Find Myself a City to Live In « Jess Fanzo’s Blog of Photos and other Adversaria

We have been in Nairobi for three weeks and New York already feels like a distant memory to me. Strange feeling to have lived in Gotham for 8 years and at times, wasn’t sure if I would capable of leaving it. Although is one of the larger cities in Africa, I feel like my lifestyle has completely changed.

Most days, I don’t leave the Runda/Gigiri area, because I am living and working near the UN area. Each day I wake up, Derek drives me in Pedro and Cheryl’s pink hippo car to the UN gym, I work out then walk right next door to The World Agroforestry Centre, work all day pretty intensely and then Derek picks me up before dark, around 5:30. From there, internet access at home is sketchy so we usually enjoy a nice home cooked meal, do some reading and relax. I think we will spend more time outside once the weather is warmer. Because it is the cold season for Nairobi, nights are cold.

Many nights we stop at the Village Market in Runda. All around our hood and close by hoods like Westlands, Parklands, etc, there are “malls” which have a big Nakumatt (like a Walmart but also a grocery store), shops, Safaricom (the cell guys), and restaurants. Everyone seems to hang out at these, as they are safe places, but it reminds me a bit of Phoenix where everyone goes out to eat in malls. Strange departure from NY in which malls have always failed.

We live in a guest house behind a very large house in the neighborhood of Runda. It is about 4 km from the UN complex. There is a caretaker, who never leaves the “compound.” If we want to leave, he has to unlock the gate and let us out. Even if we want to go on a bike ride. At 6 pm, the night guard takes over, and guards the property until 6 am. This sort of living is strange and difficult to get used to.

Our landlord has a house dog who has some sort of skin rash on his nose and eyes. He is also deaf. At night, the nightguard let’s out the “guard dogs” that are cooped up all day. Two are labs and the other two are rottweiler/doberman mix dogs. They smell and are not the most friendly…

I have walked and biked to work but it takes a long time. Every morning and night there are streams of predominantly if not all Kenyans walking to and from work. I assume most work in the neighborhood as maids or caretakers or security, or are walking from the nearby small slum that sits right outside Runda. Everyone driving are expats, Indians, wealthy Kenyans. The disparities are so in your face here.

Before we left NY, people kept asking me what I would miss the most about NY. I would always say it is difficult to answer until you miss it. Well, I don’t miss much with the exception of one thing. Freedom. Freedom to walk around. Freedom to not be stared at. Freedom to leave work when I want. Freedom of feeling safe. I think most take advantage of that in the United States, particularly in places like New York City, which is so safe. At least now.

Derek has been blogging about our adventures but below are some photos of all the hood, work, and all things Gigiri and Runda.