Mombasaaaaa

I’ve been in Mombasa for the past week, and I feel like I really haven’t done a whole lot. The time has reminded me of being at school back in the US, where my schedule is flexible and most of my time is spent on schoolwork. Life in the villages was so different…it’s been an adjustment to live without a host family and to spend days with my peers instead of myself.

My room, shared with Grace, another SIT student

Day one in Mombasa consisted of moving into an apartment with three other SIT students. I’m amazed at how great the place is. It’s a seaside apartment on the island part of Mombasa, and it’s just down the street from the historical Fort Jesus. 

Yeah, it really is that incredible. I honestly don't know how we are able to stay here.

It has incredible balconies overlooking the water, and it’s fully furnished. We have a fridge, a microwave, and a coffee maker (thank goodness).

The kitchen. We have ant problems, but that's my only complaint.

We even have a washing machine, although we have to manually fill it for every cycle. Lugging a five-gallon bucket of water back and forth 9 times has really made me aware of just how much water I waste at home. Lessons learned in Kenya, I suppose.

We have a TV and a DVD player as well, and we can get (totally legal?) new releases on the street for $1….it has had a really positive impact on my 40-page final paper.

Hmmm..... 

There’s a European couple staying in the apartment as well. They’re only a couple years older than us, and they’re volunteering as coordinators for the AFS foreign exchange program here in Mombasa. We’re all getting along well, and it’s been interesting to compare notes on our Kenya experiences.