Title: Alan in Keyna (
Kenya)
Status: Previous VSO
URL:
http://alaninkenya.org/
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So Long, and Thanks for All the Chapati - 14/Apr/2016 10:11 - 2944 days ago
A few months ago I walked into a kibanda — the makeshift, street-side eateries made of wood beams and aluminum panels ...
The Tragic Comedy That Is Nigeria - 25/Oct/2015 15:45 - 3116 days ago
Just cruising down the Ibadan–Lagos expressway at 120+ km/h when traffic from the other lane of the dual carriageway suddenly ...
Kiambethu Tea Farm - 13/Sep/2015 11:11 - 3158 days ago
There’s hardly a better way to spend a Saturday in Nairobi than touring a 100-year-old tea farm in Limuru. In a city with ...
You need to go to Istanbul - 11/Jul/2015 20:10 - 3222 days ago
If you like food, history, or architecture, you need to go to Istanbul. With the introduction of Turkey’s new e-Visa progr...
Seaweed farming in Zanzibar - 03/May/2015 10:44 - 3291 days ago
Last week I saw an article about fascinating satellite photos of seaweed farms in South Korea. These stunning photos are from th...
Doha by night - 13/Apr/2015 05:07 - 3311 days ago
Another layover in Doha, Qatar, another visit to Souq Waqif! What more could you want than delicious food, new buildings made to...
The“most intelligent”city in Africa - 16/Feb/2015 15:18 - 3367 days ago
CNN reports on the news that Nairobi has been ranked, apparently for the second year in a row, as the “most intelligent...
A Bulgarian Christmas - 01/Jan/2015 11:48 - 3413 days ago
In my experience a Bulgarian Christmas is family, food, and snow — all in large portions. To be fair, minus the snow, that...
Five glorious November days in Zanzibar! - 10/Dec/2014 14:06 - 3435 days ago
I can’t shake the feeling that Zanzibar felt like a combination of Lamu — Kenya’s small island with winding st...
A Dusty Raisin - 04/Dec/2014 19:34 - 3441 days ago
Herta Müller’s The Hunger Angel is a strange, depressing, and fascinating look at post-World War II Europe. The narrative...
German Parliament is Hip! - 22/Nov/2014 20:16 - 3453 days ago
When you walk into the building complex in Berlin which comprises the German Parliament, you see modern architecture, art and hi...
Summer in Lebanon - 16/Aug/2014 19:49 - 3551 days ago
I had planned to go to for a hiking trip in Ethiopia, but alas, August is apparently not the best time to travel in Ethiopia! &#...
Summer in Lebanon - 16/Aug/2014 19:49 - 3551 days ago
I had planned to go to for a hiking trip in Ethiopia, but alas, August is apparently not the best time to travel in Ethiopia! &#...
Koremash Gorge in Ethiopia - 10/Jun/2014 17:26 - 3618 days ago
I was in Addis Ababa for work last week, and in addition to drinking coffee, eating shiro, and hacking on DSpace, I managed to g...
Koremash Gorge in Ethiopia - 10/Jun/2014 17:26 - 3618 days ago
I was in Addis Ababa for work last week, and in addition to drinking coffee, eating shiro, and hacking on DSpace, I managed to g...
If you hate someone in Kenya, send them a package - 20/May/2014 10:15 - 3639 days ago
A Kenyan friend told me that if you hate someone in Kenya, you should send them a package. That is, the Postal Corporation of Ke...
If you hate someone in Kenya, send them a package - 20/May/2014 10:15 - 3639 days ago
A Kenyan friend told me that if you hate someone in Kenya, you should send them a package. That is, the Postal Corporation of Ke...
Uganda on the not so cheap - 15/Jan/2014 20:23 - 3764 days ago
Ok, so this trip wasn’t as cheap as when we went to Tanzania a few months ago, but, to be fair, we really outdid ourselves...
Uganda on the not so cheap - 15/Jan/2014 20:23 - 3764 days ago
Ok, so this trip wasn’t as cheap as when we went to Tanzania a few months ago, but, to be fair, we really outdid ourselves...
Beautiful California - 23/Dec/2013 04:14 - 3787 days ago
It’s winter and it’s still beautiful here in San Diego, California. I wouldn’t get in the water, but sitting o...
Beautiful California - 23/Dec/2013 04:14 - 3787 days ago
It’s winter and it’s still beautiful here in San Diego, California. I wouldn’t get in the water, but sitting o...
Tanzania on a shoe string - 03/Nov/2013 17:03 - 3837 days ago
A few weeks ago we had a three-day weekend due to Mashujaa Day (Heroes’ Day), so my buddy and I decided to go to Tanzania ...
Tanzania on a shoe string - 03/Nov/2013 17:03 - 3837 days ago
A few weeks ago we had a three-day weekend due to Mashujaa Day (Heroes’ Day), so my buddy and I decided to go to Tanzania ...
Baking Bread Like a BOSS - 12/Sep/2013 20:24 - 3889 days ago
A year or two ago I learned that making bread is really easy. Contrary to popular belief (if my friends are any indication of &#...
Baking Bread Like a BOSS - 12/Sep/2013 20:24 - 3889 days ago
A year or two ago I learned that making bread is really easy. Contrary to popular belief (if my friends are any indication of &#...
