tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157748282024-03-14T02:39:39.530-07:00My Part of Nairobione american's view of life in kenyapaulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.comBlogger445125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-60876935837874743072015-09-27T15:23:00.003-07:002020-02-06T08:30:57.048-08:00Where you can find Paul MerrillIf you are looking for Paul Merrill, go over to <a href="http://pmerrill.com/"><i>Shiny Bits of Life</i></a>, which is my personal blog - or <a href="http://greenergrassmedia.com/">Greener Grass Media</a>. Thanks!<br />
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(I no longer live in Nairobi. But occasionally I do blog about life there at <i>Shiny Bits of Life</i>.)paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-80800993306999075852008-04-12T08:01:00.000-07:002008-04-14T10:07:42.758-07:00Blog weirdness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/SADPSBp3UGI/AAAAAAAABDo/53sxx9sdAEA/s1600-h/weirdness-glass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/SADPSBp3UGI/AAAAAAAABDo/53sxx9sdAEA/s320/weirdness-glass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188374679319433314" border="0" /></a>I visited Google Analytics for this site recently. My "Glass!" entry from May 2006 scored an amazing number of hits. It brought my total hits for one day (for any of my sites) to a record level: 381!<br /><br />I know of no reason for this.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Update:</span> Gill the Bean from the UK let me know that my post was featured via <a href="http://www.dooce.com/daily-style/2008/04/04/scorpion-sculpture">Dooce</a>! Wow, cool!!paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-52133041149712095362007-06-02T07:41:00.000-07:002007-06-01T21:37:52.778-07:00Goodbye to This Glorious Chaos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RmDzcQeDPNI/AAAAAAAAAcY/eARVRsSm09g/s1600-h/308.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RmDzcQeDPNI/AAAAAAAAAcY/eARVRsSm09g/s320/308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071320847202073810" border="0" /></a>It is time for me to say goodbye.<br /><br />We leave Kenya tonight right before midnight. We have lived here for just over two years - and not left East Africa during that time.<br /><br />So why do I refer to Kenya as "This Glorious Chaos"? Well, it's glorious here - and very chaotic.<br /><br />I know that some of the readers out there might object to Kenya being called chaotic. Well, don't be. Nairobi, at least, has lots of chaos. Just get in a car and drive across town!<br /><br />And the glory? Oh, it's all over the place. Smiles on so many faces. Laughter as I pass roadside shops. Beautiful amazing random artwork on ceramic pots for sale along Ngong Road. Flowers on almost every plant, year around.<br /><br />So you should come to Africa. Not just to visit - but to live. Then you can really see what life is like. We tried - two years is not long enough. We were compelled to return to our home, America. Those of you who know us understand why. Those who don't - well, you'll just have to get to know us. (Move to Colorado.)paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-60563140408304450002007-05-31T21:57:00.000-07:002007-05-31T21:59:37.167-07:00Didn't succeed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rl-nhQeDPMI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/0vxK8vmc2Q8/s1600-h/304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rl-nhQeDPMI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/0vxK8vmc2Q8/s320/304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070955895240998082" border="0" /></a>...But at least I got a still image.<br /><br />I had been meaning to get a video of the Kenyan National Anthem - the version played before many movies at cinemas here. My final attempt did not succeed; I only got about 1 second.<br /><br />It's interesting to watch that short film - it's the same edition that has been used for maybe 30 years. (Or it seems like that.)paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-59111147464455662252007-05-30T21:46:00.000-07:002007-05-30T21:51:32.744-07:00International-ness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rl5TcQeDPLI/AAAAAAAAAcI/pWjPvIbrUBQ/s1600-h/old-peugeot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rl5TcQeDPLI/AAAAAAAAAcI/pWjPvIbrUBQ/s320/old-peugeot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070581975388208306" border="0" /></a>As we will be returning to the States so soon, I have pondered some of the things I'll miss.<br /><br />One is the international aspect of life in Nairobi. Most places we go are frequented by people from all over the world.<br /><br />And the organization I work with is a picture of that also: at our weekly prayer meeting recently, I looked around the room. There were 10 Americans, 6 Kenyans, 5 Brits, 2 New Zealanders, 1 Swiss(er) and 1 Canadian.