Wednesday, January 2, 2008

election results

So Happy New Year everyone! I do have to brag and say that I made it to the New Year before most of you that are reading this. It was quite an eventful new year. In my last post, if you remember I complained about boredom. Well, things heated up right after I posted that. My friend that was in the internet cafe with me decided to head home without the rest of us. About 2 minutes after she left she came running back in saying she was told to "find a safe place." It turns out the people were starting to fight in the streets due to impatience awaiting the election results. Things heated up from there, by the time we headed home the streets were almost deserted except for the street kids. The next few days almost everything stayed shut throughout all of the town (and I thought I couldn't get any more bored, now we couldn't go anywhere!). All throughout Kenya you have probably heard about the violence. The media's job is to make the world scared. It actually is not as bad as they make it out to be in most of Kenya. However, because the volunteer program that I am working with is based in the UK they heard all of the bad news and ordered all of the volunteers to Nairobi in case they needed to quickly get us on a flight home. So, I'm here. Right outside of Nairobi where the volunteer organization wants me to play the "waiting" game to see if things change. I've been trying to book a flight because I am not good at waiting. It is going to cost me around $600 to leave early. Don't know if I'm going to do it or not. Those of you reading this, don't worry about me. I don't feel as if I am in any danger here. The media has hyped this thing up too much. I just don't want to be here if I can't do what I came here to do. My safari was cancelled, the school where I was meant to volunteer has been closed. I don't want to sound as if this trip is a "wash" it has totally been an amazing and wonderful experience, I just don't understand why I need to stay if I am going to be sitting in a hotel room for a week! Anyway, keep your fingers crossed that I figure out what to do soon. In the meantime, I can't call home because there aren't many places to buy minutes for your phone. I've used all of mine on the phone with the airline. I am hoping that they will call me back. I can't even send text messages. If you want to contact me, then you will have to call me. a little frustrated now, hoping with all my heart that the next time I write to you there will be some resolution to my situation here. Keep your fingers crossed.

~t

4 comments:

Thomas said...

Toni,
Happy New Year! Hope all is well with you. Got the information from your friend, Yu-hsien, this morning. Sounds like you're having the trip of a lifetime, despite some of the situations there in Kenya. I regret that you have not been able to do what you had hoped to accomplish. I look forward to hearing more about your trip and your experiences. Be safe! I'll keep you in my prayers.

Thomas

Phyllis said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Phyllis said...

Happy New Year Back!!
Can't wait to see you on Saturday.
love ya
Phyllis

Mariah Hayes said...
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