29 Africa is BIG. (11132009)

There are a ton of differences between Kenya and Northern Africa and I am realizing that the differences I am seeing are probably even more than just what I see. I suppose it is good to have your world rocked every so often and while flying to Africa did it once, flying to another place in Africa did it again. Here are some differences that I have noted... and please know: this is just a few of many:

Language. Obviously, you’d think this... but it is pretty crazy to take a quick flight to another people speaking another language. In the States, we can drive to all surrounding states and everyone speaks English. Not the case here.

Currency. A few days ago, birr got me where I needed to go and now, it is shillings. And of course, the exchange rate is entirely different for both.

Flowers. Flowers are for sale everywhere. The land is so good for growing things that you can find small nurseries everywhere alongside the roads and on street corners, men stand holding huge, bouquets of freshly-picked flowers. If I lived here, I would definitely buy flowers often for my home... because they are beautiful and they are cheap. For just a couple hundred shillings (a couple USD), you can buy a couple dozen roses. I love fresh flowers.

Vendors. People are selling things on the roads whenever your car is stopped. They sell newspapers, toys, you name it. You can buy anything you want and you don’t even have to get out of your car.

Furniture. There are street stands on the sides of roads so that on some streets here, you can “window-shop” by just driving by. The furniture places are either open-front stores selling a lot of big huge comfy chairs and couches or places set up for people selling wooden masterpieces. (The couches are sometimes up on big stands since the ground is dirty and dusty.)

Color. In Northern Africa, the air was more dry and the views were browner than they are here. Here, there is more color from the more tropical climate. (I am closer to the equator here than I have ever been.) Lush, ripe and brightly-colored plants and flowers are EVERYWHERE.

Malls. I know I mentioned it already, but thought I would remind you: THERE ARE HUGE MALLS HERE. It is as if I walk through the door and travel space to the States when I walk in any of these huge establishments.

Hills. There are huge hills everywhere you go. What is amazing about this? LOTS of people ride their bikes up and down all of the hills!

And, here are a few observations that I have made about both places I have seen:

Banana trees. You can just be walking along and look up to see you are standing under a banana tree.

Corn. On street corners, you will see people with a little grill or charcoal stove of some sort roasting corn. They take corn, pull the husks off and roast it. Then, they will sell it to you for hardly nothing and if you want, they will smear chili powder with a lime on it. It sounds strange and it is. I got it once, though, for the experience. It was hard to chew and its taste was questionable. If I lived here, I may get used to it, but I couldn’t eat the whole thing this time.

Large loads. You know how you people are pictured in Africa carrying things on their heads? Well, that isn’t just a picture, but a reality. I have seen it all, I think. From baskets to water, they can carry anything. I saw a man carrying a long log (over 10 feet long) on his head and pointed him out to Eleanor. She saw him out of our car window and said: “That’s nothing. The other day, I saw a man carrying a CHURCH PEW on his head.”

Yep. I am definitely in Africa... and, of course, LOVING it.

Enjoy your cars with trunks back home,

Laura