Getting to Know Each Other

Jambo and Karibu!

It’s Monday night here in Nairobi, and almost all of our travelers have arrived. Like the animals of Noah’s ark, we have been coming in pairs and small groups rather than all at once. KLM, Turkish, Ethiopian and Austrian Airlines have transported 11 of us 9600 miles to the Eastern Coast of Africa.

This morning, we enjoyed our first outing together as one big group: provisions at the Nakumatt—Kenya’s grocery store. What better way to acclimate and adjust to the environment, the culture and the currency than to be among locals shopping for each of our daily needs.

Then, on to the Nairobi National Museum for lunch and an interactive tour of Kenya’s rich heritage. Kenya lays a claim to the oldest human remains going back 7 million years. Led by student guides, we learned a survey of Kenya’s history, from its early Arabian and European presence just after the time of Christ, through British colonization and its independence in 1962. Oh, and we happened to coerce the docent at the Snake Park to let a few of us get up close and personal with an alligator. We’re not even on safari, yet!

Then back onto the Thika Superhighway which is an adventure itself. If you’re frustrated by the 10 freeway, imagine a handful of pedestrians continuously crossing between cars amidst rush-hour traffic. Picture being alongside local commuter buses called matatu with so many passengers they are literally hanging out the door.

Fr. Alex Okidi, parish priest and his associate from Holy Cross Dandora joined us to break bread and get to know all of us before we journey to visit our Kenyan brothers and sisters.

Usiku mwema!