Arriving in Nairobi

So, my first adventure to Africa has not exactly gone entirely smoothly. First of all, I had to pay at Heathrow for my luggage because one bag was overweight and even though the other was extremely underweight, I still had to pay. I wasn't about to start re-packing in the middle of Heathrow airport. I was WAY too tired!!

Then, I arrived in Nairobi. Still exhausted. And the extremely underweight bag did not make it to Nairobi. But, I was assured it would arrive the next day. So that was fine. And it DID arrive today, but when it did, the sleeping bag I had attached to the back of it (in hindsight, I should have put it in my suitcase) was ominously missing. So, I tried to call the airport baggage desk three separate times and no one answered. So now I must brave Sunday Nairobi shopping tomorrow to buy a sleeping bag. AUGH!!!

But, my first official day, other than all the annoyances, was really amazing. I slept about 11 hours, which was amazing. Then, I went on a 4-hour mini safari, traveling to the Karen region of Nairobi (named after Karen Blixen, who Meryl Streep portrayed in Out of Africa). There, I went to Karen Blixen's house - so cool! I just saw Out of Africa, so it was really neat to see the house where it was filmed (well, the exterior - not the interior). Then, I went to a bead and ceramic factory where there were gorgeous necklaces and earrings. So pretty!! 

After that, we went to the Giraffe Centre. It was amazing. There were warthogs and giraffes, plus two rogue tortoises. Giraffes are such beautiful creatures - I got to hand feed them pellets, pet them (though they really only let you do this if they were getting fed), and even "kissed them." This consists of putting a pellet in your lips, leaning over, and having the giraffe's LOOOOOONG tongue take it from you. I kissed a baby giraffe and a grown female. They were both SO cute!!

Driving around Nairobi was also amazing. We passed street vendors, many of whom were selling furniture. There were also goats just milling about - and some baby ones too! There are also vast differences in standards of living. The starkest contrast was driving out of Karen, which is one of the richest areas (and used to be Whites-only) back into Nairobi, where we passed the slums - where about 1 million people live.

Tomorrow, I start the main safari - two weeks of fun-filled tourism in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. Then it's onto Rwanda!

Africa

I'm getting really excited to go to Africa! One month tomorrow, I'll be on a plane flying to Nairobi. Cannot wait!

Right now, I'm waiting to begin exams. My first two are June 3 and 4, so I have LOTS of studying to do! But I'm getting really tired of waiting around, and studying. My last class with new information was March 19. We had a few review sessions in May, but really, it'll be almost 2.5 months between our last class and my first exam. It's just too long!! I'm getting burnt out! But, once it starts, it will be pretty quick - 4 exams in 2 weeks should fly by! And then, I have 9 days to move out of my flat, close my bank account, ship stuff home to Canada, and prep for my African adventure. I'm heading to Nairobi first - where I get to hand-feed giraffes and visit an elephant orphanage. Then, I join a 13-day safari through Kenya and Tanzania (which includes 4 days of relaxation in Zanzibar!).  I'm really excited to see the wildlife and the scenery, but am also well-aware of the human situation in these two countries. Recently, there was an article in the NY Times about maternal mortality in Tanzania. It is quite a sobering read.

After my time in Kenya and Tanzania, I fly off to Rwanda for three weeks to conduct research for my dissertation, which is on the rights of children conceived through rape during the 1994 genocide. I will be spending most of the time in Kigali, but will also venture off to a small village to conduct a case study. After some intense interviews and dissertation writing, I plan to visit the infamous Rwandan gorillas before beginning my 26-hour journey back to Toronto.

I've decided to come back to Toronto a bit early, (1) to save money on British accommodation, and (2) to spend time with my family and friends in case I end up working overseas in September. I do really want to get a job in Toronto, but am quite aware of the fact that this may not happen. So, I've applied to jobs and internships in Uganda, London, Washington, and Strasbourg so far. I will probably be applying to some in New York as well. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that I find something!! :-)

Well, better get back to studying. At least my African adventure is only one month away. And then, in about 2 months, I'll be back in my homeland, and able to visit all of YOU! Cannot wait!

