Alex Haynie, nicknamed “Aliki” by some of his new Strathmore friends, is an associate at Strathmore University Foundation now in Kenya until December on a three-month exchange assignment to further the collaboration of SUF with Strathmore University.  A 2008 graduate of Princeton University from North Wales, PA, Alex is interning with three of Strathmore’s departments: athletics, community outreach, and alumni development. He is keeping a journal of his experiences and impressions.

 

Traveling to a new place like Nairobi gives me perspective and offers me so many different views and experiences. There are tons of little things about life here that I’m just getting used to, and I’m beginning to realize how many things I take for granted when I’m at home. I’m enjoying learning about how other people live, even when the experience for a neophyte can be a little challenging…

 

On Climate:

Kenya sits on the equator. As a result the temperatures in Nairobi are quite warm most of the year.  Though

Nairobi’s elevation is greater than a mile high, the temperatures have been in the mid-70°s during the day, and it gets a little bit cooler at night.  It’s rained a few times here, but only for a few hours at a time.

 

On Air:

The air is thick here, and pollution certainly hangs in the city.  People seem to burn things all the time, including trash.  One morning I woke up early, at 6:15am. As I took my first waking breath, I could feel myself inhaling some smoke.  When I threw the window open, more smoke came in.  Even so early, someone must’ve been burning something.

 

On a Cab Ride in Nairobi:

I took a cab last week when I was in Nairobi (the only cab ride I’ve taken so far), and I sat in the back.  A

minute into the ride, while I was practicing my Swahili with the driver who spoke no English, I started to breathe exhaust fumes that were somehow gathering inside the cab. More smoke! I quickly rolled down the window. As I did, I looked behind me and could barely see the back of the car. It was enveloped in the cloud the car was emitting from its tail pipe.  So like a dog I stuck my head out the window (which only partially opened) for the rest of the ride and sucked in as much of the (slightly cleaner) air from outside as I could. 

 

On Electricity:

The electricity in Nairobi goes out about once a day, even at Strathmore University (which is a big step up from all the surrounding buildings).  It usually comes back on almost immediately (and fortunately, when I’m at work, the computer returns to the same page so I don’t lose work). But one time at my residence the power stayed out the whole night.

 

On Water in the Pipes at My Residence:

On the morning before my first day at Strathmore, I got up early and planned to shower and shave. I had

been traveling for almost forty-eight straight hours. When I finally arrived in Nairobi after the long journey, I just passed out on my bed.  So I was dirty.  The next morning, I got undressed, towel in hand, and walked into the bathroom.  I turned the shower nozzle excitedly as I couldn’t wait to get clean, and… no water!  Maybe five drips.  The water was out in the entire building, and I went to work dirty the first day, realizing how much I take certain things for granted back home. 

 

On Roads and Potholes:

Kenya used to be a British colony, and drivers here are required to stay on the left side of the road.  And the people drive on unlined roads, roads with frequent speed bumps, roads with lots of exposed dirt, and roads with potholes (on some smaller roads, potholes can be as big as 8inches x 5feet x 5feet!).  

 

On Mosquitoes:

I have killed around 10 mosquitoes in my bedroom, but I’ve gotten bitten twice as many times.  At least mosquitoes in Nairobi aren’t supposed to have malaria (and I’m taking a preventative antibiotic anyway).  But the fact that two of my friends (Kenyans) in my residence hall have just told me that they have malaria doesn’t ease me… 

 

On Cattle That Roam on Nairobi’s City Roads During the Day:

There are cattle that walk down one of the roads in town during the day. Nobody seems to mind. Pretty cool.