Friday, July 13, 2007

Landing Notice

I've been ordained as the scribe for this post. Our team has now landed and assembled in Nairobi, Kenya. On the first night, we were welcomed by the hospitality of Qaisara's family. Their graciousness was overwhelming, and we fondly recalled the 3 canine members of their family: Cocoa, Tequila, and Brandy. To ensure that our stay was memorable, Brandy even took the trouble to pee on Brent's lap. The next day, after again thanking Qaisara and family for their wonderfulness, and after I had told them a splendid joke, we relocated to the LMS Guest House, where we'll be staying for the entirety of this project. Our cab driver is a worthy gentleman named Mengo, who is a friend of Qaisara's mother, Judy. Our cab ride from the airport to Qaisara's abode was $1,300 Ksh (about $25 CAD), and to the LMS Guest House was $600 Ksh (about $10 CAD); we are recording this as a future reference point from which to parley. Once we've settled into our lodging and unpacked, we felt daring and decided to walk to the downtown district for some grocery shopping. To our discomfort, we must also record that to be a pedestrian is to be in peril; the roads are bad, and drivers here have little regard for traffic lights. We went to a supermarket called Nakumatt. It's interesting to find that a regular box of Kelloggs' cereals costs 650 ksh (about $12 CAD), while the local brand equivalent was 1/3 of that price. On the other hand, a local brand 5L jug of spring water was more expensive than for a 5L of Dasani water! Our team must investigate this pricing mystery later. We ended our day with a team meeting and dinner at a pleasant Ethiopian restaurant. But being vigilant, I noticed two fat horseflies infiltrating the vicinity. For the safety of the team, therefore, I had to call for a strategic retreat. It is late evening, and the air has turned cold and unfriendly. So, dear reader, I leave you now for my happy place: the bed.

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