14/10
First day in the project but on a stop in the nearest city of to Kathuni, called Machakos. I am the only white person in the entire city and it makes me feel very uncomfortable. The perception that the majority of the rural people have of white people are that they equal lots of money, which in comparison to what they have is surely true but is not the reason I am here. So it is understandable when they try in every way possible to get some money from you but it is annoying and not welcoming much to the contrary what everybody will tell you about the hospitality.
The bus ride took roughly one hour on the "highway" from Mombasa to Nairobi with only two lanes most of the time and gaps lacking asphalt. The roof of the bus looked like it would collapse at any moment but I saw zebras, giraffes and gazelles already. We are about to carry on the Kathuni. I hope the food at the host family will be sufficient and edible because I really feel undernourished especially as the work coming up includes hard labor on the fields.
The host father, Peter, sounds enthusiastic and seems very nice. He lives with his mother, sister and an orphan all of whom I have not yet met. The conditions in Machakos, which is one of the biggest cities in Kenya, are terrible. It is constantly dusty, which has the advantage that I might loose my habit of biting my nails as I might otherwise get sick from the dirty hands. Although already shocked by Nairobi I now see the advantages of it over Machakos, which means I will gladly spend more time in my project.
Another volunteer from Germany called Anne who came in September but left her project because it was dreadful might join me until December after a two week holiday in Uganda. By now I really hope she will come as having somebody else even it is only for the first few months would be tremendous.