Well, here I am in my modest and clean lodging in Embu, the seat of the Eastern Province. It’s good to finally be out in the field. Nairobi was interesting with all the sites, sounds, and smells of any major city, but it’s still a city with all the craziness, pollution, and yes, crime (especially carjacking, which apparently is common in this city and requires that one keeps car doors locked and windows rolled up) that goes with that. Now that I’m in the countryside, I find that I have missed the quiet and exhaust-free air, and listening to Iz on my Ipod, I find myself thinking of home in Hawaii and all my friends there – not quite missing it (too soon for that; by the way, Malia, you can tell your boys that I haven’t seen any wild animals…yet).
Actually, what I do miss is running outside. Fortunately, the Stanley Hotel has a gym, which, although not air conditioned, provided a place for me to run every morning. Funny thing is that when I first got on the treadmill, I initially couldn’t understand why I felt like I was struggling so much to maintain my usual running pace. Then, it hit me…duh…aside from the fact that I was jetlagging, Nairobi is at an altitude of 1700m.
Now, in the Owoods Lodge Annex in Embu, I am looking forward to, well, not exactly running full out (as my sister has pointed out, a lone Asian female running on the roads in Kenya sticks out like a sore thumb), but running back and forth along the maybe 75-100m of walkway and stairs (see picture) in this little complex. Hey, at least, I’ll get exercise, and I’ll be outside, although the lodge staff and guests may think I’m odd.
Our team awoke this morning not quite sure if we would be heading out to the field yet. We had all agreed that we should be ready and packed in case we did head out, but we delayed checking out. As it turned out, when we got to the WHO offices, it was quickly evident that we were scattering today. All our 4WD vehicles and respective drivers were there in the lot. Since Diane’s and my cars were to be rentals with hired drivers, we had to check out the cars with the WHO drivers to ensure that our vehicles, especially Diane’s, were in good condition. I may not see as many of the wild animals that my colleagues will see on their long journeys out to the field, but I won’t require an armed escort or VHF radio (UN security regulations for phase III areas – i.e., Kenya’s border areas), and I’ll get to enjoy the comforts of a more traditional SUV with air conditioning and likely better accomodations (my mom will be happy to read this, I’m sure). Diane’s vehicle looks like one of those old gigantic safari vehicles. Well, I may not have to endure as rough conditions as the others, but my shorter trips will take me to places with greater population density than my colleagues’ areas. So, I won’t celebrate my “good” luck just yet.
During the few hours drive to Embu, I enjoyed some interesting coversation with my driver Joseph as he answered by questions about Kenya, the people, and the languages, especially Swahili. We followed Chidi and his driver Kidome in their 4WD UN vehicle along the mostly decent highway; Joseph says the roads we’ll have to traverse will mostly be good, but a few areas will not be so good…but not nearly as bad as what Chidi and Kidome will have to travel. Those two were to overnight here with us before they continued their long journey farther norther up to the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
We made one stop along the way here at one of the roadside fruit stands where Chidi and Kidome playfully insisted that I must also buy some fresh mangoes to ensure that, as they would, I would be able to get my vitamins by eating a fresh fruit every day.
We arrived at Embu initially intending to stay at the Izaak Walton Lodge, only to find that it was fully booked. Oops. Fortunately, the modest lodging down the road had just enough rooms for us and our WHO field counterpart Chesang, whom we met at the first place. The entrance to the Owoods Lodge Annex might make some (like me) raise their eyebrows initially – a couple of small elephant figures flanking the safari-stylized entrance, but inside, it’s actually quite simple and, more importantly, clean.
So, now, on my foam mattress bed on clean sheets under my mosquito netting, I’m happily settling into my first night in the field after having enjoyed earlier a satisfying and actually quite tasty dinner of chicken curry with rice and sauteed vegetables and having been able to do some needed handwashing of some clothes(thanks for the clothesline, Kate!). We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Actually, what I do miss is running outside. Fortunately, the Stanley Hotel has a gym, which, although not air conditioned, provided a place for me to run every morning. Funny thing is that when I first got on the treadmill, I initially couldn’t understand why I felt like I was struggling so much to maintain my usual running pace. Then, it hit me…duh…aside from the fact that I was jetlagging, Nairobi is at an altitude of 1700m.
Now, in the Owoods Lodge Annex in Embu, I am looking forward to, well, not exactly running full out (as my sister has pointed out, a lone Asian female running on the roads in Kenya sticks out like a sore thumb), but running back and forth along the maybe 75-100m of walkway and stairs (see picture) in this little complex. Hey, at least, I’ll get exercise, and I’ll be outside, although the lodge staff and guests may think I’m odd.Our team awoke this morning not quite sure if we would be heading out to the field yet. We had all agreed that we should be ready and packed in case we did head out, but we delayed checking out. As it turned out, when we got to the WHO offices, it was quickly evident that we were scattering today. All our 4WD vehicles and respective drivers were there in the lot. Since Diane’s and my cars were to be rentals with hired drivers, we had to check out the cars with the WHO drivers to ensure that our vehicles, especially Diane’s, were in good condition. I may not see as many of the wild animals that my colleagues will see on their long journeys out to the field, but I won’t require an armed escort or VHF radio (UN security regulations for phase III areas – i.e., Kenya’s border areas), and I’ll get to enjoy the comforts of a more traditional SUV with air conditioning and likely better accomodations (my mom will be happy to read this, I’m sure). Diane’s vehicle looks like one of those old gigantic safari vehicles. Well, I may not have to endure as rough conditions as the others, but my shorter trips will take me to places with greater population density than my colleagues’ areas. So, I won’t celebrate my “good” luck just yet.
During the few hours drive to Embu, I enjoyed some interesting coversation with my driver Joseph as he answered by questions about Kenya, the people, and the languages, especially Swahili. We followed Chidi and his driver Kidome in their 4WD UN vehicle along the mostly decent highway; Joseph says the roads we’ll have to traverse will mostly be good, but a few areas will not be so good…but not nearly as bad as what Chidi and Kidome will have to travel. Those two were to overnight here with us before they continued their long journey farther norther up to the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
We made one stop along the way here at one of the roadside fruit stands where Chidi and Kidome playfully insisted that I must also buy some fresh mangoes to ensure that, as they would, I would be able to get my vitamins by eating a fresh fruit every day.We arrived at Embu initially intending to stay at the Izaak Walton Lodge, only to find that it was fully booked. Oops. Fortunately, the modest lodging down the road had just enough rooms for us and our WHO field counterpart Chesang, whom we met at the first place. The entrance to the Owoods Lodge Annex might make some (like me) raise their eyebrows initially – a couple of small elephant figures flanking the safari-stylized entrance, but inside, it’s actually quite simple and, more importantly, clean.
So, now, on my foam mattress bed on clean sheets under my mosquito netting, I’m happily settling into my first night in the field after having enjoyed earlier a satisfying and actually quite tasty dinner of chicken curry with rice and sauteed vegetables and having been able to do some needed handwashing of some clothes(thanks for the clothesline, Kate!). We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
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