Habari,
Well folks, the time finally came for me to say goodbye to
Kenya. I spent the last 7 weeks of my
stay exploring the country in more detail and spending my days as a ‘Lady of
Leisure.’ I spent the bulk of my two
years in Kenya living as a Kenyan. I
avoided the tourist traps and concentrated on my day-to-day living. In the last seven weeks, I have tried to make
up for lost time.
When asked recently what I will miss most about Kenya, the
people, is an answer that flows effortlessly.
It is because the Kenyan people have touched me in a way that I didn’t
know was possible. They are a very warm
people who don’t let the stresses of everyday life get to them. I saw it in the people who worked for me and
those I interacted with on a daily basis.
The genuine concern for my wellbeing and a willingness to help me with
any problem I encountered was a trademark of most Kenyans I met during my stay. Kangai, Ciiku and Brian (a.k.a, Kinoti) top
the list of Kenyans who captured my heart.
Karen, Nelly (Kenyan native), Kimloan, and Sandra top list of Americans
who shared the Kenyan experience with me.
Master Pu, as you all know, made this whole experience possible and I am
eternally grateful.
I spent quite a bit of time in an establishment called Java
House, which is Kenya’s version of Starbucks.
My coffee addiction is never far away from me at any given time. The coffee doesn’t have the same jolt as its
American counterpart, but the people are very addictive. Millicent, Jacqueline, Joan and the other
women who made me feel at home every time I entered the coffee house are
perfect examples of the generosity of Kenyan people. The Java House team was always concerned that
my drinks were delivered as ordered and if the food didn’t meet my
expectations, (this happened from time to time when an American dish didn’t
meet my expectation) the manager quickly appeared to remedy the situation. Everyone in the US knows that customer service
has gone down the tubes there. It is
nice to know it hasn’t died everywhere.
The Kenyan people are full of tradition, but urban sprawl
and economic growth has impacted many of their traditions. I recently visited the Nairobi National
Museum, which expanded my view of Kenyan history and its people. There is one exhibit in particular that I
really enjoyed called, “Cycles of Life.”
This wonderful display takes you through the stages of life for a
Kenyan. It begins with birth, goes
through adolescence, then early adulthood, the life of elders and then the
ancestors. Each section of the exhibit
talks about what the person goes through at that stage, what they wear and what
are the expectations of them from society.
Of course the item that stood out was circumcision for adolescents. I have included a picture of the crude
instruments used for this ritual for your review. The exhibit discusses the fact the female
circumcision is no longer permitted in Kenya, but the boy’s ritual is still
fair game.
The highlight of the last seven weeks was definitely the
safari in the Maasai Mara. Everyone
should go on an African safari in his or her lifetime.. This was TRULY
amazing. Nothing in Disney World or any other captive safari can compete. I got much closer to wild animals than I ever
have in my life. White Rhinos, leopards,
lions, buffalos and elephants were all among the highlights of the
adventure. My only regret is that I
waited so long to take the trip. 
The
first sight when we entered the park was a huge buffalo. Our safari guide decided that we needed to
get a closer look. He pulled right up to
the buffalo, stopped and turned off the engine.
Once I started breathing again, I informed him that I didn’t need this
close of a look. I found out that I
would be saying this throughout the day.
You see, the guides believe you get a better experience the closer you
get to the animals. LOL. He just didn’t know, I enjoy the National
Geographic experience on television just fine!
The remainder of my seven week farewell was jammed packed with
new experiences, trips, celebrations and most importantly spending time with
those I care about most. I have to shout
out to my Nigerian contingent, who made a point to have a farewell of their
own. Although I only visited Nigeria
twice during my two years on the continent, the Nigerians I met and worked with
made a tremendous impression on me. I’ve
been told more than once over the past two years that my roots reside in
Nigeria. I proudly accept that. My assignment in Kenya has been one of the
greatest life experiences I have had to-date.
To Master Pu, once again, thank you for a tremendous journey. To my new Kenyan and Nigerian families, I
love you and will see you soon. Asante
sana.
This is the end of On Assignment In Nairobi (OAIN), but I’m sure
there will be more adventures to come.
Thanks for taking this journey with me.
Take care and God bless.
Asante Sana,
Della Rochelle
Copyright © 2013 by Della Rochelle Williams
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