Just Squint

If you squint your eyes and look at my life in Kenya you might not think too much of it.  My room looks like a room. I have Internet access.  I go to work in the morning.  I eat dinner with my hosts.  I went to the Anglican church on Sunday.  But as soon as you're not squinting anymore.... it's definitely Kenya, not America. 


As soon as I got off the plane my first thought was, oh gosh, I'm not walking straight into the airport, they are driving me there on a bus! And then when I did get in the airport I thought, oh gosh, I don't think there's air conditioning in this building.  And then at immigration I thought, oh gosh, there is nothing really stopping me from just walking though and not stopping.  I could keep this list going, but I think you get the idea.  Every second I was attacked with something new and crazy to me.  Like the traffic! Holy cow! So many people engage in what's called "overlapping." It's like passing, but you can drive on the sidewalk, the median, the other side of the road (who cares if a car is coming that direction), anywhere!  It's so funny! Not to mention that they drive on the left side of the road and cars have steering wheels on the right.  I don't like sitting in the front seat, because it makes me feel really uncomfortable.  


If you squint everything is similar enough for it to be recognizable, but then you open your eyes and it's not at all.  The mataus look like vans, but they are actually the public transportation and they are the worst drivers of all!  Chipatis look like tortillas, but they are fluffier and way more delicious.  Ugali looks like a mashed potato cake, but it tastes more like a mushy corn tortilla.  The prices all look very high (200 shillings for milk?!?!) but 100 shillings is only worth 1 dollar.  I can make international phone calls from my phone for 3 shillings a minute, so 3 minutes is still less than 1 penny.  Imagine that!  The trees look like trees and the birds look like birds, but this kind of wildlife I've only ever seen in zoos.  


Everything is so strange, but everyday it feels a little more normal and home-y.  When I walk to the mall (where the grocery store and phone company and everything is) I have to be careful of overlapping cars and avoid the curious stares.  I'm just going to say it, it's really strange to go from being the majority to being a minority.  Everyone looks at me like I'm from Mars or something.  Is that what it feels like for blacks in America?!?! I sure hope not, because it makes me feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. Maybe someday soon the people I walk past everyday will start recognizing me and STOP STARING! Or maybe it's me, with my crazy, amazed look on my face that I can't shake.  Because I'm not squinting! I'm taking it all in.