Reporting a Theft at the Nairobi Central Police Station - 30/Aug/2013 17:11 - 3902 days ago
Last weekend I had my phone (Nexus 4) stolen on a matatu in town; a City Hoppa bus on the Ngong Road - Nairobi route. It must ha...
Reporting a Theft at the Nairobi Central Police Station - 30/Aug/2013 17:11 - 3902 days ago
Last weekend I had my phone (Nexus 4) stolen on a matatu in town; a City Hoppa bus on the Ngong Road - Nairobi route. It must ha...
The Girl in the Picture - 25/Aug/2013 08:58 - 3907 days ago
I’m reading The Girl in the Picture by Denise Chong. In short, its about the life of the girl central to one of the most f...
The Girl in the Picture - 25/Aug/2013 08:58 - 3907 days ago
I’m reading The Girl in the Picture by Denise Chong. In short, its about the life of the girl central to one of the most f...
One day in Doha - 05/Aug/2013 20:06 - 3927 days ago
A few hours before my flight back to Nairobi, I looked at my itinerary and realized I was scheduled for a 21-hour layover in Doh...
One day in Doha - 05/Aug/2013 20:06 - 3927 days ago
A few hours before my flight back to Nairobi, I looked at my itinerary and realized I was scheduled for a 21-hour layover in Doh...
Thailand in a nut shell - 04/Aug/2013 12:06 - 3928 days ago
I’ve just spent eight days wandering around Thailand. I did my best to take notes about things I saw, places I went and my...
Thailand, Day 7 - 31/Jul/2013 00:52 - 3932 days ago
I’ve been jotting down notes on my phone as I walk around Thailand. I don’t have time to write long posts, so here’s a lis...
Thailand, Day 6 - 30/Jul/2013 14:32 - 3933 days ago
I’ve been jotting down notes on my phone as I walk around Thailand. I don’t have time to write long posts, so here’s a lis...
Thailand, Day 5 - 29/Jul/2013 12:25 - 3934 days ago
I’ve been jotting down notes on my phone as I walk around Thailand. I don’t have time to write long posts, so here’s a lis...
Thailand, Day 4 - 28/Jul/2013 05:47 - 3935 days ago
I’ve been jotting down notes on my phone as I walk around Thailand. I don’t have time to write long posts, so here’s a lis...
Thailand, Day 3 - 27/Jul/2013 10:14 - 3936 days ago
I’ve been jotting down notes on my phone as I walk around Thailand. I don’t have time to write long posts, so here’s a lis...
Thailand, Day 2 - 26/Jul/2013 10:09 - 3937 days ago
I’ve been jotting down notes on my phone as I walk around Thailand. I don’t have time to write long posts, so here’s a lis...
Thailand, Day 1 - 26/Jul/2013 07:55 - 3937 days ago
I’ve been jotting down notes on my phone as I walk around Thailand. I don’t have time to write long posts, so here&#...
Thailand, Day 1 - 25/Jul/2013 14:26 - 3938 days ago
I’ve been jotting down notes on my phone as I walk around Thailand. I don’t have time to write long posts, so here&#...
The Colosseum - 16/Apr/2013 21:23 - 4038 days ago
While in Italy for a workshop I spent a few hours in Rome. The weather was beautiful and I managed to see some of the famous, ol...
Alan opts out of TSA scan at Portland PDX - 29/Dec/2012 20:35 - 4146 days ago
Note: originally posted on mjanja.co.ke! Posted here for exposure and posterity. I flew from Portland (PDX) - San Diego (SAN) th...
Real bananas - 09/Sep/2012 13:05 - 4257 days ago
I only buy real bananas. I can’t vouch for the legitimacy of my apples, though…...
Zürich isn’t a flashy town - 06/Aug/2012 08:24 - 4291 days ago
I’ve been in Switzerland visiting Cassandra (she’s finishing her PhD, and has been away from Kenya for a few months)...
Stretch Land Rover Limo - 01/Jul/2012 12:05 - 4327 days ago
I saw this yesterday when I was walking around Ngong Road, a stretch Land Rover limousine: Besides the fact that this is ridicul...
Graffiti in downtown Nairobi - 08/Jun/2012 14:30 - 4350 days ago
My buddy was walking around downtown Nairobi and snapped this picture of some political graffiti. I think this pretty accurately...
Lost in translation? - 26/May/2012 21:36 - 4363 days ago
I saw this when I was walking around Ngong Road today: Ummm… lost in translation, perhaps? Or did I stumble upon some stra...
“Tasty as free range”eggs - 09/May/2012 19:29 - 4380 days ago
I bought some eggs at the grocery store the other day. I’m sure I must have bought these particular ones because I saw the...
Screwy bread - 05/Apr/2012 20:31 - 4414 days ago
Today I bought a “fruit cake” from a bakery down the road. It’s more like a loaf of bread than a cake, but any...
Corruption in our midst - 27/Mar/2012 19:26 - 4423 days ago
Today, while driving up Wayaki Way to work, I saw a matatu driver reach out his window and wedge a folded up 50-shilling note un...
Ankole cattle at the ILRI farm - 14/Mar/2012 19:23 - 4436 days ago
I walk past this paddock all the time, but today I noticed something special: Ankole cattle. This breed of cattle, native to Eas...
Drinking Coke in Addis Ababa - 28/Jan/2012 15:57 - 4482 days ago
I snapped this picture of a Coca Cola bottle last week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: I thought it was cool to see the famous brand n...
