Equator Passing

We began our journey back to Nairobi this morning. Waiting for our driver to arrive we received a phone call that there was a puncture in one of the tires and would have to wait a while longer as he changed the flat. We had another hold up along the way when we stopped to get the punctured tire repaired. I think we sat in the auto shop parking lot for at least an hour. Back on the road, everyone wanted to stop and buy fresh produce along the way. We slowed down in an area and were swarmed by a crowd of about twenty women, each trying to sell their produce first. It was intimidating as most of the women were pressed up against the car all shouting different things in Swahili. When Joseph got out, I immediately locked my door. Lindar soon followed, and one of the women was pounding on my window and shouting at me. I had no idea what she was saying but I kept shaking my head no, hoping she would leave. The scenery of the valley below was quite picturesque. Therefore, I crawled over Lindar’s seat to snap a quick photograph. As I was buckling back up, Fabian was returning to the car. Realizing the woman was selling to a mzungu, she insisted on him paying for the bag everything came in. Being a mzungu always seems to have an extra price.

Our next stop was at the equator for me to take a picture. I can now say I have flown, driven, and walked over the equator! A vendor there tried to sell me an equator egg. The things these people come up with…

The rest of our trip consisted of my failed attempts at taking a nap mixed with some reading. Sleeping is so challenging when driving on the roads in Kenya. Potholes every few feet throw me out of my seat. Resting my head on the window never seems to be an option because with one bump my head collides with the solid glass. It’s the little things Americans take for granted, like paved roads, one isn’t grateful for until they experience life without.

I returned to icipe just in time to be welcomed back by all my new friends here. It was a great feeling to return. Being a Thursday, I knew Rafiell and his friends met up to run. After spending seven hours in the car a run was just what I needed. While sitting in the lobby waiting for the group, one of the security guards asked me if I was going running. I responded and she said, “Wow! You’re actually escaping the gates this time!” Funny how even the security guards have realized I never leave the gated area. I had no idea how far we were running or where to but I was eager to go. We began on a long road and when we passed by the Moi Stadium on our way back and I thought we were almost finished. I was wrong. We turned down a long road with a huge hill and ended up running around the big stadium. I think our run was about seven miles. It felt great! Kenyans are fast runners, however. I hope I didn’t slow them down too much. The air pollution never fails to get me and mixed with the dust, my lungs could definitely feel the effects when I returned. I came back to my room to find the power out; no different from Kakamega I suppose. As I go to sleep my only hope is that the bed bugs are gone for good.