I've just returned to Nairobi from the States after spending two weeks with friends and family. This time family really dominated my time (Happy 70th Birthday Momma Rose) but I didn't mind because they won't see me again until Christmas. It's been a very long time since I've missed Labor Day and especially Thanksgiving with my family. There are a number of life events I will miss over the next four and a half months. My dear friend Christina's wedding to her handsome fiancé Sam, my little cousin Kiara's beginning of college, and my brother Allen's 50th birthday (sorry bro, but you're not 29 anymore), are just a few of the important events I'll miss while I'm in Nairobi until Christmas.
I'll have to trick myself into thinking Thanksgiving is just another day. I mean, I haven't even seen a turkey since I've been here. I've seen chickens and if the turkeys are treated like their cousins (being transported to slaughter on top of a public bus) then I may have to pass. I been told that Nairobi's sweet potatoes/yams are more like potatoes and nobody has been able to smuggle any into the country. The thought of Thanksgiving, or the fall in general, without sweet potato pie or candied yams is unbearable. Even Master Pu asked me if my mom could send a frozen sweet potato pie through the mail. SMH.
Fall is my favorite season of the year hands down. I love the changing of the leaves, the crisp weather and the month of October because I was born on its 29th day. Now, I was really dreading spending my birthday alone in Nairobi, but my dear friend Carol came to the rescue. She agreed to host me in the great city of London for my birthday weekend (it will be an extended weekend). I'm so thrilled. Good looking out Carol.
Now that I think about it, I haven't heard of any national holidays in Nairobi since I've been here. What happened to all of the frivolous holidays in countries outside of the US that we Americans envy? I am ready to partake, because this year I worked on the July 4th. I'm looking for some reciprocity. LOL
I am looking forward to my impending trip to the lovely country of India on September 3rd. The irony about this trip is that my friend Christina, who is Indian, will be getting married that day in good old New Jersey. SMH. Sorry Christina, I feel awful :-( I will get a chance to see the Taj Mahal while I'm there. So I will celebrate your love, where one of the greatest love stories ever told occurred.
Coming back into the country, I realized I had lost a bit of my ‘nice and yummy.’ As I came down the ramp to immigration, I was met by droves of tourists. You see, this is the best time to come to Kenya to witness the wildebeest migration. The migration is definitely a bucket list item that should be experienced by as many people as possible. But, Jack Nickelson and Morgan Freeman were not among the masses in the crowd standing before me. This wide-eyed, naïve group of unsuspecting tourist had no idea how to navigate the maze that is Nairobi immigration.
There was a family of tourist from London who attached
themselves to me as we deplaned. I had
been sitting next to the mother and father during the flight from London
Heathrow. They had questioned me about
my experience in visiting the continent of Africa. It was a nice chat, but my main goal was
getting off the plane as soon as possible to make it to the visa line before
everyone else on the plane. As I dashed
off of the plane, I assumed I would never see the family again. Little did I know, they were right on my
heels. So much so, that they bumped into
me when I finally reached the end of line and stopped. They smiled sheepishly and said they figured
I knew what I was doing. LOL
Since they were standing BEHIND me, I didn’t see any harm in
helping them out. I asked the father if
he had exact change for the visa, because if you don’t, the immigration officer
could conveniently tell you that they don’t have change. SMH. Next, I checked to see if they filled out
both the immigration form and visa application correctly. I had been watching the people in front of us
making rookie mistakes. You ask what
those mistakes are. Well, let me tell
you:
1.
Not filling out the form and application
accurately and completely. They will
make you step out of line to correct your mistake if you don’t.
2.
Not having the exact change. No sense in paying $60 for a visa that only
cost $50 because you only had twenty dollar bills from the ATM.
3.
Showing your frustration at the immigration
officer’s slow pace. SMH. The officer will slow to a pace that will
make you think you’re watching grass grow.
4.
Arguing with the immigration officer when you
are wrong, or when they are wrong for that matter. To get through this process, they are always
right…for the few moments you spend with them.
5.
Not hearing the officer when they ask you to
stand in front of the camera for your picture or not remembering your left hand
from the right when having your fingerprints digitally collected. Attitude will materialize instantaneously and
without warning.
6.
Thinking you can ask to speak to the manager to
get your problem resolved. You will get
played like an unsuspecting New York City tourist playing Three Card Monte. LOL
A cool hour and a half later, the London family was sweating
bullets, hoping they would able to get through immigration unscathed. I had my doubts, but I was next in line and
would not associate myself any further with a group of tourist who had never
been to Kenya. Hey, I had helped them enough,
thank you very much. It was time for
them to fend for themselves. LOL. Besides,
I didn’t want to be dinged by association.
Although the long wait made me lose some of my ‘nice and
yummy’ I got it back quick in order to charm the immigration officer. I was so pleasant and understanding, I even
commented on how incompetent the rest of these people were. That got a laugh and I knew I would sail
through the process. Listen, survival of
the fittest takes on a whole new meaning in Africa. Needless to say, I breezed through the line
after that, but I had already lost an hour and a half due to the lack of
preparation of these tourists. SMH. After I was released, I turned to wish my
London family good luck and kept it moving.
The first thing I heard when they stepped up to the immigration counter
was, “you need to step back…one at a time!” The attitude in that statement told
me these people were in trouble. SMH…I
tried. So people, if you plan on coming
to Africa any time soon, do your homework!!
Okay folks, I’m going to close this post out. Join me again next week as the saga
continues. Don’t forget to sign up as a
follower.
Asante Sana (that means thanks a lot),
Della Rochelle
Copyright © 2011 by Della Rochelle Williams
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