Clarens, South Africa: small town with a view - 15/Jan/2012 20:34 - 4495 days ago
I was in South Africa last week visiting Cassandra’s family. Because there’s only so much to do in Kimberley (yes, I...
All the 40 bobs… - 02/Jan/2012 16:25 - 4508 days ago
A few months ago I was given a forty-shilling coin as part of my change in the grocery store. Cassandra hadn’t seen one be...
Stay away from the Uthiru swing ride - 28/Dec/2011 12:34 - 4513 days ago
As I walked into work today I passed this monstrous metal contraption in the Uthiru roundabout. I’ve ridden (and enjoyed) ...
Nairobi’s favorite car - 10/Dec/2011 15:45 - 4531 days ago
A few months ago we bought a car, a pink Toyota Vitz. It’s not pretty, but the price was right and it gets the job done. C...
That time of the year - 25/Nov/2011 12:36 - 4546 days ago
It seems the city council’s efforts to introduce a proper drainage system to the junction of Church and Rhapta roads have ...
Fish are boring, we got turtles - 09/Nov/2011 14:59 - 4562 days ago
The pet store in the Westgate shopping mall sells terrapins (a small turtle species from Northern America). As we’ve had m...
Four years in Kenya - 26/Oct/2011 18:16 - 4576 days ago
Depending on how you count, today or yesterday marks four years since I’ve been in Kenya; I left the United States on Octo...
Kentucky Fried Chicken comes to Kenya - 14/Oct/2011 12:51 - 4588 days ago
For all the niceties we have in Kenya (especially in Nairobi), we lack the presence of large Western chain stores and restaurant...
Ice skating at Panari Sky Centre - 18/Sep/2011 14:47 - 4614 days ago
Cassandra, Bill, and I went ice skating this past weekend at the Panari Sky Centre‘s “Solar Ice Rink” (whateve...
Sugar shortages in Kenya - 11/Sep/2011 20:20 - 4621 days ago
There have been on and off shortages of sugar in Kenya for a month or two. I don’t buy sugar very often (how much do you r...
Private island for sale - 28/Aug/2011 15:24 - 4635 days ago
If you’re in the island-buying business you’re in luck: there’s a private island for sale in Lake Victoria, th...
Who wants a postcard? - 18/Aug/2011 20:36 - 4645 days ago
I was just sitting here thinking that I hadn’t sent a postcard to any friends or family since last year when I was in Mala...
Kenyan queue dynamics - 11/Aug/2011 18:40 - 4652 days ago
Kenyans have weird queue dynamics. First, I understand that the word “weird” is relative/subjective, but I hope it&#...
American food - 31/Jul/2011 23:05 - 4663 days ago
Kenyans always want to know what the staple food is in America. Maybe I’m not a typical American, but I always say that we...
Passion is contagious - 18/Jul/2011 18:55 - 4676 days ago
Anyone who knows me hata kidogo (even a little!) can tell you I love Linux. While it certainly is true, I’m stoked about o...
Saved by a bamba 50! - 15/Jul/2011 12:07 - 4679 days ago
I made it a habit a few months ago to always be carrying an unscratched Bamba 50. Lots of people thought it was hilarious, not u...
OMG brownies - 10/Jul/2011 18:15 - 4684 days ago
Cassandra’s out of town for the week so I’ve had the house all to myself. In addition to loud music and kernel hacki...
Black Supremacy - 05/Jul/2011 21:43 - 4689 days ago
There’s a DJ crew in Kenya called Supremacy Sounds. Their mix tapes are quite popular in matatus and clubs, and I’ve...
Standing order - 20/Jun/2011 21:17 - 4704 days ago
Sometimes it’s hard to come across things you’ve gotten used to having. For some items you can just find alternative...
FREE DOS! - 09/Jun/2011 21:36 - 4715 days ago
I was so lucky to see this advertisement today as I was walking down Wayaki Way after work. At first it was the “Core i3&#...
Why I like matatus - 27/May/2011 15:36 - 4728 days ago
Matatus are the primary form of transportation in Kenya. A “matatu” can be anything from a 14-seater Nissan minivan ...
Long finger nails - 07/May/2011 15:33 - 4748 days ago
What’s with Kenyan dudes and long finger nails? I first noticed it a few years ago on a high-school aged kid in Kitui. I w...
Fish are peculiar - 01/May/2011 19:59 - 4754 days ago
About a month ago Cassandra bought a fish tank and populated it with a few fish; a Plecostomus, four Platys, and a Siamese. What...
The common mwananchi - 22/Apr/2011 13:40 - 4763 days ago
Walking home from work the other day I passed very close to the road construction on Wayaki Way. The old, worn road had been gra...
Con men in Kenya - 10/Apr/2011 18:51 - 4775 days ago
Some guy called me last week and told me that he had accidentally sent me money on M-PESA, and could I please send it back. I to...
Kenyan con men take to the air waves! - 10/Apr/2011 18:51 - 4775 days ago
Some guy called me last week and told me that he had accidentally sent me money on M-PESA, and could I please send it back. I to...
Rolf’s Place - 03/Apr/2011 16:49 - 4782 days ago
We spent the night at Rolf’s Place, a beautiful getaway in Nairobi National Park. It’s situated on a cliff over some...