<br /><br />Littleton, Colorado is not like <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span>.<br /><br />And yes, it's another photo that has nothing to do with the post. I just love cars. Even ones that have their body parts held on with straps.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-64878919984848301472007-05-29T22:17:00.000-07:002007-05-30T06:37:13.713-07:0014 seats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rl0JiAeDPKI/AAAAAAAAAcA/hSwWI-cvUdQ/s1600-h/matatu-14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rl0JiAeDPKI/AAAAAAAAAcA/hSwWI-cvUdQ/s320/matatu-14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070219235335290018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Matatus</span> are mini buses that travel all over Kenya. In early 2005, the government changed their policies on matatus. Before, if an operator wanted to cram 300 people into the minibus, that was alright. No longer. (A great change!) 14 passengers is the max - and seatbelts are required by law for all 14. Moms frequently carry their kids on their laps (beyond the 14 rule) - but that's another story.<br /><br />The government will be phasing out the 14-seaters, but that's yet another story.<br /><br />"Matatu" in Swahili means that you could travel for 30 cents, a standard fare wherever and whenever you went: three 10 cent coins. <span style="font-style: italic;">(Special thanks to my friend toneloc who gave me the truth on that!)</span>paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-60152438193970658832007-05-28T21:11:00.000-07:002007-05-28T21:17:59.841-07:00Leaving<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RluoXweDPJI/AAAAAAAAAb4/p6z003wXl3w/s1600-h/1-deliveringbooks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RluoXweDPJI/AAAAAAAAAb4/p6z003wXl3w/s320/1-deliveringbooks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069830931637025938" border="0" /></a>1. Absence makes the heart grow fonder<br /><br />2. Deprivation breeds appreciation<br /><br />These are two concepts that have been rattling around in my brain as I have contemplated leaving this Kenyan life and starting a new life in the States. Much of my old life is gone - I will not be returning to my old job. (<a href="http://tellingsecrets-mks.blogspot.com/">Marti Smith</a>, a former co-worker, is grieving this loss too.) But we are very thankful to be returning to some of our familiar friends and our beloved home.<br /><br />Leaving here means saying goodbye to friends. A sad reality.<br /><br />As you may have noticed, my photo does not illustrate all this.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-7893712673073895262007-05-27T19:31:00.001-07:002007-05-27T19:33:04.250-07:00Omo and time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rlo_PgeDPII/AAAAAAAAAbw/qhyI5s0OdQc/s1600-h/omo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rlo_PgeDPII/AAAAAAAAAbw/qhyI5s0OdQc/s320/omo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069433866205478018" border="0" /></a>A British friend told me of the time he served for one or two years in West Africa, shortly after graduation from university. He was teaching science in a rural school, as part of a voluntary program (like the USA's Peace Corps).<br /><br />As his time was nearing completion, he said he measured time in any way possible. (He desperately wanted to return home to England.) One measuring stick was Omo laundry soap packets - each one lasted about two weeks. So he was able to say, "It's ten packets till I get onto the plane."<br /><br />His wandering days are over. He married a Kenyan lady and is building a house in Karen, a nice suburb of Nairobi.<br /><br />And for us, we're down to less than one Omo packet. On June 2nd, we board the out-bound plane, with no plans to return.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-57949312052128742262007-05-24T22:02:00.001-07:002007-05-25T21:35:01.389-07:00Death in Kenya<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlZuQAeDPGI/AAAAAAAAAbg/SLM7pU07APA/s1600-h/death1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlZuQAeDPGI/AAAAAAAAAbg/SLM7pU07APA/s320/death1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068359651935075426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlZuQgeDPHI/AAAAAAAAAbo/u--73nFQ9Hc/s1600-h/death2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlZuQgeDPHI/AAAAAAAAAbo/u--73nFQ9Hc/s320/death2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068359660525010034" border="0" /></a>Common sights in Kenyan cities are roadside tombstone sellers. I finally got around to taking a few photos.<br /><br />Death is a sensitive subject here. (Actually, where is it not that?) But death is treated differently here than in North America. I once sent out an email to my staff telling them to leave the passwords to their computers with a trusted colleague. I said something like, "In case you die, we need to access your work data." This did NOT go over well.