wapi dawa man?

i suppose i should explain the origin of the blog name. i have a small swahili phrasebook that translates helpful things (i.e. "where is the bathroom? how much is this?" etc etc) I was flipping through it before departing the U.S. and there is a section on romance and "social activities" (read: sex). Needless the say, the translations are quite funny including:
"No. You will not use me for sex."
"We need to use a condom" (always helpful)
"I do not want to marry you."
there are then some commands followed by "Easy, tiger!" which, as you may have expected by now translates to "tulia, simba!" I found it entertaining that lonely planet thinks that would be helpful to a western tourist. thank you, lonely planet.

last night the three of us wandered out to carnivore for a plate of meat and serious night out on the town in kenya's adult playground. it was just as extravagant (and delicious) as I remembered, and after a handful of dawas (medicine = vodka, honey & limes) we were frolicking on the playground, playing pool with the assistant manager and shamelessly dancing to MmBop (again?!)--kenyans have not lost their love for hilariously bad 90s pop music. i also learned that, as to be expected, facebook made it to this continent and even if you don't have a phone there are ways to make new (aggressive) friends.

slides!

the assistant manager that helped us win our pool game

another wonderful aspect of kenya is their television shows. namely i have watched mexican soap operas dubbed in english. so antonio is actually the father of jose but he's in love with another woman who told him she is pregnant but even her mother thinks she's lying, someone was poisoned AND everyone found out nicholas was lying about being blind once he saved a boy from being hit by a car. and that all happened in one hour!!

today, a couple of us wandered through kibera. i wanted to buy flip flops and was in the mood to be chased by adorable kenya children yelling "how are you!" which is exactly what happened. the slum is still shocking. the filthy water runs through it, as people throw their waste (fecal matter and trash) right out their front door, which is a 12'x12' mud hut with a tin roof they pay about $12 a month for. the children are adorable too. you will hear them as you're approaching "pshh, a mzungu, yada yada...a mzungu" to their friends. then like a well-rehearsed chorus they begin yelling "how are you! how are you! how are you!" it's not a question, some would be confused by an answer. i didn't bring a camera but this is the idea:

the railroad in kibera

waiting for our afternoon beer with our new irish friend

i should be packing. we leave for eldoret in the morning.