Heart of the sunrise

One reason I love Africa: picture listening to this while summitting Kilimanjaro, just before the sun comes up. Once-in-a-lifetime dope.

Nairobi is...

For the last few days, our team has had our heads down, working hard on getting the data we need to make a good recommendation to our clients. G-lab has been an amazing opportunity so far; both to experience a new culture and place, and to try to help those making an impact on African poverty and healthcare.

Nairobi itself is fantastic. The weather is amazing. It never rains. It's neither too hot, or too cold. You would think this city would lead a charmed life...and yet...

The slums are incredible. They butt right up against of the homes of the wealthy (Githagoro, where a Gertrude's Garden outreach clinic is located, has a guard gate to prevent its denizens from escaping onto the lawns of nearby estates).

Crime -- although we have experienced none of it--is reportedly rampant. People from Dar es Salaam told us that we could expect to have cellphones snatched from our hands if we had a conversation in the street. And if people from Dar say it's dangerous...

Look, much brighter and better-educated people than I have written at length about Africa's problems, and I'm not going to be able to add anything new or better to their arguments. All I can say is, if you're coming to Africa, on safari or for a vacation, I can't see why you would not choose to give your time as well to one of the many NGOs in the area. I am glad that I have the chance to at least feel like I am contributing to making life here better. And I would encourage anyone interested in an African trip to take the opportunity as well.

The following organizations can hook you up with a volunteer job:

Volunteer Africa
National Consortium for Study in Africa (this has a long list of resources)
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (be a foster parent to an orphaned elephant, which you can then visit in the evenings if/when you are in Nairobi)

Monkeys stole my snacks

One thing about living in Nairobi that I didn't expect: pests include random feral cats and...MONKEYS.

My team came home yesterday to find that someone (we assumed the staff) had eaten all of our bananas and even cheekily left a peel on the counter. We were a little offended and considered mentioning it to the administration.

When later, we came home to find a feral cat streaking through our house, we began to consider other alternatives. Could a cat have hauled away a pound of bananas? They were small. But peeling one? It doesn't even have opposate thumbs, Greg (Meet the Parents, anyone?).

It all became clear in the morning when Susan discovered a GIANT MONKEY crouched on the windowsill of our kitchen, just waiting for us to leave.

We reported the incident to the front desk, who tried (ineffectively) to conceal its obvious belief that we were HUGE IDIOTS. Trying to explain that monkeys were not an expected pest didn't exactly win us any perceived IQ points, so we scooted off to work and vowed to lock the windows.

Argh argh weather

So, if you haven't heard, the entire Northeast is about to be attacked by a Godzilla-snow-storm. Normally, I would be super-excited by this because it means that my front lawn could potentially be turned into a vodka slide/snowboard jump.

HOWEVER, I'm not supposed to BE in Boston this weekend! One of my best friends will be in NYC from London this weekend and I have a ticket for the Bolt all lined-up and ready 2 rock.

To add to the crappiness, I'm supposed to be hiking Kilimanjaro on Wednesday and this means my Monday flight might get canceled. GRUMBLE GRUMBLE GRUMBLE!!

Oh well, at least the weather in Boston is nice today :). And I have a Boston Kreme donut right here next to me, so things could be worse.