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You are looking at Waithaka, a neighborhood in Nairobi, Kenya, where I spent my first few hours in the field with JRS. Today was the first day that I felt like I was back in Africa, or at least the Africa I remember from previous trips. Tin huts built close together with narrow muddy paths connecting the homes to the streets, kids smiling and pointing and saying "Mzungu!" I have read it means "someone who roams around aimlessly". Ouch. A cute little girl, perhaps about three years old was amazed to see a mzungu in her neighborhood. I wish I had my camera. Maybe next time I will make a plan to bring my camera rather than just go for random walks.
Darlene prepares to go to the Central African Republic for three days on Wednesday. Thankfully, she returns on Friday. It is a blessing to be able to share this time with my wife. I looked up photos of the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) because I know nothing about the place. Darlene has told me Bangui, C.A.R. is not the urban metropolis of Nairobi. I think what most demonstrates this is the fact that the embassy staff she is visiting have asked her to bring them chips and salsa. Wow.
I hope Darlene sends a postcard while there. Maybe it will be this one:
2 comments:
David,
Matt's sister lived in Kenya for a while and brought him back a shirt that says that. She said it means "white traveler" but also can have some slightly negative connotations. :(
Enjoy your wanderings
Hey Emily and Matt! I need to find a t-shirt like that and wear it to work. The negative connotation aspect is interesting. So far, I do not get the sense that it has been used towards me with any hostility, mostly curiosity. But who knows, that could change.
In other news, I've been teaching the Kenyans I work with the word "gringo" to give them something else to say.
Hope all is well!
David
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