Culture shock is wearing me down..

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6/27/09:

Well after a calm and uneventful evening, those of us that didn't go on safari roused ourselves around 9 for some breakfast. Our plan for the day was to walk around exploring. That didn't exactly go as plan.

Some of us headed out and the usual haggling while walking began. Today however, I was approached by a young boy, absolutely filthy and in filthy clothing, toting a puppy. And I mean a puppy puppy, like 8 weeks old, fits in the palm of your hand puppy. He kept pushing it in our faces or placing it on the sidewalk and it would sit there looking up at everyone in complete misery. He tried to give it to me and I said "Happana, you need to take care of that puppy" and he goes "30,000 shillings." I got so sad both for the dog and the boy...chances are the boy won't have enough food or money for himself, let alone caring for a puppy. I felt bad for the puppy because chances are it won't make it very long. It was a poor start to the afternoon. We then took a turn into a market, which turned out to have only food (which we're told isn't safe to eat) and there were thousands of people and it was so hot and smelly and there was garbage everywhere. We left and headed to another market, along the way picking up several men who were trying to selling us things. They stayed with us for like 45 minutes even though we all said "no we're not buying anything."

So we go into this other market that had some other shops and some girls were looking at fabric so we started off in another direction..I turned to the right, only to see bloodied meat in a butcher "shop" (shack). So I turn to the left but someone goes, "No Mackenzie, there's a bunch of meat don't go over there" so I turn around, and there's yet another station for rotting animal flesh. I looked at my friend Emily and I was like "I have to go, I'm going to be sick." So I start walking back to the entrance of the market and as luck would have it, I get stuck between two carts and a truck. A man opens the door to the truck and emerges with two bloody animal carcasses that I had to do a matrix style duck to avoid. I started crying and dry heaving and this dude is STILL FOLLOWING ME and asking for money!! I was like I'M GOING TO PUKE ON YOU LEAVE ME ALONE and he starts laughing at me!

Needless to say, I left the market with a few girls. We were quite ready to return to the hotel.

We got back and had some lunch and sat outside reading, but none of us really felt like reading. We all felt depressed and lonely and sad. It's just so hard to be constantly inundated with this city and this area 24/7...the filth, the poverty, the hassling..the culture shock is really wearing me thin. I'm trying to be positive and optimistic but it's getting difficult. I'm like craving nature and an escape from the city. We're hopefully going on a camel safari this weekend...I really need it. I ended up just taking another 2 1/2 hour nap today, not because I was even tired but because I felt depressed and overwhelmed and worn thin.

We worked out before dinner tonight which helped me feel better and then we're planning on having a few cocktails and going out to a nice, chill bar which I think will help us.

I've been trying to keep these blogs positive and insightful, but I can't today, sorry folks. No rosy picture to pain, just the harsh reality. T.I.A..

<3<3<3 kwaheri

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Comments

[Alan]

Keep your head up!

[anonymous]

WHY ARENT YOU WAKING UP FOR SAFARIS?? i am disappointed in you.

[Mackenzie]

If I had the time and money for safaris I'd be on one everyday.