5 Things You Should Know
11 days since I took my first step in the US after arriving back from Kenya. It seems so odd that in less than 24 hours of travel, your world can go from houses made of rocks, sticks, and mud, little kids running around with no pants on, and cooking over a small fire in the corner to air-conditioning, HD television, and where dropping $100 on a pair of shoes seems like nothing. When I arrived back, I had a minor case of culture shock. We went shopping at the Landing and sifting through clothes racks and shoe boxes, it made my head spin a little. It is just so different.
I forget that most of my readers (my very few readers), have never been to Kenya, so I decided I would put together a list of 5 good things to know, in case you find yourself there in the near future. So let's begin!
1. Mzungu is a word that you will commonly hear shouted at you as you walk down the street, usually accompanied by big smiles and waves. It means "white", so essentially they're yelling White person! White person! I wouldn't suggest following their example here in the States, but there it is almost like a term of endearment. It is one of the few words I know in their language, and my favorite one.
2. Bodabodas are like taxis, but they're motorcycles (really more dirtbikes). They are very handy and cheap for travelling from town to town. Usually, you can fit 2 people plus the driver, but often you will see Kenyans squeeze up to 6 or 7, seated sideways, backwards, any way they will fit. It is quite comical!
3. Ringworm is also something you will probably see if you venture to Kenya. It is especially common among children. It just looks like a little red ring, usually on their faces or heads. Unlike the name suggests, it is not an actual worm, just a fungus like athlete's foot. The bad news - ringworm is actually very contagious, and can be caught just by coming into contact with someone who has it. The good news - it is not painful, and easy to get rid of with just a week or two of anti-fungal lotion. I actually got a minor case of ringworm on my trip to Kenya on my leg that I am treating now. Ringworm is not something to be afraid of, just aware of. Don't let it hold you back from loving on the kid.
I forget that most of my readers (my very few readers), have never been to Kenya, so I decided I would put together a list of 5 good things to know, in case you find yourself there in the near future. So let's begin!
1. Mzungu is a word that you will commonly hear shouted at you as you walk down the street, usually accompanied by big smiles and waves. It means "white", so essentially they're yelling White person! White person! I wouldn't suggest following their example here in the States, but there it is almost like a term of endearment. It is one of the few words I know in their language, and my favorite one.
2. Bodabodas are like taxis, but they're motorcycles (really more dirtbikes). They are very handy and cheap for travelling from town to town. Usually, you can fit 2 people plus the driver, but often you will see Kenyans squeeze up to 6 or 7, seated sideways, backwards, any way they will fit. It is quite comical!
3. Ringworm is also something you will probably see if you venture to Kenya. It is especially common among children. It just looks like a little red ring, usually on their faces or heads. Unlike the name suggests, it is not an actual worm, just a fungus like athlete's foot. The bad news - ringworm is actually very contagious, and can be caught just by coming into contact with someone who has it. The good news - it is not painful, and easy to get rid of with just a week or two of anti-fungal lotion. I actually got a minor case of ringworm on my trip to Kenya on my leg that I am treating now. Ringworm is not something to be afraid of, just aware of. Don't let it hold you back from loving on the kid.
4. Sweets! That is what the people call candy, and they absolutely love it! It is a great motivator to get them to answer questions (such as at VBS), or just a fun thing to randomly hand out if you are walking to town. Just be aware: most of the kids will hide it behind their back and come back for more.
5. Bartering - oh, one of my favorite things! If you are at a market, you may barter for the goods. Often they will begin with a high price, hoping you won't realize that it is really a rip-off. I think it is fun! You want something, they want something, and you can barter so that you are both happy! I'm not the best at math, but my understanding is that to go from shillings to dollars, move the decimal place two to the left and it is a little more than that. For example, 100 shillings is a little more than $1.00 ($1.15 to be more precise). Bartering is easy and fun, you just have to be firm and go for it!
I hope you know a little more about Kenya than you did a few minutes ago! It always makes me smile to write and talk about the place and people God has given me a passion for. He is doing some big things in my life that I can't wait to share with you soon! In the meantime, smile lots, laugh often, and LOVE. period.
