I Flew Around the World

When I was a kid, we'd often accompany an uncle to the airport as he jetsetted to work in different parts of the world. I was envious of the people (mostly junguz) lugging suitcases and backpacks ready to fly out. Who cares where they were going? It was an adventure. I'd listen wide-eyed as my Dad and Uncle would regale us with stories of life abroad. Little did I know that someday, I, too, would be one of those travellers....

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How do you know that you live in shagz?

When an answer to "Unaishi wapi?" results in: "You know K? Sawa, wakati unaelekea P, unapitia barabara ya kuenda R, halafu ukifika sokoni T unaingia ndani. Fuata barabara kwa kilomita nane na utafika C."
To keep it simple, I often shorten the answer to K, the main town where everybody goes shopping and to have some fun.

Change is unavoidable. Progress at home is invariably measured in terms of land and construction. It happens in the cities and extends to the villages. I was somewhat amazed at the structures that had mushroomed on a previously open field where cows grazed occasionally. I remember the days when we'd buy sweets at the main kiosk and eat chips and nyama fry at the main "hoteli." Now, there are a dozen. And that hoteli no longer exists:(

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Sidenote:***For anybody visiting Kenya for the first time, beware that the word 'hotel' is used rather liberally. It can describe a luxurious 5-star hotel, a dingy backstreet lodging above a bar, or a place to eat. On our drive home from Nairobi, I spotted the sign "Undugu Silent Hotel." It was one of those simple buildings with a mabati roof. Sure enough, all the windows were boarded up and there was no sign of life. So, do you think the guests are instructed to shut up as soon as they enter? I find so much humor in Kenyan life=)

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Familiarity is comforting. Walking into my bedroom and seeing the curtains and wall hangings just warmed me up. I enjoyed being in my parents' house that has a beautiful yard with trees, flowers, and a vegetable garden. I used to take it all for granted and never understood when visitors would rave about the beauty around us. I can see why my parents moved us there. I currently live in an apartment in a densely populated urban area so I appreciated all the space. I never used to get the idea of going to a park till I lived in this area.

I found it strange that some people thought I didn't understand Kiswahili well. Nobody can mistake me for a Tzian (although this actually happened one day) or someone from Coast; I don't speak sheng and wouldn't be able to write a prize-winning insha, but I do get by. Of course, I'd love to stay in either one of those places and be able to speak Swa with that rhythmic, melodic sound.

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Aviatophobia, aviophobia, or pteromerhanophobia are words used to describe the fear of flying (courtesy of wiki). Often, fear stems from the fact that you don't know what to expect. The first time I got on a plane, it was a domestic flight. I was very excited. I remember fumbling with the seatbelt before the kind gentleman next to me helped me snap it in place.

Domestic flights in the U.S. are relatively affordable, but there are still tons of Americans who've never been on a plane. There are always risks you have to take. On the last stretch of my flight back here, we delayed on the runway for over an hour while the engines were being checked out. Strangely, I wasn't anxious, just irritated. When I think about being in a plane crash, my first thought is about life insurance coz chances of surviving are slim. I'm not a morbid person, but I have preferences: I don't want to drown, die in a car, or have a chronic illness that will kill me painfully over many years. I have relatives who've died under suspicious circumstances that leave many questions unanswered. It's been said that the only certainties are death and taxes. I'll save my tax rant for another day (or night).