These questions are from her friend Deserie:
1. Do they celebrate Halloween? Will the kiddos get to go trick or treating?
When I asked around, I got a lot of strange looks and laughs from Kenyans about Halloween. It was funny to try to explain it to them and they all said that they have never heard of such a strange idea! However, we live on an American school compound, and there are plenty of Americans who keep up the tradition around here. I’ve heard that as the holiday approaches, houses sign up to participate so we can figure out a route around campus. Not only that, but many people go a step further and prepare special treats (caramel apples, fancy cookie creations, etc) that go above and beyond the store-bought candy we are used to. So, yes, they will continue to experience Halloween over here and we will definitely be digging through the dress-up clothes to make use of our girls’ cuteness for some tasty treats!
2. Do you have a mailman? How do you get letters, etc. things not at the Post Office?
There is no such thing as mail delivery in Nairobi, especially as we are used to in the States. Everybody had small boxes rented out in a nearby location (for example, there is a whole bunch of them in a corner of our local mall), but you won’t see a mail truck going door to door. Everybody goes and checks their box on a regular basis, no mailboxes outside of houses. This is even true for businesses, such as the school we are at. There is a large box for Rosslyn and it is someone’s job to check it daily and bring back the mail. That is how letters come to us. Packages are a slightly different story: there are usually customs duties to pay, so a slip will come in the mail, we will be notified of the charge, and the driver has to take the money back with him the next day-but this time he will have to visit the local branch of the post office. Unless you are really (un)lucky like we were in our first few weeks and have to go to the big central office.
3. What kind of animals run freely where you live?
Besides bugs? Lol. Sort of. There are LOTS of different types of birds. My favorite are the little weaver birds, Ainsley’s favorite are the big Ibis that stalk through the grass eating bugs. Big, hawk-like birds called Kites roam the campus and have been known to snatch food right out of people’s hands. We have a few resident monkeys (BIG ones, probably 40lbs) that have made themselves more scarce lately because of all the school activity. But, our host family had one in their kitchen a week ago, looking for a snack! In addition to a few families who have cats and dogs as pets, there is a family of feral cats that hangs out by the dumpster. And a few mongooses that live on campus as well. I think the most surprising for us was the squirrels! They are just like the ones we were used to in California.
4. Have you been to the beach yet? What kind of sand is it? What's the water like?
Not yet. The coast is REALLY far away from here (about 500 kms, or 300 miles, but it can take up to 12 hours). We have heard many enticing stories about the Kenyan Coast, cute little beach houses, taking little boats called dhows to tiny islands, and snorkeling in the warm Indian Ocean. We do really miss the ocean. And, of course, Mombasa has such an amazing history. We would really love to go. Right now, we are watching the travel warnings, and although virtually all of the current outbursts and violence are deeply tribal issues rather than anti-western terrorism, it seems like there is more of a chance of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are really hoping things will settle down before we leave, or to get more specific information because the Kenyan Coast has a reputation of a place not to miss. That is where the language, Swahili, originated from!
5. Do you have Starbucks?
Nope. We have a coffee chain here called Java House that makes some pretty good stuff. It’s also a restaurant that serves up international food so it can be a one-stop-shop when you are craving a good cup of Joe and some “familiar” foods from home. Their French Toast is yummy! Not being much of a coffee drinker, Kirk recommends the chocolate milk shakes.
On the topic of American chains, the only two we have found are Subway (there was only one in all of Nairobi until one opened up really close to us, there was MUCH rejoicing in the expat community! We were really too new here to miss it that much, but it was funny to see how that was the topic of discussion on EVERYONE’s lips) and Kentucky Fried Chicken (Which has been here forever and sadly does not serve the best thing on their menu...biscuits!).
We have heard (but not officially confirmed) that many American companies may never come to Kenya because they have strict consistency standards for their supplies and they cannot keep that sought-after sameness when availability of products and delivery can both be inconsistent. We’ve also heard that it’s because the beef tastes so different, and in order to maintain familiar flavors, they would have to invest deeply in the supply chain by raising their own cattle, etc. It makes sense that McDonald’s and others would be hesitant to go so far outside their area of expertise. However, we’ve also eaten at those chains in France and the UK and things just taste different in different parts of the globe, so I’m not sure I’m buying the argument about bland beef!
6. What are some of the laws there?
In general, we honestly haven’t noticed all that many legal differences. One of the more interesting laws that we have heard about is that it’s illegal to write a check for more than 1,000,000 shillings, which is about $12,000. So if you’re buying something that costs more than that (like a car), you have a couple of options including writing two checks, transferring the money electronically, and paying cash. One of our friends was buying a new Land Cruiser for around $60,000, and he paid in cash. Now in the US, this would probably mean getting 600 $100 bills; no small feat, but it fits in a small bag. Here in Kenya, the largest denomination is the 1,000 shilling note (about $12), so imagine paying for a new Land Cruiser in the US using 6000 $10 bills. He and a friend wore cargo pants stuffed with bills and carried a full backpack as well. He said that he’s never been more nervous, and I don’t blame him!
7. Do you have flea markets?
Yes, they are very common. Toi Market, the one I wrote about in a previous post, is probably one of the better-known (although our househelp, Sarah, has lived in Nairobi for many years and has never been-she was asking me questions! Lol). All around the city are used-clothes markets, or produce markets with stalls. They are the main source of goods if one doesn’t want to pay expensive supermarket prices, or is looking for something a little different and doesn’t mind something used.
8. Are there craft stores?
If you mean places where you can buy supplies to MAKE crafts, we’ve been told that Biashara Street is the place to go for most of those things. I just found out more about it today and am looking forward to a trip soon to get some curtains for the kitchen and girls’ room. If you are looking for art supplies, there are several large school-supply/art stores (like Aaron Brothers) in the larger malls.
If you are thinking more about places to buy crafts already made, there are lots of options. One that I am especially looking forward to visiting is called Amani Ya Juu that combines beautiful African textiles with teaching job-skills. I can’t wait to visit! Other places we hope to visit are Spinner’s Web and Utamanduni Craft Center. One place we’ve been to the store but haven’t done the tour yet is the Kazuri Bead Factory, another place that combines beautiful craftsmanship and a commitment to improving the lives of people in the community.
There is also Masai Market that specializes in African-style arts and crafts. These vendors travel around and appear at different malls on different days of the week (kind of like how Farmer’s Markets move locations in America or Europe). This is unlike the ones mentioned above in that it is expected that you will bargain for a better price. The quality varies between the stalls but the atmosphere is noisy and fun. We bought a beautiful market scene painted on silk there during our first few weeks:
Answers to more questions coming soon!
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