Umbrella season - 20/Mar/2011 15:16 - 4796 days ago
Something that boggles my mind is people getting caught in the rain without an umbrella. I’ve seen it a lot in the past we...
Used-car salesmen are all the same! - 15/Mar/2011 21:21 - 4801 days ago
Last weekend Cassandra and I spent a few hours at the Sunday Car Bazaar on Ngong Road; a big, dirt parking lot where there are t...
There’s a new doctor in town - 05/Mar/2011 21:21 - 4811 days ago
Move over, Nairobi-based traditional healers, there’s a new doctor in town! His name is Dr. Eturu and he’s come all ...
Foul play in Uthiru - 27/Feb/2011 16:29 - 4817 days ago
I’ve been working at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Kenya for about a year and a half now. The i...
The end of an era - 14/Feb/2011 17:58 - 4830 days ago
After three and a half years of personally hand washing my clothes in Kenya, I’ve finally broken down and bought a washing...
The Big Hole - 03/Feb/2011 15:24 - 4841 days ago
There’s a really big hole in Kimberley, South Africa. Aptly named “The Big Hole”, it is the largest hand-excav...
Baby elephants are flippin’cute - 18/Jan/2011 22:10 - 4857 days ago
My sister and I paid a visit to the elephant orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya. I guess it’s technically the “David Sheldr...
Wandering around Dar es Salaam - 04/Jan/2011 12:36 - 4871 days ago
We’re finally in Dar es Salaam and, despite the heat, we’re leaving no street unexplored! The road from Mbeya to Dar...
Eating mangoes in Dar - 04/Jan/2011 12:36 - 4871 days ago
We’re finally in Dar es Salaam and, despite the heat, we’re leaving no street unexplored! The road from Mbeya to Dar...
Malawi is beautiful - 29/Dec/2010 17:09 - 4877 days ago
Randi and I finally got out of Morogoro, and wow, Malawi is beautiful! Also, as it turns out, being stuck in Morogoro for a few ...
Stuck in Morogoro - 24/Dec/2010 08:16 - 4882 days ago
We set out from Nairobi on December 22nd at a breakneck pace (our sights are on Malawi, and we have two weeks to get there and b...
Music copyrights in Kenya - 12/Dec/2010 15:15 - 4894 days ago
Yesterday I happened speak with some representatives from the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) at an event promoting loca...
Rastafarianism is a religion - 04/Dec/2010 20:13 - 4902 days ago
If smoking weed, growing dreadlocks, and listening to Bob Marley sounds good to you, you just might be a Rastafarian! There̵...
They don’t sleep there anymore… - 17/Nov/2010 20:36 - 4919 days ago
The refugees who have been sleeping on my street have vanished. I came home a few days ago and was surprised to see all of their...
Beautiful Switzerland - 07/Nov/2010 14:26 - 4929 days ago
Last week I went to Switzerland to visit my girlfriend, who is doing some coursework there for her Ph.D. It was great to see her...
They do sleep there… - 27/Oct/2010 06:30 - 4940 days ago
So it turns out the refugees down the street are refugees and they do sleep there on the side of the road. Call me naïve, but i...
I believe in trees - 20/Oct/2010 22:06 - 4947 days ago
Something that comes up a lot in Kenya is the fact that I’m not a Christian. They’re mildly shocked until they dig d...
Ubuntu, mobile broadband in Kenya, and you! - 13/Oct/2010 21:49 - 4954 days ago
Using mobile broadband with Linux in Kenya just keeps getting easier and easier. The days of manually editing text files and dia...
Kenyan cops getting busted - 08/Oct/2010 20:54 - 4959 days ago
I’m not entirely sure whether this is hilarious, sad, or just ironic: last week a few cops got caught taking bribes from m...
Unlock your Huawei E160 - 29/Sep/2010 20:31 - 4968 days ago
I use a Safaricom-branded Huawei E160 USB modem to connect to the Internet over 3G from my apartment in Westlands. It works grea...
Hacking on Bioruby - 25/Sep/2010 20:05 - 4972 days ago
Last week the Regional Student Group of Eastern Africa brought fifteen biologists, bioinformaticians, and computer scientists to...
I hate shoes - 20/Sep/2010 19:08 - 4977 days ago
It was only recently that I realized I hate shoes. It’s probably something I’ve realized before, but I definitely ju...
Wanapiga matatu! - 06/Sep/2010 19:45 - 4991 days ago
Citizen journalism in action! I was in a matatu after work tonight and I found a hell of a commotion at Church Road and Wayaki W...
Kenyan Coke - 01/Sep/2010 17:48 - 4996 days ago
Kenyans drink a lot of Coca Cola. You can get Pepsi in the fancier stores if you really want it, but I don’t think many Ke...
Things I say on the streets of Nairobi - 22/Aug/2010 21:07 - 5006 days ago
Sometimes I’m amazed how much random stuff comes out of my mouth when I’m walking around Nairobi. I’m terrible...
Car troubles - 14/Aug/2010 09:16 - 5014 days ago
I had the good fortune to get hit head on in a friend’s car the other day. We were driving down Church Road, right around ...
Blast from the past - 31/Jul/2010 06:47 - 5028 days ago
How hilarious is this? I found these old badges of mine while looking through boxes in my mom’s garage: 2002 2005 2010 ...
