If I were a poet...

I would write a poem about the range of emotions that one goes through while waiting for luggage in a foreign airport. Being a last minute packer, and this being my 3rd trip to Africa (with the first two being uneventful), I decided to chance it and not pack an extra set of clothes in my carry on. Fortunately, both bags arrived. I got through the visa/passport control quickly and waited over half an hour at the baggage 'hall' as they call it, but no problems at all.

This rest of this post will likely be fairly scattered, so let's use bullet points:
  • Someone wrote 'Obama was here' on the registration sticker in the elevator in our office building here. That made me smile.
  • Everything seems really familiar, which is nice, considering it's been 20+ months since I was last (and first) here. My colleagues are all very kind, helpful people, and it's great to see those I email everyday face to face.
  • The main purpose of me being here is to assist with the transition from the project manager who's been here for 3+ years and the new manager who started Monday. The new guy is very friendly (and talented - check out his photography site) and seems very capable. I have no doubt that by the time I leave next Friday I'll feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and come back to half the workload I was experiencing before his arrival.
  • We had a working lunch at this hotel today. It's stunning. And then I went next door to the Nakumatt (think Walmart-like store) and bought a cheap cell phone and the silly things I forgot like soap and conditioner.
  • I'm planning on going to the Karen Blixen Museum this weekend or on Tuesday (which is a holiday here), even though I've never watched more than a couple minutes of Out of Africa. Haven't decided if I'm going to do any animal-related excursions this time, since I did two the first time I visited.
I think I'm adjusted to this time zone - sleeping pretty normally, waking up with the sun. Life's good in Nairobi! The way the expats talk about the quality of life here, don't be surprised if I look for a long-term position here someday...

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