Searching for Booze in Ireland and Scotland

For Easter in April, I went to Ireland to visit the relations in Co. Cork. Then, towards the end of April, my friends Jen and Michelle (Michelle was visiting from Canada) went to Scotland with me for four days. So, Ireland and Scotland. What do these two nations have in common? That's right - the love of alcohol! Ireland is nearly synonymous with Guinness, Scotland with whiskey. 

Yet, the oddest thing happened in both places! On Good Friday, in Ireland, my cousin Deirdre picked me up from Kilnamartyra to take me to her place in Lissarda. On the way, we stopped in Macroom, and I was going to pick up a couple of bottles of wine to bring to her parents, as a thank you for having me stay there for the weekend. But what did I find when I went into the grocery store? I couldn't buy ANY alcohol! I didn't want to DRINK it that day, I just wanted to BUY it! But we could buy chocolate and meat. In fact, we bought some pasta salad that we thought was vegetarian only to discover it had ham in it. I didn't check if the sale of condoms was outlawed that day or not. But seriously, it was so weird! Not only were you just not allowed to buy alcohol, but there were gates blocking any alcohol in the aisles so you couldn't mistakenly pick some up and try to pay for it. I really should have taken some pictures...

Then in Scotland on the Sunday, we also encountered a weird alcohol law. Apparently, at least where we were, we could only be served alcohol between 12.30 and 2.30. WEIRD!!!

Anyway, those were just some odd laws and regulations I've encountered recently. Here's some beautiful photos of our trip to Scotland. First, the fog is rolling in as we head to the Isle of Skye:

But then it clears.

Some wildlife.

A famous castle - if anyone's seen "Maid of Honor," this is the castle of Patrick Dempsey's best friend's fiance.

This is driving back towards Loch Ness.

And the fog rolls back in - but at least we had our Scottish flag!

Some Musings

First, apologies for not updating in so long (there may in fact be very few of you actually reading this anymore due to my lack of commitment).

So these are just some things I've been musing over. 

#1: Jobs. The job application business is beginning. So far, there are two I really like. One is in London and I'll actually get paid. The other is in Strasbourg and it's an unpaid internship. I seriously doubt I will be returning to Toronto for good in August. I'll still be returning for my cousin's wedding and some general meet-and-greets with my beloved family and friends, but then I will likely be jetting off somewhere else. My top choices are: London, New York, or an on-the-ground position in Africa or South America.

#2: Ironically, my Irish cousin Deirdre has been talking about coming to Canada for a summer and we've been oh-s0-excited about it. And guess when she's going? This summer!! So, I'll basically be in Toronto at the same time as her for 3 days at the end of August. It's pretty funny, but I've had fun telling her what she should do and see. She's going to be stopping by TSP to check it out - be nice to her, my fellow TSPers! :-)

This is me and Deirdre hugging part of a ruined monastery in Co. Cork over Easter.

#3: I don't know how we got on this topic, but some of my friends and I started talking about when people get engaged (in a heterosexual relationship) and the guy goes to ask the girl's parents for permission. Everyone thought it was a sweet gesture, except for moi. I got my feminist claws out and started ranting about how that stems from when women were property and how offensive it is and blah blah blah. Seriously, if a boyfriend ever did that in my situation, I would seriously have issues ever accepting his proposal. I may never. Because he really wouldn't know me if he went and did that. It's not sweet, not traditional - it's archaic! You're marrying ME, not my parents! Get my permission, not theirs! 

Ok, ok...rant over. So I brought it up with some of my friends after class yesterday and got a different reaction. The two girls I talked with both agreed with me that it was not such a "nice" idea. It was after my Human Rights of Women class, so I could have seen that coming. But still, I wanted some assurance that not all women think like that. Ok, so maybe I seem a bit extreme to some people. But I still think it's offensive.

