Kibera - 2012

From the moment I arrived I knew I wasn't in Kansas let alone Ireland anymore :-) Still though the culture shock wasn't overwhelming. I did have a very real sense that I was "different", especially when I picked out amongst the crowd to be officially welcomed at church on the first day. But any trepidation quickly disappeared over the coming days, with everyone I met being so friendly: from my host family, the school staffs, and of course the kids; the stars of the whole experience :-) Of course things are basic in Kibera but you soon get used to things like using a bucket instead of a tap; no doors on the buses (mutatus); and no rice krispies. Nairobi city centre is always there if you really need some semblance of "normality" like traffic lights and restaurants with a formal layout. They still have Sky sports out in the slum though :-) Saying that the school is not in slum-slum, that's where the real culture shock is, so be warned. The school is rightly the focus of the trip and the teachers are doing a wonderful job there. The kids are great and there are some little geniuses out there. I just hope I did them justice and my stay left some small mark to improve things for them.