Field Trip: Day One -- Part Two

Now that you've had a few hours for the "Oh, wow. I'm really in Africa." culture shock to start settling in... we're going to culture shock you again.

It's time to hop back in the taxi and drive to Eastleigh, where we'll pick up the bus to North Eastern Province. You'll know when we start getting close, because things will start to look more like the middle east than anything you probably ever imagined this part of Africa to be. The streets down here are swarming with people. Long flowing veils cover all but the hands, feet, and faces of most women, and even many of the men are covered neck to ankles in the long white or cream colored conzuls.

When we get out of the car and head into the bus stage, you'll notice that the language sounds different, almost harsh and angry compared to the softer sounds of Swahili. It is Somali, the mother tounge of almost everyone here, and you'll be running into it a lot until you get back to Nairobi.

Luckily for us, most people speak Swahili as well. Somali is NOT easy to learn. Lol.

Just to confuse your jet lagged self even farther, once we get out of Eastleigh, the first several hours of the trip are through downcountry Kenya.

Coffee and pinapple plantations are everywhere, so soak up the scenary. This is your chance to experience a little of the Africa that you've seen in movies, lush, green, mud houses that stand out in redish brown contrast to the plants around them and well organized villages.

As we go, the landscape will get drier and more desolate, and the villages will shift to clusters of low, round huts, thatched or covered with pieces of bright cloth or plastic, easily moved when the herds need new grazing, almost always tucked away within sight of a large water hole.

Herds of camels are still visible at dusk, even though most other wildlife is starting to disapear back into the bush.

By the time we get in at 7:00 or 8:00 pm, night will have fallen, so you'll get your first glimpse of my current home in the morning.