Telling the truth - 28/Jul/2010 06:59 - 5031 days ago
It’s a terrible feeling to get caught in a lie. Today I told a small fib, then was glad I hadn’t flat out lied when ...
Pump your own gas! - 23/Jul/2010 01:32 - 5036 days ago
I’ve been visiting the USA for a few weeks now. Home is San Diego, California, but my twin sister Randi lives in Portland,...
San Diego safari - 13/Jul/2010 21:12 - 5046 days ago
I cracked up this morning when I heard on the news that San Diego Zoo’s “Wild Animal Park” is going to change ...
Surrounded by idiots - 13/Jul/2010 06:47 - 5046 days ago
Sometimes I feel like I’m surrounded by idiots. Today, as I was merging onto the freeway, some guy cut in front of me. Aft...
Celebrating the East African Community - 06/Jul/2010 14:07 - 5053 days ago
I saw this Swahili kanga on Google the other day, a celebration of the East African Community: Umoja ni nguvu, utengano ni udhai...
Avatar is way cool - 28/Jun/2010 20:33 - 5061 days ago
I’m watching Avatar. I know, I’m probably the only one in the world who hasn’t seen it yet. It’s a prett...
Mzungu! - 21/Jun/2010 21:00 - 5068 days ago
It’s something I’ve been battling with since I came to Kenya in 2007. This evening I was walking through Uthiru aft...
Cops get a free ride - 14/Jun/2010 19:54 - 5075 days ago
I can’t think of any reason why a police officer in Kenya should get a free ride in a matatu. As far as I know there̵...
New haggling tactic - 07/Jun/2010 19:00 - 5082 days ago
It’s well established that haggling is ridiculous. There’s nothing new on that front (and it still doesn’t ma...
Fifty three dollars - 30/May/2010 20:55 - 5090 days ago
The monthly rent for my two-bedroom flat in Westlands costs 45,000 Kenyan shillings (600 US dollars) per month. Taking into acc...
Sita Sings the Blues - 27/May/2010 21:17 - 5093 days ago
Has anyone seen the movie Sita Sings the Blues? It’s an animated full-length movie which has some interesting ideas behin...
Toast and peanut butter is still king! - 24/May/2010 20:05 - 5096 days ago
It’s easy, it’s healthy, and it’s delicious with a cup of tea or coffee. Another bonus is that you can eat it...
A crazy“thank you” - 17/May/2010 17:56 - 5103 days ago
Someone once told me that it was the hot Ukambani sun that made people wander aimlessly around the streets of Tala. It’s ...
Walking home in the rain - 10/May/2010 18:41 - 5110 days ago
You’d think knowing Kenya is in the midst of the long rains I’d carry my umbrella everywhere; alas, another day walk...
Aterere in Starwars - 07/May/2010 14:05 - 5113 days ago
Here’s a bit of funny trivia for you: what language is the funny co-pilot speaking in this Starwars clip?
WPFP(document)...
Things they don’t say in Kenya - 01/May/2010 19:42 - 5119 days ago
When I was preparing to come to Kenya in 2007 I bought a pocket guide to learn Swahili. I wasn’t too serious about practi...
RSG Seminar a Success - 19/Apr/2010 06:51 - 5131 days ago
Here’s a group photo from the Introduction to Linux seminar I gave last weekend.
The seminar was held at ILRI, Nairobi on...
Seminar: Introduction to Linux - 14/Apr/2010 14:48 - 5136 days ago
I’m giving a seminar on the Linux operating system at ILRI on Saturday, April 17th. The audience is around thirty aspirin...
Westlands: My Final Answer? - 08/Apr/2010 19:54 - 5142 days ago
I was in Tanzania for a few days over the Easter holiday. I always figure, living in Kenya, it’s the closest I can get to...
Mzungu Atalipa Mbao - 29/Mar/2010 17:55 - 5152 days ago
Something is seriously wrong in Kenya. I rarely have problems with people over charging me or being abusive to me, but lately I...
Gospel Is the New Crunk - 24/Mar/2010 20:34 - 5157 days ago
It’s really popular to be a gospel artist in Kenya these days; where you’d normally have heard gangster rap or crunk...
Mormons in Kenya - 20/Mar/2010 16:26 - 5161 days ago
There’s something with Mormons in Kenya that I haven’t quite figured out. I don’t know how big their followin...
I Don’t Say“Amen!” - 19/Mar/2010 05:26 - 5162 days ago
I was just riding the matatu to work when an mlevi (drunkard) got on the bus. As soon as he saw me he started shouting, “...
International Women’s Day - 08/Mar/2010 20:26 - 5173 days ago
Today was International Women’s Day and ILRI held a few events to honor women in science. In addition to listening to spe...
Just Pay The Man - 04/Mar/2010 20:20 - 5177 days ago
I took some time off work on Tuesday morning to get my electricity issues sorted out. I had planned on going all the way to Nai...
Cold Showers Aren’t So Bad - 01/Mar/2010 20:34 - 5180 days ago
And I always loved toast with peanut butter and honey. I forgot to pay my electricity bill on time and KPLC came and disconnect...
Steer Clear of Tibs Firfir! - 17/Feb/2010 19:15 - 5192 days ago
If you don’t like the sour Ethiopian bread injera, steer clear of Tibs Firfir! It’s number 50 on the menu at the Na...
