Kwaheri (Good-bye) Kenya

After three visits to the High Commission of India, we finally managed to get our visas. Apparently this is just a taste of things come... We were starting to get a bit worried, since we heard they might not let us on the plane without them!
During our last couple of days in Nairobi, I managed to visit an all-girls highschool just around the corner from where we staying. In my usual fashion, I didn't organize anything in advance, I just waltzed up to the gate, introduced myself, managed to meet the vice-principal, and then a lovely teacher who spent a hour and a half explaining the entire Kenyan school system and showing me around the premises. Surprisingly enough, it is quite similar to Villa Maria, where I work in Montreal, (the curriculum, the students, the schedule, the uniforms) except that it is a boarding school and on the school grounds they have cows, hens, and pigs!! I also got to speak to a few of the teachers who complained about being ... overworked and underpaid!! I guess some things are universal.
A note for my African Dance buddies: one day we got to see an entire show of dances from about fifteen different tribes. Of course, Julien wasn't so thrilled (all the dances looked the same to him) but I thought it was great (who could complain with all those beautiful muscular bodies?) All accompanied by live musicians and occasional singing.
Although five weeks certainly isn't sufficient see everything, I feel we did get a taste of Kenya, especially the people and the way they live.I would certainly look forward to going back some day. (I know I will be saying the same thing about every place we visit) It is a land of extremes: geographically, economically and culturally. Which is indeed what makes it so fascinating.
Next stop...Delhi