Jambo Marafiki!
I know that's a pretty typical start to any Peace Corps Kenya blog because we've just started learning Kiswahili, but it is pretty cool to be able to speak the native language here when Kenyans don't expect it :) I guess I'll start from the beginning for those reading this who I haven't sent a personal message to already about the first few days. Right now it is about 9:45 in Nairobi on Thursday, June 7, so we have been at the training center for just about 24 hours. We arrived yesterday and had dinner then pretty much went straight to bed. The place we are staying at is way nicer than I expected, it has very tight security and each volunteer has their own room (with the exception of couples, who get to room together) as well as running water (including hot showers) and electricity! We even managed to find a few wifi spots, though not in our rooms so we are all sitting out in the front hallway of the hostel like sad little technology starved Americans... hahah. What's funnier is we originally found it out in the middle of the road that goes through the compound so for like an hour this afternoon there was a group of us just standing in the middle of the road with our phones sending messages to our family because we hadn't been able to since we arrived. Anyway, we started training today, and they briefed us on security issues as well as our schedule for the rest of the week. We will be here until Saturday, when we will travel to Loitokitok (Loy-toke-y-toke) to meet our host families and really start our training. Tomorrow we will have the chance to go to a shopping center, so I am going to try and buy a Sim card which will make my service on my phone muccchhh cheaper. I don't have much time right now, but in time I'll write some posts that include some tips for any Peace Corps hopefuls. At the present I am very happy with what I've packed, I think I have a good amount of clothes (and let me tell you, it is winter here right now so at the beginning and end of the day even in long sleeves and a long skirt I'm chilly), and I think it was a good idea to wait and have my family send me a bike helmet instead of packing one with me, which from what I heard from the other volunteers was a pain in the ass. Everyone we have met is soooo friendly, just like Uganda. I am not at all disappointed with my decision. The only thing I miss is my family, my best friends, my dog, and my ever wonderful boyfriend (<-- who I will see again in 162 days! He keeps me sane, don't judge me).
Here is my address for the wonderful people that will actually send me things! From what I hear for packages, flat rate boxes are international rates so they are cheapest, but I don't think letters are very expensive to send. I know they aren't expensive for me to send so if you'd like a letter let me know, I'll have plenty of time to write :) If you do send a package though send it asap because it is duty free for me in the first 90 days here and it takes a couple weeks to arrive so it's never too early :)
Rachel Wilson
c/o Peace Corps Kenya
PO Box 698-00621
Village Market, Nairobi, Kenya
Goodnight for now,
Rachel