Damn Good Coffee - 14/Feb/2010 15:34 - 5195 days ago
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and I can assure you they make a damn good cup of joe in Addis Ababa. The Ethiopians were ...
Chanting in a Dead Language - 11/Feb/2010 17:32 - 5198 days ago
There’s some Ethiopian Orthodox holiday going on right now. Nobody’s explained it to me, but most of my Ethiopian c...
Contains: Aqua - 08/Feb/2010 17:26 - 5201 days ago
I’ve been in Addis Ababa since this morning. The taxi picked me up at my house at 5:30 and I was in the ILRI Addis office...
I Think They Sleep There… - 27/Jan/2010 19:20 - 5213 days ago
The refugees on my street corner. I ain’t talking about The Fugees, I’m talkin’ about real ones, from Somalia...
Reflections - 22/Jan/2010 19:59 - 5218 days ago
It’s hard to believe that five months ago I was living in Tala, working as a VSO volunteer. Life was good then, simple; I...
The Joy of Cooking And the Semantics of Shopping - 13/Jan/2010 17:03 - 5227 days ago
Since I moved into my new house last week I’ve been exploring cooking again. It’s been a few months since I cooked ...
Jua Cali–Niimbie (Sing For Me) - 12/Jan/2010 11:22 - 5228 days ago
A great song by one of Kenya’s better-known artists, Jua Cali. I’m not sure why I never heard it until now because ...
The Safari Will Not Be Televised - 08/Jan/2010 09:35 - 5232 days ago
Randi and I are back from our East Africa safari but, other than the few pictures we uploaded along the way, we have nothing to ...
Watamu…Sweet People? - 02/Jan/2010 13:41 - 5238 days ago
We’ve reached Watamu! I’m not sure if that’s what it means, but in Swahili tamu means sweet, and the plural f...
Tumefika Mombasa Salama - 01/Jan/2010 07:13 - 5239 days ago
Tumefika salama lakini tumechoka, tumekuwa chafu, na hatujala all day! Dar Es Salaam ilikuwa poa kwasababu tulitembea kila mahal...
Longest. Bus ride. Ever. - 29/Dec/2009 07:15 - 5242 days ago
We’ve arrived in Dar Es Salaam. Dirty, hairy (my face), and with a little girl on our lap (Randi’s lap). Now that ...
Merry Moving Christmas - 24/Dec/2009 22:28 - 5247 days ago
A few Nairobi VSO volunteers got together to have a small Christmas thingy. Randi and I are, of course, a very entertaining duo...
Kuwa Mjuaji - 21/Dec/2009 19:51 - 5250 days ago
Randi has taken to the streets of Nairobi with vigor. From the moment she arrived she showed a prowess at navigating Nairobi...
Lake Naivasha - 18/Dec/2009 15:08 - 5253 days ago
Randi and I went to Lake Naivasha last night. This satisfied two items on our fake scavenger hunt: the Great Rift Valley and hi...
Tunachukua Mathree, And Other Lessons Learned - 17/Dec/2009 08:34 - 5254 days ago
I’ve got a new zinger for my Swahili street lingo arsenal: Tunachukua mathree! We’re taking a matatu! In Swahili t...
Amefika Salama - 12/Dec/2009 07:52 - 5259 days ago
Proof that Randi has arrived in Nairobi safely! Also spotted were Sammy, Laurain, and Tash. Watch this space for more!...
Yelling At Poor People - 07/Dec/2009 18:09 - 5264 days ago
Tactics for dealing with beggars range the ethical gamut. Certain kinds of people just fork over the cash at the first sight of...
New Tunes - 03/Dec/2009 18:31 - 5268 days ago
These are some new tunes. They’re new to me at least. I bet you’ve never heard ‘em until now but I wouldn...
The“Walkaway”Tactic - 29/Nov/2009 10:10 - 5272 days ago
I never liked using the “I’m gonna walk away” tactic when you’re haggling for prices. It seems so chees...
Gay Marriage in Kenya - 22/Nov/2009 18:24 - 5279 days ago
There was a big huzzah in Kenya a few weeks ago when pictures circulated of two Kenyan men in the UK getting married. I got th...
This Vehicle Is Driven Well - 18/Nov/2009 08:41 - 5283 days ago
According to the stickers on the window inside this matatu, not only is it driven well, it:
Does not carry excess passengers
Is...
Hakuna Hiatus - 16/Nov/2009 16:45 - 5285 days ago
I haven’t been on hiatus, I’ve been on holiday! Actually I’ve been working a lot, but I did make it across th...
A Thousand Words - 05/Nov/2009 19:58 - 5296 days ago
I’ve talked before about how surreal running around ILRI during my lunch break is. Two or three days a week we go jogging...
Marathon Pictures - 31/Oct/2009 09:23 - 5301 days ago
“Pictures or it didn’t happen!” Well it happened: I ran 10 km in the 2009 Nairobi Marathon, and here are the ...
Hair Cutting Time Again - 26/Oct/2009 18:05 - 5306 days ago
Getting a haircut in Kenya is a big deal. I figure in the two years I’ve been here I’ve gotten eight or so haircuts...
10 km Hakuna Shida - 25/Oct/2009 18:15 - 5307 days ago
I ran 10 km in the Nairobi Marathon, hakuna shida (no problem). It’s not far but I’m really tired! As I was waitin...
