Everybody has their own preconceived notions about Africa. When I thought of Kenya, I always pictured elephants, giraffes, and a blazing sun over the Savannah.
Left: Rothschild Giraffe Sanctuary, Nairobi
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: Elephant Orphanage
Two out of three isn’t so bad. While I’ve met the baby elephants and had a giraffe eating out of the palm of my hand, the weather was not exactly as I had expected. I’ve recently come to learn that May is ‘rainy season’ in Kenya.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology: Staff Quarters (aka my castle and moat)
The wet ghost-looking creature on the left is me – wearing a pvc poncho and wading bare foot through knee-deep muddy water on the main road that runs through the University. When it rains (and it rains often), we experience rolling power-outages and flooded restrooms.
My advice to future interns: embrace it. My colleagues will tell you that you can buy a pair of rubber boots just outside the campus for a mere 500KSh (approx. 5 USD). While I can see the merit of that solution, what I’ll say is that it’s been three weeks and I have yet to buy a pair. Nostalgia is a powerful thing; embrace your inner child and go for a splash in the (admittedly enormous) puddles. Moreover, enjoy the candlelit dinners and your soon-to-be muscular forearms (due to the hand-crank battery packs)!
Your experience is what you make of it and if you’re not afraid of a little water, you’ll have a blast!