<br /><br />In contrast, grieving a death can be much more open here. In about 1992, I made a photography expedition to Mfangano Island, in Lake Victoria. As we walked around the island, I heard loud wailing - for more than an hour. Someone had died the night before. This grieving was much more open than it would be in North America. (How much more healthy it is to get the tears out, rather than bottle them up inside!)paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-43305241095329753922007-05-23T18:47:00.000-07:002007-05-23T18:51:24.535-07:00The bouquet that can never be<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlTvLAeDPFI/AAAAAAAAAbY/YAX8awA6DTI/s1600-h/flame-flower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlTvLAeDPFI/AAAAAAAAAbY/YAX8awA6DTI/s320/flame-flower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067938453082291282" border="0" /></a>The flame tree is a famous fixture in the world of Kenya lore. Beautiful red-orange blossoms sit at its top - maybe 40 to 60 feet from the ground. The only time you can see the flowers up close is when they fall to the ground. (The trunk is not good for climbing, as the lowest limbs are about 15 to 20 feet from the ground.) When the blossoms fall to the ground, their vitality is already gone.<br /><br />Ephemera is one of my favorite words - the fleetingness of an experience.<br /><br />I am sure that if I had time to think about it, there are analogies to life in this small tale. But today - I don't have that luxury.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-42852805401323779802007-05-22T20:12:00.000-07:002007-05-22T23:16:24.821-07:00Guest pic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlOzjgeDPEI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/aSFn0J1PwKQ/s1600-h/yee-sp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlOzjgeDPEI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/aSFn0J1PwKQ/s320/yee-sp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067591428314709058" border="0" /></a>You know I love weird products.<br /><br />Today's product is from Spain - taken in Spain. My friends Jason & Seana Yee took a trip there last year and shared this with me - so I share it with you. (Thanks Jason & Seana!)<br /><br />"Superblando" bubble gum must have different meanings in Spanish. But I thought the "00" on his chest fits in well with "superblando".paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-62042093668742284292007-05-21T19:23:00.000-07:002007-05-21T19:27:55.031-07:00Thorns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlJU8weDPDI/AAAAAAAAAbI/4djGWid2kYw/s1600-h/thorns.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlJU8weDPDI/AAAAAAAAAbI/4djGWid2kYw/s320/thorns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067205933525056562" border="0" /></a>Rachel found these <span style="font-style: italic;">gigantic</span> thorns. I think they're from an acacia tree of some kind.<br /><br />Often thorns like these are used as an inexpensive (free!) barb wire fence by ranchers in Kenya.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-42080730071259724972007-05-20T21:35:00.000-07:002007-05-20T21:39:26.417-07:00Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlEh_QeDPCI/AAAAAAAAAbA/c3iHwFl9gMg/s1600-h/hometown.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RlEh_QeDPCI/AAAAAAAAAbA/c3iHwFl9gMg/s320/hometown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066868426405002274" border="0" /></a>If you visit the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day_f.shtml?world=0129">BBC weather page for Nairobi</a>, there is a little option at the lower right corner of the page - setting Nairobi as your hometown. (That probably only comes up under certain circumstances.)<br /><br />Well that's not how we got here. It was a bit more complicated than that. Maybe someday it will be as easy as typing in a few letters and clicking a button.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-77235785354274199422007-05-17T22:09:00.000-07:002007-05-17T22:16:09.848-07:00More menus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rk014QeDPAI/AAAAAAAAAaw/EDBbDmi5bHw/s1600-h/menu-paprika.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rk014QeDPAI/AAAAAAAAAaw/EDBbDmi5bHw/s320/menu-paprika.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065764396471630850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rk014geDPBI/AAAAAAAAAa4/hY54q_bHiDo/s1600-h/menu3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rk014geDPBI/AAAAAAAAAa4/hY54q_bHiDo/s320/menu3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065764400766598162" border="0" /></a>A new Mexican restaurant came to town maybe nine months ago. I think it's from South Africa. (So that's Mexican food in Kenya, by way of South Africa.) It's the closest to Chipotle or Qdoba that we can get here. And I'm thankful.