Have you ever seen a dog in a matatu?

Yesterday was the most bizarre day of my time in Africa, if not the most bizarre day of my life. Stick with me to the end…I’ve got to give you context. The day started off innocently enough—a few of us were going to hike in the Ngong Hills, about a half-hour’s drive outside Nairobi.

We successfully caught a matatu (the little van/bus) and made it to Ngong with only a few sketchy encounters with fellow matatu passengers. We wove our way through the street markets up to a wildlife facility, where we were told how to reach the ranger’s station at the summit of the hills.

Midway through the hike to the ranger station

After about an hour’s hike to the ranger station, we figured out we didn’t have enough money to hire the required armed guards to escort us. We ate our lunch and started back down the hill.

At our picnic spot

And that’s when the fun began. A trio of Kenyan children headed to the market began to walk along with us. Then a stray dog joined our little parade. So imagine, if you will, our group of 6 out-of-place white girls, holding hands with 3 African children, being escorted by a mangy dog, and navigating a bustling village market.

We reached the matatu stop and said farewell to our children. We attempted to get into the matatu that would take us back to Nairobi…

…and the dog got in too.

"Umm...what now?"

In the chaos surrounding this situation, Lisa, a fellow SIT student, was pickpocketed. A man snatched the iPhone right out of her pocket. We evacuated the matatu and our canine friend came with us.

The matatu drivers, hoping to regain our business, located the culprit. They yelled at him and shook their fists as he attempted to say that she had dropped it. I think they were within an inch of beating him; hopefully they didn’t do so when we left.

After nearly provoking mob violence, we found ourselves back in the matatu. With the iPhone...

Lisa and Odoe

...and with the dog. Meet Odoe (named affectionately after our academic director, Odoch).

Odoe rode all the way back to Nairobi with us. We got some very strange looks from our fellow matatu passengers. We stick out enough already ourselves just existing, and our canine companion drew even more attention.

He’s now sleeping at Lisa’s house. Whoulda thunk her host mom was in the market for a dog? It's up in the air as to whether they will keep it. I’m hoping the guy doesn’t have fleas or any other vermin because we got mighty close in that matatu.

Odoe and I safely in Nairobi