Monday, July 27, 2009

You know you’ve been in Kenya for a while when ….

Just thought I’d like to post something light, and just shed a bit of light on a few of the funny cultural differences I’ve experienced out here. 

… a family of four on a motorcycle doesn’t shock you anymore.

… bado, bas, and sawa (see Erin’s entry explaining Kiswahili vocabulary) become permanent fixtures of your vocabulary.

… Tuesdays and Thursdays become synonyms for no electricity.

… you start asking for seconds of the scalding hot tea on a 95 degree day.

… you’re surprised when you’re in a matatu that haven’t wired their horn to the high-beam flasher. 

… you wonder where the three inch wide spider that you’ve become used to sharing the bathroom has disappeared to.

… you start picking up Britishisms – oi, hallo, mum!

… detailed discussions of bowel movements with other PCVs becomes appropriate dinner conversation.

… you give up on trying to explain that WWF and WWE are totally fake.

… you start dreaming about washing machines.

… machetes are considered more as farming implements rather than something out of a Rambo movie.

… you understand and adjust to the hierarchy on the road – the right of the road belong to the biggest animal, person, or vehicle. 

My fellow PCVs – please feel free to add onto this list!  

UPDATE: Check out Nic's blog for a few great additions! Thanks, Nic! 

2 comments:

Nic Dominguez said...

I made a few additions to the list on my blog. Great post! http://nicdominguezpctrip.blogspot.com/2009/07/you-know-youve-been-in-kenya-for-while.html

Kate O. Breen said...

oh lord - i want to return to southeast Africa to experience them again..

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This blog consists of my personal thoughts and opinions. It does not in any way reflect the position of the United States Government or the Peace Corps.