I'm now living at the Mayfield Guesthouse (picture to the left) in Nairobi. It's actually really close to where I've been living for the past few weeks, so the area is pretty familiar. The Guesthouse is in this cool English cottage-ish building, but there are around 30 rooms (I think?). I'm up on the second floor with wall-length windows that overlook the main entrace (you can see my windows in the picture - second floor, to the left of the round turret thing). It's beautiful, and I feel a little spoiled by being here. I've taken the best shower I've had in weeks, and I have wireless internet access, although it's a bit unreliable. All our meals are provided here, too. It's a really cool place to be because missionaries from all over Africa are coming through here, so at meals and in the common areas when you meet new people you get to hear some pretty cool stories!Friday morning we had a little bit of orientation and we went out to lunch at a Kenyan place called Tess's - very good food! We then made a trip to a Nakumatt (Kenyan version of Wal-Mart) and drove through the neighborhood Brandon and I's future house is in (THERE IS A PALM TREE IN THE BACKYARD!!) We then had the rest of the day to ourselves.
Yesterday was another day to hang 
out (I feel kind of lazy here, too - but it's good to relax a bit). I was up for breakfast and then hung out for the morning and afternoon. I finished the book I've been reading since my plane rides - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - kind of like a more uplifting version of Angela's Ashes. I definitely recommend it. Then yesterday evening Brandon and I and three missionary couples went to the Diamond Plaza in Nairobi for dinner. (It sounds pretty ritzy...and it's really not). It's in the two pictures to the left. It's a large shopping plaza (mostly Indian stores that sell everything from traditional 
Hindi clothing to electronics). Along one side there is a large food court-ish area. There is a long row of tables and then the wall is lined with little food stalls selling fruit juice, various Indian dishes, etc. (The food area is the bottom picture). I had real (not this Tropicana stuff) orange juice, a lot of nam (I don't know how you spell it), lamb, chicken, a lot of random dips and sauces...it was very, very good! We topped the night off with some homemade ice cream and coffee at one of the couples' house.
out (I feel kind of lazy here, too - but it's good to relax a bit). I was up for breakfast and then hung out for the morning and afternoon. I finished the book I've been reading since my plane rides - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - kind of like a more uplifting version of Angela's Ashes. I definitely recommend it. Then yesterday evening Brandon and I and three missionary couples went to the Diamond Plaza in Nairobi for dinner. (It sounds pretty ritzy...and it's really not). It's in the two pictures to the left. It's a large shopping plaza (mostly Indian stores that sell everything from traditional 
Hindi clothing to electronics). Along one side there is a large food court-ish area. There is a long row of tables and then the wall is lined with little food stalls selling fruit juice, various Indian dishes, etc. (The food area is the bottom picture). I had real (not this Tropicana stuff) orange juice, a lot of nam (I don't know how you spell it), lamb, chicken, a lot of random dips and sauces...it was very, very good! We topped the night off with some homemade ice cream and coffee at one of the couples' house. Today has been equally great. I went back to New City Fellowship church this morning with the Levanders. There is a sister church in the US that was planted to bring reconciliation between the white and black poplulations through the Gospel. This one in Nairobi was planted to bring reconciliation to the Kenyan and Indian populations. Worship is in up to four different languages, and the congregation is very diverse and very welcoming - I love it!
After church Brandon and I went to lunch with James, an AIM missionary, at a mall in Westgate (random very nice area of Nairobi). Seriously, the mall was nicer than any mall I've been to in the US. The food area was outdoor, with various levels and fountains and a fake river...it was pretty impressive. Then we traveled to another mall in Westgate (again, nicer than any mall in the US I've been to) and went to see Sarkar Raj (BOLLYWOOD!) at the theater there. A story of greed, corruption, power, and a lot of dying in the second half. It was so Bollywood and so wonderful. I've never been to a movie with an intermission, but this one sure had one. It was that intense.Tonight I was schooled in a rousing game of Phase 10, and now I'm sitting in the "living room" at Mayfield updating this and thinking about bed. Our hardcore orientation starts tomorrow - breakfast at 7:30, and then seminars, Swahili lessons (I'm so pumped for this), matatu lessons (this too), etc until 5pm. I should get some sleep to prepare for it.
I've discovered that for some reason I love sleeping under a misquito net since I've been here at Mayfield. I also found this random book in the library here - Cuentos Argentinos de Misterio. No one speaks Spanish here. It makes me smile a little.
Kwaheri!
1 comment:
Yay random spanish books :-) get ready for Teddy. I'm so glad your doing well!! I hope orientation goes well! ~Amanda
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