ad·ven·ture noun \əd-ˈven-chər\ Definition of ADVENTURE 1 a : an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks

"What we have here is a failure to communicate"

I've been thinking about communication in general. How important it is for understanding between people, no matter how basic. Maybe it's important BECAUSE it is basic. Some people are over-communicators. Maybe I fall into that category. Other people seem completely unaware that anyone else should know about anything that they are thinking or feeling. It is way beyond time for me to arrange a meeting and get everything out on the table. It's making me crazy that I haven't spoken up sooner and need to just be a big girl and get it over with already.

After planting a young Loquat tree in the morning I was able to "safari" to Nairobi via mutatu, which is rapidly losing whatever little charm it ever had, which is none really. Small tangent on the Loquat: "Medicinal Uses: The fruit is said to act as a sedative and is eaten to halt vomiting and thirst.

The flowers are regarded as having expectorant properties. An infusion of the leaves, or the dried, powdered leaves, may be taken to relieve diarrhea and depression and to counteract intoxication from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Leaf poultices are applied on swellings."


After a one hour drive and minimal traffic, I met up with my good friend Taylor from Santa Barbara and the photographer for the NGO that she works for: One by One http://www.fightfistula.org/. I had the most refreshing beer and we all chatted and joked and ate for a couple of hours.

When we said goodbye, my friend who had come with me from Thika agreed to walk with me to the main post office to try to collect a package that had come from home. I had already survived a totally pointless and confusing phone call from a Kenyan customs agent who claimed I somehow owed money for my package. Let me just say the experience at customs was totally demoralizing, illustrates the corruption in Africa that tempts me to say "to hell with working in a place like this", and forced me to cause a scene. $15 later I got my package after a 30 minute lecture from a man who told me that if I listened better I would understand. What a pompous loser. I wanted to tell him that if HE listened to HIMSELF he would be completely ashamed if he had any morals whatsoever- which he quite obviously did not.

Nairobi was much cleaner than I expected. Crossing 7 lanes of traffic on foot in between buses that were literally so close to one another I barely fit, was a little unnerving, but it seemed to be the way everyone crossed the street. So I made it a point to make really intense eye contact with the various drivers and hold up my arm in front of every vehicle.

I saw the site where Kenya gained its independence from Britain. Saw a lovely statue, some GIGANTIC hotels, many shops and crowded sidewalks. For 5 dollars total I found a pair of sandals and a pair of flats with lots of tiny holes in them which are all the rage among young Kenyan women at the moment.

The ride back took close to three hours and for those doing the math that is 2 hours longer than it took us to get there. I kid you not, there were several vendors on foot a midst the traffic. What they chose to sell sums up the degree of traffic better than I ever could. These guys were selling toilet paper and bottled water. Any traffic that calls for those items and you can be sure you won't be going anywhere for awhile.

Two uncomfortable, cramped matatu rides later and Ngatia and I were both climbing onto a taxi moto together. While holding my package from home and a bag of over ripe avocados from Taylor. The moto probably looked like an oreo cookie from the side and when I searched for my phone later at the house I found it in a pile of unintentionally made guacamole.