After 3 weeks teaching in Kenya I have met most of the boys
I’m teaching and numerous staff members. I’ve learnt a few useful Swahili
phrases and words, it will take a while but I think I’ll pick up the important
ones really quickly!
I moved into my home for the year on the first Sunday of the
month. It’s taken a few days to get everything sorted but I think I’m almost
there. I’m beginning to really like it and it’s starting to feel like home. The
only issue is the bathroom outside but I have actually got used to it. Apart
from the fact that there often isn’t any water .. I was freaked out one day
when I saw a small rodent running around my house that I asked colleagues what
to do about it and soon everyone knew! Word spreads fast in a Kenyan boarding
school! 2 days later however I saw a Gecko which makes me much happier J I have only seen
cockroaches in my bathroom rather than in the house this time, so a slight
improvement! I’ve started to decorate with photos but hope to buy some
accessories for the house so it becomes a home, this weekend.
So Wednesday was my 22nd birthday in Kenya! I
took Wednesday and Thursday off from teaching knowing that my friend Nash would
be staying with me. I met Nash in Kampala, Uganda on the IVHQ program when we
were at an orphanage. What was so cool about Nash coming for my birthday was
that he shares the same birthday as me! Although he’s a baby and only just
turned 19 :P. We kind of arranged this while in Uganda back in August 2013 but
finalised plans when I got to Nairobi. Nash had spent the last 6 months in
Uganda and had so many interesting things to share about his trip. 
Before the celebrations with friends in the evening the
Director and senior staff at Starehe found out it was my birthday and they
ordered a cake for me! This wasn’t just a cake, it was a big Passion fruit and
white chocolate sponge cake which I absolutely loved and could eat so much of!
It was such a nice surprise and so kind of them.
Nash arrived after the Nairobi Orchestra rehearsal had
finished and met us around 9.30pm at a nearby Ethiopian restaurant. I had never
had Ethiopian food but I soon learnt I was in for a treat! The Ethiopian
restaurant served amazing food at a ridiculously low price, accompanied by 2
glasses of wine and lovely company from fellow musos from the UK, Australia, US
and of course Kenya as well as Nash, made it such a great day! J Both Ellen and Nash
stayed at mine and we talked for hours and I swear it took those hours for the
cheap Kenyan wine to wear off!
The following day to further celebrate our birthday we
decided to go to City Park and chill with the monkeys! Ellen and I had already
done this back in 2012 but we went to a nicer side of the park and Nash
absolutely loved it, as did we. I have got some incredible photos of baby
monkeys. I’m definitely taking a trip there when I want to chill. Can you imagine
a park in the heart of the city with monkeys everywhere!? Love it! We bumped
into a crazy guy from South Sudan who wanted to show us his bullet wounds on
his legs and tell us about the problems with the Muslims and the Christians there..
It got too weird for us but we managed to escape, only in Nairobi do you get
hassled all the time! Nash only stayed 2 nights but it was great to share our
birthday and have a big catch up before he has a 2 week vacation at the beaches
and heads back to the US. 
Most days here I’m completely happy and everyone’s so nice
and friendly, but the missing home, family, friends, my cute dog Roxy .. never
goes away. Kenya has been SO hot until
today when the rain started and the freak thunder storm, considering it doesn’t
rain in February in Kenya, it’s been raining non-stop for hours!
Only now have I seen the inconvenience of an outside bathroom .. I have a 2 inch pool of water between the door to the house and the bathroom that I have to step in before I get there. If it doesn't stop raining the morning will be so much worse!! However, I am so grateful that I am in a good house with walls and a roof as the majority of housing across Eastern Africa are "mud huts" and during this awful rain would just soak everything on the inside, hence the diseases become rife.
Thank you for all the birthday messages. I had a great time.
22 is such an odd age .. That’s all for now .. Have a great weekend! Oh and Wales are going to have a great game against Ireland, I hope I can watch this one!
