Back in Kenya: Day 11

As a blogger, I don't do a very great job of being regular, do I?
I like to think that when I eventually do write, it's more of an event, a novelty to look forward to.
Anyway, what am I up to this summer? Taking a complete turn from the NGO route, I'm working with a smaller marketing firm. I'll also be doing some school visits for Sewanee; my first is tomorrow and I'm pretty excited!
T
he internship is going great so far. While it may only be my third day here, I'm already working on important stuff beyond stapling and filing. The joys of being a Sewanee student eh?
Nairobi itself hasn't changed, and yet it has.
The people are the same yet different.
The roads are awful yet wonderful.
Let's not start on the traffic shall we?

It's refreshing to come back home and find a sense of familiarity; people are still going about their daily lives, and nobody had as yet revolutionised the country (although hold your breath, we do have a new president and a government!)

What have I learnt in the three days that I've been spending in traffic? That I wish I had some kind of 'courtesy injection' to use on people. Seriously though, while us Kenyans are known for our friendliness and hospitality, there are certain areas- such as our roads- where this is severely lacking. While it is mildly entertaining to watch two cars battle it out to see who gets a spot on the road first, I can only imagine what's happening with the stress levels of the people in them.

I know it's much, much, much easier said than done, and that it'll take a long time before this happens, but Nairobians can benefit so much from a little friendliness on the roads!
Come on people; we can do so much better.
Happy Wednesday!

Matatucessator

A question you often see floating around on the internet is: what superpower/ device (think Adam Sandler from Click) would you have if you could choose any?
Today, I'd like something that you could use from a distance on vehicles that have absolutely no road sense at all, like our dear matatus. The purpose of this device would be this: when the vehicle it has been shot at has been switched off for more than a certain period of time, say an hour, it cannot switch on again until and unless the person who used the device reverses their action with the same device. The purpose of this time period would be that cars would not stop on the road and obstruct traffic. Rather, if they have stopped for around an hour, this would most likely be in a parking spot or somewhere out of the way.
Having them unable to use their vehicles would be an effective (and annoying!) form of punishment, especially for those who drive recklessly to make money, such as matatus and the famous buses.
Obviously, the device(s) would need to be in the hands of HONEST and responsible citizens... I can only dream what kind of mayhem would ensue if this was not the case.
Now, while I know that this device is purely imaginary (at least for now) it did give me some measure of relief and moments of pure childish glee just imagining that I was using it as I was on my way to work in the morning, as I watched buses drive on pavements just to get 4 or 5 cars ahead, and matatus force their way into different lanes... on roundabouts. I'd like to think that they wouldn't be given way and allowed back on the road, but the harsh reality is that whoever attempts something so brave would probably get their car hit, especially so for those of us who drive around in smaller vehicles.
Have an imaginative day, won't you! As for myself, I'm going to have fun on the way back pretending to use my new Matatucessator! Sigh... one day!
(matatu + cessation)

Long way to go

While I'm loving my work, there's one thing I can honestly say that I hate; the traffic that I have to sit through everyday!
For a distance of thirty kilometres or less, I can sometimes take up to two hours to get there.
However, I decided to do what I like to do in such situations; make the best of things. I opened my eyes and realised just how much goes on around my little car that I was previously oblivious to.
Yesterday for example, on Uhuru Highway, I was alongside a van that had www.privatesafaris.co.ke proudly printed on it, and was full of a group of tourists who could not have been more obvious if they tried. Reason? At least three of them kept whipping out cameras as soon as something out of the ordinary happened (which is pretty often mind you), such as matatus driving off the road, and people doing the "Kenyan run" across a busy road not too far from a zebra crossing (crosswalk).
After this chuckle-inspiration, I turned my attention to the left to a 22 wheeler whose truck was emitting noises that made me think a metal eating monster lay in its belly. Of course, the truck's age probably had something to do with it...
It wasn't just the amusing instances that caught my eye, but the sheer number of people on the road. It made me think, just how often do such a large number of people collect anywhere else apart from on the roads? And in spite of all of us suffering through this together, we are all so obviously wrapped up in our own lives, in a little (or big depending on what you're driving) cocoon of steel and glass. Does anyone realise the power of all these people who spend these one or two hours together? I wonder what the reaction would be if I were to roll down my window and strike up a conversation with the person in the car next to me. Ideally, people would catch on and do the same. We would be a community, united, even if just for a short while. Realistically, someone would probably make a snatch for my bag or phone, or in less dire circumstances, recommend me to the nearest mental asylum.
Let's wake up Kenya, to the enormous potential and power that lies within us!