July 9th, 2012 
Emily 
Remember when I first got to Kenya and was very safety conscious/slightly paranoid? Well, I’ve relaxed a little bit.
I walk around during the day by myself and I have started taking public buses and matatus (crazy little mini-vans/unofficial buses) home from my kiswahili class. My husband’s coworkers, who had the same severe safety warnings that we got before we arrived, are amazed. But it’s really no big deal.
Here’s why I feel comfortable taking public transportation despite the warnings:
- I only walk by myself during daylight and in busy, public areas.
- I dress casually and carry only my crappy cell phone and a few dollars.
- I ride the bus from one “nice” area to another. Some of my classmates take public transportation into the slum areas and have never had a problem. Right now, I’m not comfortable enough to do that.
- I ride on a busy route, and I always know where I am (I could walk if the bus broke down of if I didn’t feel safe.)
- I am never at the main bus/matatu station downtown (which has been a target for grenade attacks). Instead, I ride from one bus stop in the suburbs to another bus stop in the suburbs.
My husband still hasn’t taken public transportation here, so he has yet to experience the joys of rocking out to reggae while weaving in and out of traffic on the pot-holed roads of our neighborhood. I get to enjoy all that adventure for the low, low price of 30 cents a ride.
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You are brave, Emily. But it is part of the culture, and I can see why you’re drawn to riding those buses. I’ve heard of Americans who travel to foreign countries and only stay in the most Americanized hotels and eat hamburgers! That’s not what it should be about.
That said, do be careful, though, and keep these reports of life in Nairobi coming. They’re fascinating.
Yeah, my husband lived in the U.K for four years, and he said he knew of Brits who even packed cans of baked beans and other British delights when they traveled so that they wouldn’t ever have to eat the local food. Can you imagine going to Italy and eating cans of baked beans for dinner? Crazy!
I’m trying to find a good balance here, it’s always a challenge!
You’re amazing! I wouldn’t be so brave. Enjoy the freedom!
I bet you would surprise yourself! I must say, I miss the freedom of having a car.
How refreshing, at least a visitor to Kenya who does not buy the crap of travel advisories and goes out of to experience the life of the city. Am glad you tried it out. Public Transport in Nairobi is part of Nairobi life and one cannot claim to have savoured the city without experiencing it. Keep tring the new cultures in Nairobi but please be careful because like they say ‘every market has a madman’.
Good luck with your Swahili classes..
Haha, I’ve never heard ‘every market has a madman’ –that’s great!
Yeah, I’m trying to get out more. I wish those travel advisories weren’t so scary though.
I suspect it’s a little by little, day by day, venturing out. good luck
I think you’re exactly right!