Nairobi

A few weeks ago we got an email with invitation to FK(Fredskorpset) Kenya network meeting in Nairobi. Even thoug a bit short notice the four of us managed to organize everything so that we could attend this meeting. And Iam really happy we did. We took the bus from Kisumu to Nairobi(Maria Louisa and Jenty from Siaya) and after about seven hours we reached Nairobi. We were trying to get a taxi driver to take us to the hotel and after bargaining to get a good price we were going to take the seats in the car. And we didnt really see the car before we had agreed with the driver. I dont know how old the car was, but at least much older than me and we were wondering if the car was still able to drive. After some discussions of going with this driver or not, we finally got into the car and we were supposed to leave. The driver turns on the engine and it is not starting, he tries again, and again and it is not starting. We ended up taking another taxi, and next time I think I will consider the car also before I make any agreements.

Seminar
The meeting was for current participants, previous participants and partner organizations for FK here in Kenya. And even the manager for FK in Norway and some of her colleagues was there to attend the meeting. We were working in groups, sharing experiences and also litening to different topics. I didnt even know that there was an organization in Kenya that were working with the participants and partners like this. We met so many people staying in Kenya like us attending different programmes, many who had been participants earlier in different countries earlier and different organizations. I think FK and the network in Kenya achieved their goal with the «network meeting», at least I got to know some people I will stay in touch with.

World cup qualification
Qualification to World Cup 2010 in South Africa was played in Nairobi when we were there. And being able to go and watch the match live at Kasarani stadium was amazing. We went with some local friends. We were waiting to get in to the stadium when we suddenly saw everyone running to the same place. It turned out to be Kenyas prime minister, Reila Odinga, who was arriving. I must say I was concerned about what was happening but it was just a welcome to the prime minister. In total there were around 36.000 people at the stadium. And even with so many people I managed, by a coincidence, to meet some American students that I met a few weeks ago. And on the seats in front of us there were sitting a group of other Norwegians. The world is really not so big!

Irritated
The trip to Nairobi was really nice and we had lots of fun, accept for one episode where my bag got stolen from a restaurant. Many people has been warning us about pick pockets and crime in Nairobi, but anyway I have to learn the hard way.... We went to the policestation to report it in the evening he was writing it down and told me to come back the day after. We went back the day after and then they said that the office dealing with this issues was closed in weekends so I had to come back next week. Luckily after some time he got convinced to at least help me with the police abstract when I was there. But even though he wrote the abstract he told me to come back on monday to pay a fee. Is it normal to pay fee to report a robbery to the police? I wanted the papers to be ok and went back on monday to the police station, and on the door to the office to pay it was written, «please come back tomorrow afternoon from two»....

Friends on visit :-)
Today Silje and Linn, two very good friends, from Norway came to Kenya and to visit me here in Kisumu. I am really looking forward to a great time with them here in Kenya :-).

Since my camera was in the bag that got stolen, I unfortunately dont have any photos from Nairobi. So I just found some other photos I have taken lately.

A man who works with sand
harvesting at lake Victoria

At the market

Bananas :-)