Two Years in Kenya - 24/Oct/2009 08:55 - 5308 days ago
It will be two years ago tomorrow that I moved to Kenya with Sara. After a few months living in Tala we were evacuated due to t...
The Tastiest Chapati in Kenya - 20/Oct/2009 18:33 - 5312 days ago
It’s been my observation over the last two years that you don’t go to a restaurant if you want to eat sweet chapati....
Nairobi Marathon - 15/Oct/2009 18:40 - 5317 days ago
The Nairobi Marathon is only ten days away. ILRI is sponsoring us, and I think we’ll represent them well; I saw a list go...
Niko Poa - 14/Oct/2009 18:30 - 5318 days ago
I am realizing there is a problem with my Swahili: it’s too cool. Niko juu tu sana (I’m just too high up). It̵...
The Boy Has Come - 09/Oct/2009 18:56 - 5323 days ago
No, not Jesus (but he is still coming), I’m talking about el niño! It’s all anyone’s talking about right now...
California Is Famous - 06/Oct/2009 18:31 - 5326 days ago
I’ve come to the realization that California is famous. I don’t think I need to qualify that statement, but let me ...
My Roommate Is Funny - 29/Sep/2009 20:52 - 5333 days ago
Here are the five computers in my roommate’s office. Each one of them has the dude from 1984’s face on it.
My ro...
He’s Still Coming - 27/Sep/2009 14:54 - 5335 days ago
Yesu yu aja (”Jesus is coming”). Wacko alert! Yes, they do exist outside of Texas! I think this guy parks his min...
Pictures from my house - 23/Sep/2009 19:16 - 5339 days ago
I posted some pictures of the inside of my house last month when I moved in, but I know you guys are wondering what the apartmen...
Kenyan Crunk - 21/Sep/2009 09:14 - 5341 days ago
Living in Kenya is hilarious; I’ve learned more about rap during my last two years living in Kenya than when I lived in th...
A Californian Kenyan DJ? - 19/Sep/2009 09:32 - 5343 days ago
ILRI apparently has an international “theme night” once a month (music, food, dancing, socializing, etc). This mont...
Running Club Day 3 - 11/Sep/2009 20:09 - 5351 days ago
Today was day three of the running club and I am still alive (but not completely well). All this running has made the bottoms o...
What I’ve Been Listening To - 07/Sep/2009 15:23 - 5355 days ago
You can always see what I’ve been listening to on Last.fm (my music player logs everything there), but sometimes I am surp...
Running Club Day 1: Sijakufa bado! - 04/Sep/2009 17:07 - 5358 days ago
I haven’t died yet! Today was the first day of the running club at work. I feel great, but the run was really hard. I h...
The Running Club - 03/Sep/2009 19:15 - 5359 days ago
Tomorrow is my first day in the running club at my new job. I joined the coffee club last month, but this month I stepped it up...
Work is good - 31/Aug/2009 19:44 - 5362 days ago
I’ve been at my new job for almost a month. I’ve been pretty busy and the work is challenging. I’m a consult...
Nilihesabiwa! - 26/Aug/2009 21:06 - 5367 days ago
“I was counted,” because Kenya is in the middle of counting Kenyans. The census, which apparently happens every dec...
Electric fences need…electricity? - 23/Aug/2009 19:22 - 5370 days ago
Less-than-average rains this past year mean Kenya’s hydro-electric dam at Masinga is bone dry, forcing the government to s...
No, I don’t want a f*cking taxi - 22/Aug/2009 14:53 - 5371 days ago
I don’t want to go see the lions in Masai Mara. And while we’re at it, no, you can’t shine my sandals. IR...
White people in Nairobi - 16/Aug/2009 18:30 - 5377 days ago
It’s one thing to be white living in a rural area, but it’s another thing to be white and live in a rich suburb of N...
Alan the tribalist - 11/Aug/2009 19:02 - 5382 days ago
Tribalism is a touchy subject in Kenya; I don’t even think it’s politically correct to use the word “tribeR...
Music in Uthiru - 09/Aug/2009 18:27 - 5384 days ago
About two weeks ago I moved to Nairobi to start my new job. I live in Nairobi’s Westlands suburb but I commute daily abou...
My furry new friends - 05/Aug/2009 20:25 - 5388 days ago
No, scorpions are not furry. Neither are snakes. I guess some spiders are, but now I’m bringing back too many memories f...
Matatu creativity - 02/Aug/2009 16:56 - 5391 days ago
Matatus are the main mode of public transport in Kenya. They’re decorated inside and out with pictures, TVs, satellites, ...
My new pad - 31/Jul/2009 19:53 - 5393 days ago
I’m finally settled in Nairobi. Last night was the first night sleeping in my new place. I’m now located in Westla...
Hii ngoma ni noma - 27/Jul/2009 18:54 - 5397 days ago
Kenya is like a music factory, and it’s not just quantity: there is a diverse range of quality music in this country! Gos...
I got a new job… - 24/Jul/2009 20:07 - 5400 days ago
My two years as a VSO volunteer are coming to an end: I’ve accepted a position as a Linux system administrator with a Keny...
Giving Back - 22/Jul/2009 08:34 - 5402 days ago
For the past year and a half I’ve been working as a teacher at Holy Rosary College in Tala, Kenya. It has been a great ex...