<br /><br />By way of contrast, the chalkboard is from a more traditional Kenyna restaurant. I have no idea what Athola is.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-62386800129162926392007-05-16T20:13:00.000-07:002007-05-16T20:19:35.475-07:00The last one<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkvJVQeDO_I/AAAAAAAAAao/VX3gIMSFoLQ/s1600-h/526.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065363572943698930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkvJVQeDO_I/AAAAAAAAAao/VX3gIMSFoLQ/s320/526.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yes, this is the very last in my "rubbish art" series. I now have twelve - enough to make a calendar.<br /><div><br />Water bottles are popular items for some who toss things out their car windows in Nairobi. Coca Cola's Dasani is the market leader.<br /></div><div>This time I actually washed the empty bottles. It has been rainy season, so some were covered with a lot of dried mud. (I wanted to show you the bottles and not the dried mud.)<br /></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Notes: 1. To see some of the rest of the series, type "rubbish art" into the "search this blog" window at the top of this blog. 2. If you double-click on the image, you can see it a bit larger. 3. If you check rubbish-art.blogspot.com after August, you can see how to buy rubbish art postcards, coffee mugs and cigarette lighters. (Well, maybe not digarette lighters.)</span></div>paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-39277446993136181752007-05-15T21:33:00.000-07:002007-05-15T21:37:37.263-07:00Not really a menu<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkqKHweDO-I/AAAAAAAAAag/ZDTfb-2j7zA/s1600-h/antonios-ugali.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkqKHweDO-I/AAAAAAAAAag/ZDTfb-2j7zA/s320/antonios-ugali.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065012596806204386" border="0" /></a>I love this - Antonio is not a name I would normally associate with traditional Kenyan food.<br /><br />Mbuzi is goat. Tilapia is one kind of fish from Lake Victoria. Ugali is thick corn-meal stuff that supplements nearly every traditional dinner. Sukuma is called kale in the south of the USA.<br /><br />Finally, you'll note that "Halaal" is at the bottom - Antonio cooks his food so it's OK for Muslims.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-67301777451828898912007-05-15T21:31:00.000-07:002007-05-15T21:32:37.247-07:00Where did that van come from?My 6-year old daughter asked me that question on our walk to the bus stop together this morning.<br /><br />"Germany."<br /><br />"Oh, I thought it was from India, because it is green."paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-899272250177487662007-05-13T21:24:00.000-07:002007-05-13T21:30:29.832-07:00So what IS the taste of Iftar?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkflluhJ9dI/AAAAAAAAAaY/JnHlkyG1Vuc/s1600-h/taste-iftar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkflluhJ9dI/AAAAAAAAAaY/JnHlkyG1Vuc/s320/taste-iftar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064268742306428370" border="0" /></a>I have no idea, but this poster is in the elevator of a fancy hotel in downtown Nairobi. (I wasn't staying there; I parked my car in their garage while I did a little business elsewhere.)<br /><br />The really dedicated people out there will look up "Iftar" on Google. I didn't.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-53697575000554192592007-05-10T21:54:00.000-07:002007-05-10T22:18:30.648-07:00Liquid calcium<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkP8hehJ9cI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/wLl5xRh3RL8/s1600-h/liqui-calcium.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkP8hehJ9cI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/wLl5xRh3RL8/s320/liqui-calcium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063168058152580546" border="0" /></a>I was just amused at this feature of Colgate here - that would probably not be a selling point in North America.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-18396120342212792012007-05-09T21:33:00.000-07:002007-05-09T21:37:08.533-07:00Who does the work?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkKhO-hJ9bI/AAAAAAAAAaI/8ZhXMnKVRWA/s1600-h/women.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkKhO-hJ9bI/AAAAAAAAAaI/8ZhXMnKVRWA/s320/women.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062786209790162354" border="0" /></a>It often seems like women do the hard work in Africa - at least in rural parts. (I think it's true in other parts of the world too. My wife does a lot of the hard work in our marriage - by being a mom!)<br /><br />This photo was taken in Tanzania by our friends, the Stephens. They went there on a safari recently.