September 10th, 2012 
Emily 
Like many people in my generation, I will always remember where I was when the September 11th terrorist attacks occurred. I was a senior in high school, sitting in the ubiquitous plastic and metal school desk. We put away our copies of A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man, and our teacher wheeled in the chunky t.v. on its cart. We watched the twin towers collapse over and over again on replay.
For me, as a 17-year-old American, September 11, 2001 was the first terrorist attack that I was truly aware of. I had never heard much about other terrorist attacks or witnessed the televised replays of bombings or plane crashes. In my naive mind, terrorism happened in other countries, to other people. I don’t think I was alone in this thinking.
Today, as an American living in Kenya, terrorism is never far from my mind. When I go to the mall, a security guard looks for weapons and bombs in my purse and pats me down with a metal-detecting wand. I overhear Kenyans making jokes about Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda. I plan vacations around the U.S. Embassy’s travel warnings. I read the local papers, where the headlines alternate between stories about the upcoming elections, and stories about recent terrorist activities.
Since I arrived in Kenya in June, 3 people have died in a nightclub bombing, and 15 people have died in a church bombing. Deadly riots have broken out in response to the killing of a Muslim cleric with suspected terrorist ties. Several aid workers have been kidnapped, and a package of explosives has gone missing.
There have been other violent events in Kenya since I arrived; these are just the ones linked to terrorism.
Terrorism is such a frequent occurrence in Kenya that as an expat you can either choose to leave Kenya, or you can get on with your life. In a way, it’s freeing
After September 11, people in the U.S. have tried so hard to eliminate all terrorist risks, but it has generally just made us a more fearful country, not a safer one. While they were not linked to terrorist activity, the recent shootings in Colorado, Wisconsin, and New York have shown that you cannot always predict or prevent a violent act. Our big folly in the U.S. is to think that we can.
Photo of the September 11 Memorial by: Paul Arps
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” While they were not linked to terrorist activity, the recent shootings in Colorado, Wisconsin, and New York have shown that you cannot always predict or prevent a violent act. Our big folly in the U.S. is to think that we can.” You are so right. Well said, Emily.
Thanks Bobbie!
I was in Kenya in 1998 when the US Embassy was bombed. I was outside the embassy 15 minutes before that bomb exploded. I was also in the U.S. when September 11th happened and I’m now in Kenya when all these terrorist attacks are occuring. I think the difference between the two countries is the way the citizens look at mortality. In Kenya, or as a Kenyan, we have this belief that if you die, it is your time to go, it’s fate, so it’s almost a cavalier attitude towards death, while in the U.S., death is a big deal especially if it’s not a result of natural causes. Though Kenyans make a bigger fuss (read, unnecessary drama) than Americans do at funerals.
Great insight Maureen– I think you’re right– the attitude towards mortality is so different.
Wow, I got chills. It’s not fun being in a high alert area. I hope you stay safe there and that it’s not top of mind. I remember being in Sharm El Sheikh around an area that was bombed only 5 months before. So scary, but we cannot stop living or enjoying life, at least we all seem to live life to the fullest, or try to! Safe journey.
Great advice!
I’m sure living with terrorism can cause you to appreciate life in a deep, meaningful way. Be safe. Live fully.
Yeah, it also makes me let go. There’s not much I can do– if something bad is going to happen, it’s going to happen. It also makes me appreciate all my privileges. Odds are, nothing will happen to me because I live in a secure building and have the luxury of avoiding some of the crowded places that are targeted (like bus stops). Plus, I’m a foreigner, and Al-Shabaab (the Somali terrorist group) has been targeting Kenyans.