Rice milk is delicious! - 19/Jul/2009 18:26 - 5405 days ago
I know I haven’t written about cooking recently, but tonight I discovered something delicious and comforting from my past:...
Other VSO bloggers - 16/Jul/2009 20:12 - 5408 days ago
I just noticed a new VSO blog aggregator, VSO Journals. It’s not an official VSO venture, though word has it they’r...
Tala Cracks Me Up - 14/Jul/2009 20:19 - 5410 days ago
One of my buddies works in a photo studio in Tala’s market. I hang out there after work sometimes and all sorts of people...
Being White In Tala - 11/Jul/2009 08:56 - 5413 days ago
Being white in Nairobi is mostly harmless and can be pretty funny, but being white in Tala is annoying. There are a few things ...
Welcome To My World (Part 2) - 08/Jul/2009 20:47 - 5416 days ago
I posted a few days ago about my life in Tala. The main purpose of that was to get some pictures of my surroundings up online, ...
Welcome To My World - 05/Jul/2009 21:03 - 5419 days ago
Few of you have any clue how I live. Other than the “for just a fifty cents a day, you can sponsor…” commerci...
Being White in Nairobi - 04/Jul/2009 18:59 - 5420 days ago
Funny things happen when you’re white and you walk around Nairobi. Here’s a few things I’ve noticed:
Every c...
More Music From East Africa… - 28/Jun/2009 18:25 - 5426 days ago
I’ve posted about music in Kenya several times… There’s a lot of talent in Kenya, guys! East Africa in genera...
Lethal Dose of Valium For Dogs - 28/Jun/2009 09:17 - 5426 days ago
Spam on the Internet is a reality. It’s all automated these days; computers crawl the net looking for places to post thei...
The King of Tala’s Market - 25/Jun/2009 20:28 - 5429 days ago
This goat is the king of Tala’s market (or at least he walks around like he owns the place). I’m not sure how old i...
The Crappy Tala-Kangundo Road - 22/Jun/2009 04:13 - 5432 days ago
The Tala-Kangundo highway from Nairobi is terrible. It seems as if the road is in a constant state of decline. I find myself o...
Lawn Mowing in Kenya - 11/Jun/2009 19:53 - 5443 days ago
First, there is no such thing as “lawn mowing” in Kenya (gotcha!). Second, unless you’re the the President of...
Scorpion! - 07/Jun/2009 21:29 - 5447 days ago
I posted back in April how the rains had come, and that I expected to get a lot of new friends in the house because of it. Well...
Jesus Christ Is Coming… - 03/Jun/2009 19:42 - 5451 days ago
So look busy! Errr, get ready for the end of the world! I saw this message on the back of a car while walking down Moi Avenue ...
Crazy People Are Crazy - 01/Jun/2009 19:23 - 5453 days ago
Today was a holiday, Madaraka Day, so I didn’t have to work. I spent the morning and the better part of the afternoon lis...
Job Hunting… - 29/May/2009 19:00 - 5456 days ago
The college where I work runs a small Internet café, and people from Tala and the surrounding areas come to browse the net. I ...
FFmpeg, Linux, 3gp, Nokia, and you! - 27/May/2009 16:51 - 5458 days ago
If you have a relatively-new Nokia phone it should be able to play videos, which is totally sweet. Any video that you can play ...
Mimi si mtalii… - 21/Nov/2007 11:17 - 6011 days ago
… has become a favorite phrase of ours. For those of you who don’t know Kiswahili, the literal translation is, ̶...
Living in Tala…so far. - 10/Nov/2007 13:16 - 6022 days ago
Karibu sana to Kenya! That is, “Welcome very much to Kenya!” We’ve arrived and all is well; the in-country ...
Kenya here we come! - 25/Oct/2007 05:55 - 6038 days ago
It is finally time to meander over to Kenya! We have waited so long to learn the mysteries of this vast continent, and soon we ...
The girl who cried Kenya - 03/Oct/2007 03:55 - 6060 days ago
Day 2000 of doing absolutely nothing. Well, it hasn’t exactly been 2000 days and we haven’t exactly been doing nothi...
Sara is a dietitian! - 24/Aug/2007 07:09 - 6100 days ago
As many of you know, I had been studying to take the Registered Dietitian exam. Well, no more! I am officially a dietitian and I...
Alan and Sara aren’t leaving for Kenya…yet - 09/Aug/2007 04:26 - 6115 days ago
As we previously thought, we were leaving for Kenya on September 3rd. However, the date has been pushed back. Oh well, we’...
Sara’s Graduation - 23/Jun/2007 00:15 - 6162 days ago
After nine long months in Santa Barbara, I finally graduated from the dietetic internship. A dietetic internship is a postgradu...
Suggested reading? - 13/Jun/2007 00:14 - 6172 days ago
In preparation for moving to Kenya I’ve started brainstorming a list of books to bring with me. Great idea, Alan, but eve...
Alan Graduated! - 24/May/2007 03:08 - 6192 days ago
In a major milestone towards Alan and Sara moving to Kenya, Alan graduated this past weekend! Bachelor of Science in Computer In...
Camping in Deer Creek - 14/May/2007 18:30 - 6202 days ago
It’s not Kenya, but it’s beautiful! Abdel Monaim and I went over to Deer Creek, about forty miles out of Chico on Hi...
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