4th Srp, 2009

First news in English

Hey guys, this is gonna be first post in English, I hope there will be more of them, but I can’t promise anything. Let’s start with small evaluation of my first days in Kenya and my way to Africa of course as well :-p.
One the beginning I should explain, why I am in Nairobi/Kenya/Africa. I am here on 3 months GLEN internship (GLEN=Global Education Network of Young Europeans – more on www.glen-europe.org). I am here with Sophia, my German colleague and our project is called Asset Mapping of Nairobi informal settlement – whatever it means :-)
I can say it has been a hard journey to get here. By here I mean a place where I live now, with Sophia. We live in Kush´s place. Kush is a guy, our task manager and also the one. In my first 8 hours in Nairobi I was robbed, twice :-( , it was all soo strange, but I actually didn’t realize anything. Nairobi is sometimes also called “Nairobbery”, so you can imagine where the name comes from :-) .I came to the airport, where Kush was supposed to wait for me, I was looking for a sign with my name, and right almost immediately guy came to me, saying hi, we have been waiting for you, you are late, etc. (my flight was one hour delayed). I asked him, are you Kush? He answer, no, Kush can’t come, he is busy I am Patrick, his friend, I will take you to your place. So everything looked ok for me, he took me to his car and we went to the city. He apologized, that Kush didn’t come, but that he is busy and that I need to sleep first night in hotel, because Kush´s place is full till tomorrow, but he will pick me up in the morning. I was a bit confused, because I had a deal with Kush, but he also mentioned that his flat is full, so I just thought that all is ok. BTW: Kush thought I will day later, so he wasn’t at the airport at all.
They took me to the hotel, for 120 USD per night, I refused to pay, it was bloody expensive, so then we agreed on me paying 50 USD and him paying the rest (with condition, he will reimburse me, in the morning). It looked strange, but it was also 3 a.m. and I was tired, so I paid 50 USD and went to bed. We had a meeting at 9 a.m. in the lobby. Patrick didn’t appeared, so I called Kush, he thought I will come today in the evening, never heard about Patrick and hasn’t sent him for me to the airport.
Robbery No.1 – 50 USD for fucking hotel has been finished. So I took a taxi to Kush´s place and in taxi I realized that I don’t have my wallet (not much money inside (about 30 EUR), but all credit cards, ID card, insurance, etc.) all has been gone. I needed to call my bank soon, but I have no idea, where the wallet disappeared. Somewhere between Prague and Nairobi hotel… So I can it is mainly my mistake – being not careful enough and behaving as a stupid white tourist I guess. I should have been more careful, but at least I have my first experience…

Responses

Whatever jirka, being robbed in nairobbery twice on the first day makes me kind of thinking about security issues on glen internships :)

What phrase… super, excellent idea

I understand this question. Let’s discuss.

Thank you! I added this page to bookmark)) I think would be useful …

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