke at the Sports Bar next door. Then Thursday will be the classic Via Via experience. And Friday we leave for Nairobi!! I am soo excited. In Nairobi, we will be staying at a hostel, visiting the Kibera slums, feeding baby Giraffes, visiting the baby Elephant/Rhino orphanage, going to the popular Carnivore restaurant, and then experiencing the nightlife of course. Yes, it all sounds quite touristy, but hey, I've never been to Africa, so on my first time I think it's allowed. I am planning on trying to visit Rwanda on my own though and making it more of a cultural experience and less of a party experience. But either way, I am having the time of my life!!
tutaonana!
a plus! (that means see you later in French, I am not saying A Plus haha)
Then Saturday our house threw the first intern house party of the summer. My good Irish friend David built a legit fire pit in the garden Saturday morning, concrete blocks, bricks and all, though he did get sun poisoning from that experiment. A group of us other housemates went out all day in search of fresh meat and sauces, etc. for the barbeque, and let me tell you, we found FRESH meat. I had the pleasure of meeting the whole cow carcasses hanging in the window of the butcher stall in the middle of a crazy maze within the central market. Have I mentioned how much I love this place?? We also bought fresh whole chickens, thankfully defeathered and all, though we had the option of buying them live. Many chickens being thrown around tied by their feet around the market. Again, sooo cool.
So the party went off grand without a hitch. Barbequed for several hours outside, had s'mores of course, then went inside to drink and played flipcup out on the second floor balcony. The one hitch being that everyone who actually lived in the house fell asleep early, I as the first one of course, before the party ended and people actually left our house... which was pretty freaking hilarious. But everyone said it was a great party so I would say it was a success. Sunday we then laid out by the nearby hotel pool, me with my constant re-application of sunblock and I still managed to get a minor sunburn on my back. Let's say the sun is just that strong here.
So crazy weekend coming up. Tomorrow starts off the weekend, yes that would be Wednesday, at the local French restaurant run by a crazy French guy named Michel, followed by Karaoke at the Sports Bar next door. Then Thursday will be the classic Via Via experience. And Friday we leave for Nairobi!! I am soo excited. In Nairobi, we will be staying at a hostel, visiting the Kibera slums, feeding baby Giraffes, visiting the baby Elephant/Rhino orphanage, going to the popular Carnivore restaurant, and then experiencing the nightlife of course. Yes, it all sounds quite touristy, but hey, I've never been to Africa, so on my first time I think it's allowed. I am planning on trying to visit Rwanda on my own though and making it more of a cultural experience and less of a party experience. But either way, I am having the time of my life!!
tutaonana!
a plus! (that means see you later in French, I am not saying A Plus haha)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Malaria Pills, Theft, and UN Ridiculousness
So, contrary to the title theme of this blog post, I am actually having a fabulous time here in Arusha, though it started out kind of shaky. The first couple of days I was pretty sick and getting worse until I realized it was an allergic reaction to Malarone, the anti-malaria pill I was taking. The walk-in clinic here is free, but not very good at diagnosing, so just sent me home with anti-fever pills and antihistamine. But my fabulous roommate reminded me of the possible side effects of Malarone, and when I researched it, I realized I had all the signs of an allergic reaction: fatigue, dizzyness, lightheadedness, trouble breathing, lack of appetite (ie couldn't do anything but lay in bed). So once I stopped taking them and got some extra sleep, I started feeling better.
Arusha is great, once you get used to the clay dust, incredible amounts of pollution, and constant (and I mean constantallthetimeneverforgetit) theft or purse snatching. So me, my allergies, and buttoned up pockets are having a fabulous time! No it really is great, everyone local is really friendly for the most part, the interns are all fantastic, and most things are SO cheap. And I must say, the nightlife is AMAZING. I have never partied so hard in my life!! And the places to go out can get just absolutely gorgeous. One example is Via Via, where I will have to take pictures sometime. It is the Mzungu (foreigner/westerner) Thursday night hangout that makes you feel like you are in island paradise, with palm trees, fire pits, thatched roof bars and a dancefloor outside.
Although partying is not all I plan on doing on weekends. A group of us interns have several weekend outings planned, including Nairobi, Kigali, Serengeti safari, Ngorongoro crater/Terengere safari, and maybe even Zanzibar (depending on how much money I have left). But the first couple of weeks we decided to relax and get settled in.
Work is finally starting up. Though I started last Wednesday, the UN of course did not give me a working computer and log in to use until today. Things work quite slowly here, though it was expected, being the UN and all. But I am doing some real legal work! My first assignment is to draft the decision on a motion that was just made in the case I am assigned to. How cool is that?? Ok, so I may really sound like a 1L right now, but working on something that actually gets used in a case is just awesome to me. Of course the Judges will tweak, revamp, and even maybe rewrite it, but it is still a product of my work partially. :)
Alright, I should probably get back to work. Hopefully will post pictures soon (once I figure out how I can do that efficiently). The lack of internet and constant theft really hinders the ability to take and post pictures, but I will try my best.
Tutaonana!
Arusha is great, once you get used to the clay dust, incredible amounts of pollution, and constant (and I mean constantallthetimeneverforgetit) theft or purse snatching. So me, my allergies, and buttoned up pockets are having a fabulous time! No it really is great, everyone local is really friendly for the most part, the interns are all fantastic, and most things are SO cheap. And I must say, the nightlife is AMAZING. I have never partied so hard in my life!! And the places to go out can get just absolutely gorgeous. One example is Via Via, where I will have to take pictures sometime. It is the Mzungu (foreigner/westerner) Thursday night hangout that makes you feel like you are in island paradise, with palm trees, fire pits, thatched roof bars and a dancefloor outside.
Although partying is not all I plan on doing on weekends. A group of us interns have several weekend outings planned, including Nairobi, Kigali, Serengeti safari, Ngorongoro crater/Terengere safari, and maybe even Zanzibar (depending on how much money I have left). But the first couple of weeks we decided to relax and get settled in.
Work is finally starting up. Though I started last Wednesday, the UN of course did not give me a working computer and log in to use until today. Things work quite slowly here, though it was expected, being the UN and all. But I am doing some real legal work! My first assignment is to draft the decision on a motion that was just made in the case I am assigned to. How cool is that?? Ok, so I may really sound like a 1L right now, but working on something that actually gets used in a case is just awesome to me. Of course the Judges will tweak, revamp, and even maybe rewrite it, but it is still a product of my work partially. :)
Alright, I should probably get back to work. Hopefully will post pictures soon (once I figure out how I can do that efficiently). The lack of internet and constant theft really hinders the ability to take and post pictures, but I will try my best.
Tutaonana!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)