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Mombasa, Kenya
4° 3' S 39° 40' E
Feb 12, 2007 05:52
Distance 442km

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Other entries in Mombasa

Finally in Mombasa

Text written in: English

I am starting my second full day in Mombasa.  It took longer to get here that planned.  My flight from London to Nairobi was delayed, so I missed my Nairobi to Mombasa connection.  Which was just as well, since I would have literally had to run outside with my luggage 2 (short) terminals to get to the domestic area for the next flight.  So after much pain, I got taken to a hotel (Pinari Hotel, brand new, very nice) with an older Indian couple.  Which was nice cause then I didn't have to take a cab by myself in dangerous Nairrobi!  Highlights was the fact I got to see 2 girrafes randomly walking around off the main street between the hotel and the airport! 

So that brings me to about 24hours ago, when I finally got on the Nairobi-Mombasa flight.  I got picked up by George (really nice) and got brought to the Madison hotel for orientation.  I met the other volunteers, who are all very nice.  They all range in ages 18-32.  Alice and Isiah are our coordinators, and the are super nice.  I was surprised to hear that what they do is also voluntary.  Alice is by day an accountant, Isiah is a software developer.  Everything the are doing to help show us around is on their own time.  So they gave us the standard info (which was pretty much common sense stuff) and took us to lunch at the Blue Room. 

Everything is relatively close around town, though we took the Matatus to lunch.  Matatus is like a minibus that is pretty cheap and has a standard fare depending on where its going.  The whole experience is VERY much like being in India.  I thought it was pretty interesting to see the reaction of the other volunteers to the driving, the roads, the noises, the poverty (what there was of it) and everything, and they are pretty shocked by it, especially the younger ones.  I felt like I was just not surprised by that kinda stuff.  Mombasa is alot like India.  In fact, its alot like Calcutta, except less crowded, and less garbage on the streets.  There are paved nicer streets in some areas, and there are hodge-podge dirt roads in other parts of the city.  Not to many straight streets, and random potholes.  Also the drivers are very bold and daring, much like the Autorickshaw drivers of Calcutta. 

So needless to say, I feel like its India, so it has not been a huge adjustment.  Its about 28 degrees + humidity (and ALOT of humidity).  I just got shown where I will be staying (its like an apartment, and there is one other volunteer there that I haven't met.  I just dropped my bag off there, and am back at the hotel (the 6 newbies stayed at the hotel the first night), then we go to the placement..so its pretty exciting!!  I can't wait to see the "kids" (and from what I hear, they will be 12-16.. and most likely taller than me! What I am gonna teach these guys??).  More details later.. 

 Oh, and yesterday we went to the beach the locals go to.. its called pirates beach.. beautiful and warm and just very nice in the heat.  We met some kids and played mock soccer and volleyball with them.. then went and had some drinks at a beach club that was playing socca/reggae music (Heaven!!).   The funny thing about the beach is that there are camels there for people to ride on.. weird.....

ok.. off to the first day of my placement..