#4: In other news, Fred Phelps and Shirley Phelps-Roper have both been banned from entering the UK. If other members of their family decide to come, the UK has said it will consider banning them too. Hallelujah!!!

Celeb Sightings

So back in February, the BAFTAs (like the British Oscars) took place at the Royal Opera House, around the corner from my flat. My friend Jen and I decided to go, so we lined up for armbands, went back home to nap, and then went into "the pits" along the red carpet, where we got to see the stars. Here's a sampling of my fav photos from that night:

Jen and I waiting to see the stars!

Dev Patel from Slumdog Millionaire

Sharon Stone - a presenter

Dominic Cooper, "Sky" from Mamma Mia. It was funny because there was a fan of his near us who just kept screaming "Dominic!!! DOMINIC!!!"

Penelope Cruz

Brad and Angelina - they are SO gorgeous and were really cute together.

The amazingly fabulous Meryl Streep

Look - it's Bond! a.k.a. Daniel Craig

Goldie Hawn. She has for sure had work done. Like wow.

And Brendan Gleeson - Mad Eye Moody; and I loved him in "In Bruges"

And this afternoon, Jen and I are off to see Obama and the other 19 G-20 leaders here in London at Buckingham Palace (a.k.a. Harper, but he's less exciting than Obama). Should be fun!

But right now, I must go get my yellow fever vaccine, in preparation for Rwanda. Ick.

RIP Marc Diab

I found out yesterday that a man I went to high school with, Marc Diab, was killed two days ago in Afghanistan. It shocked me; it makes everything hit closer to home, even though I wasn't good friends with him and haven't seen him since high school. But I remember him, I knew him, and that's what makes it so tragic, for me. This is something that I deal with everyday, in what I'm studying. When I read about atrocities and deaths around the world, both now and in the past, I do feel sad. I do feel upset, especially if there is a personal story attached, but it is much easier to move on after. To feel sad, or acknowledge that something horrible has happened, and then move on. But when it is someone you've known, personally, it makes everything so much more real. It makes me realize that every single person I've read about was a person, not just a statistic or a story. I always know this rationally, but there's a difference between knowing it and feeling it. When it strikes close to home, it makes that all the more clear.

RIP Marc Diab. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

when it snows...

I've heard before that when it snows in London, the city just can't handle it.

And it snowed today, and seriously, I was expecting the army to be called in at any moment! It was ridiculous. 

I left Paris VERY early this morning and it was snowing in Paris, and was really beautiful! But then, when we got to London, it was a madhouse! The Eurostar took us to St. Pancras, which is connected to King's Cross. But when we got off the train, there were announcements that the underground at King's Cross was closed. So we went outside, saw the gates being lowered at the tube entrances, looked at the taxi queue (it would take about an hour to actually get in a cab) and went to the bus stop. But after waiting about 5 min, we realized we were not seeing ANY buses. Later, we learned that all bus service was suspended. So then we trekked over to Euston station and finally got home.

Honestly, it wasn't that bad. There were maybe 3 cm of snow where we were. The horrible part was that we'd been up at 5.30 am Paris time (4.30 London time), were exhausted, and I was carrying my duffle bag, plus a shopping bag and my purse. NOT fun.

When I finally arrived home and turned on my computer, I saw that LSE had also hopped on the "let's freak out about the snow" bandwagon. All teaching was cancelled today, and all classes have also been cancelled tomorrow. Two snow days in a row for less than 20 cm of snow? Being Canadian, and being in Toronto a month ago during a few blizzards, it does make me laugh. But, at least I was able to have a genuine snow day today!! :-)

To read about it, check out this link: SNOW

Info on Paris to follow...as it's a snow day, you know I'm going to procrastinate at some point!! 

p.s. My mom had her thyroid surgery this morning, and all went well! I spoke to her this afternoon, and she wasn't in any pain, so it's all looking good. She'll be in the hospital for 2 nights, and then will be back home.