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-29219537866712260592007-05-08T21:54:00.000-07:002007-05-08T22:00:21.257-07:00Architecture in Nairobi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkFU2ehJ9ZI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/hreng8YU__w/s1600-h/archit1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkFU2ehJ9ZI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/hreng8YU__w/s320/archit1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062420751022945682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkFU2ehJ9aI/AAAAAAAAAaA/FJCM53etBUU/s1600-h/archit2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkFU2ehJ9aI/AAAAAAAAAaA/FJCM53etBUU/s320/archit2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062420751022945698" border="0" /></a>This building is near the YaYa Shopping Centre. It's very new - it has just been open a few months.<br /><br />I like it. Not <span style="font-style: italic;">fully,</span> but at some levels. Reminds me of those freshman architecture classes at Texas Tech, oh so many years ago.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-52076746613043147772007-05-07T21:50:00.000-07:002007-05-07T21:52:17.672-07:00A tale of plastic in the dirt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkAB3OhJ9XI/AAAAAAAAAZo/uxe0kkJN8z4/s1600-h/reflector.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RkAB3OhJ9XI/AAAAAAAAAZo/uxe0kkJN8z4/s320/reflector.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062048029466031474" border="0" /></a>I found yet another broken car lens in the dirt by the side of the road. Vehicle accidents are part of life in Nairobi. Out of the group I'm a part of, there's an accident involving someone about once every two weeks.<br /><br />No matter how good a driver you are, it's the other person who may be the problem. Some people bribe their way into a license. Ability? That may not be part of their skillset. Learning? Maybe not. Aggressiveness? Definitely. (I pleasd guilty to that last one.)<br /><br />I tell newly arriving people that they should expect to be in a fender-bender about once every nine months, on average. If they aren't, it's maybe because they don't get out very much.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-91314915781667234142007-05-06T22:01:00.000-07:002007-05-06T22:08:57.265-07:00Bottle caps<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rj60H-hJ9WI/AAAAAAAAAZg/TeDAPseZjHM/s1600-h/bottle-caps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rj60H-hJ9WI/AAAAAAAAAZg/TeDAPseZjHM/s320/bottle-caps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061681080345163106" border="0" /></a>This is the next to last in my "rubbish art" series.<br /><br />Coke products in Kenya are the source of the most roadside bottle caps here.<br /><br />Come August, I'll be letting you know how to buy postcards, etc.<br /><br />If you do "search blog" for "rubbish" at the top of this blog, you can see the others. Also, if you double-click on the image, you can see it a bit larger.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-29945430345683282812007-05-03T07:31:00.000-07:002007-05-03T07:43:01.378-07:00Kinyozi art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rjn0oOhJ9UI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/IdD-ZTlDa8U/s1600-h/kinyozi1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rjn0oOhJ9UI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/IdD-ZTlDa8U/s320/kinyozi1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060344628256568642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rjn0oehJ9VI/AAAAAAAAAZY/AD8su6UTsXg/s1600-h/kinyozi2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/Rjn0oehJ9VI/AAAAAAAAAZY/AD8su6UTsXg/s320/kinyozi2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060344632551535954" border="0" /></a>I love Kinyozi art. <span style="font-style: italic;">Kinyozi</span> (Swahili) are barbers - or beauty salon artistes (that's "ar-TEESTS"). Nearly all Kinyozi shops have art on the outside - to draw customers to the inside.<br /><br />In my dream life, I'd take about a month travelling around Kenya taking photos of the art of Kinyozi shops - to create a coffee table book. Alas, these two shots will have to do.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15774828.post-63155600247727356662007-05-02T06:57:00.000-07:002007-05-02T07:02:55.182-07:00Cingular<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RjiZ-ehJ9TI/AAAAAAAAAZI/IL-vd2n5fsg/s1600-h/cingular.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8nEkXZy24CQ/RjiZ-ehJ9TI/AAAAAAAAAZI/IL-vd2n5fsg/s320/cingular.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059963479973819698" border="0" /></a>Sierra, my favorite restaurant in Nairobi, is sponsored by Cingular. Not really.<br /><br />But the large plate glass windows at front <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> held in place by Cingular. Not really.paulmerrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284589007691780noreply@blogger.com0