Fortunately, I am an optimist.

Holy crap.

I can't believe I've only been here 24 hours.

Despite mechanical problems with my planes in both KC and Detroit, I made it to Nairobi. I had a long layover in Detroit, we had a tailwind over the Atlantic, and I sprinted through the Amsterdam airport, so I made all my connecting flights. Obviously I am destined to be here right now. Hahaha. Anyway, the flight was gorgeous - the sky was crystal clear over Europe. Flew into Amsterdam at dawn, ate lunch over the Alps, took a nap over the Mediterranean and woke up over the Sahara. Northern Kenya was the most interesting to fly over, though. It was dark by that time, and there were almost no lights in sight. It would be a sea of darkness and then a single campfire, or a few grouped campfires... so different from the oceans of light you see when you fly over the US. The Turkana region is completely different from Nairobi though, so don't get any ideas about me camping. Nairobi is very much like a small Washington, DC.

The moment I realized (in my exhaustion and delirium) that I was actually in Africa was when I saw the trees on the drive from the airport to the apartment. None of the trees here grow in North America, of course, but that isn't really something I considered ahead of time. You know those trees you see lions sleeping under in PBS shows? Yeah. They're everywhere. Along with palm trees and huge, bright, tropical flowers. The weather is perfect - the air is 75 degrees, but in the sun it's quite a bit hotter. Oh, and I saw a monkey today.. it was chilling on a brick wall in Jamhuri Park. I am at a loss for words.

Nairobi is incredibly beautiful and ugly at the same time. It's SO green, but also rather dirty between the red dust and exhaust. It does smell better than DC, though. I keep forgetting any kind of unrest is going on. I've seen nothing remotely unusual after walking and driving all over the city today. Stores are open, buses are running as usual, vendors are selling mangos and pineapples on the street, and people are walking around everywhere.

This morning I woke up fairly early to go with the group to a really intense yoga class. Tomorrow I'll feel awful I'm sure, but the work out will help me get over my jetlag. This afternoon we went to Jamhuri Park, where many of the slum residents (mostly from Kibera) displaced by the violence can get shelter, food, and clothes. There were too many volunteers for them to need our help much, but we played with some of the children and helped the Red Cross load trucks with supplies. It was so interesting to see it all, though I wish we could have done more to help.

After that we explored Westlands (our neighborhood) a bit and I bought shampoo and toothpaste and such, then we cooked dinner for all the students and some Kenyan friends in our apartment. Things have just quieted down, and now we're waiting on the last three students to arrive. Orientation starts tomorrow! We'll be busy, but I hope I can update soon. I know we'll be visiting some of the internship sites, which means I'll get to see more of Nairobi, including the slums. Should be interesting. Also tiring. But I'll talk to you all soon!

Sorry for the rambling. I'm ridiculously excited to be here. The point is, I'm safe and very happy, and already a bit sunburned.