Click here to read Part 1
After getting a driver, waiting to leave, going over details we are finally on the road. (this picture is of Gideon driving not Mutuku, but these are some of the obstacles we face while leaving Tala!) For you very observant people Kenya does drive opposite of here in the States and their steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car, but Gideon bought this car in the ’80’s here in the US and shipped it back to Kenya, so he is well known around town for sitting in the “passenger seat driving”!
Once we are on Kangundo/Nairobi road it then becomes an obstacle course of dodging potholes, goats, people, other vehicles and whatever else may be on the road. Nairobi is only about 37 miles from Tala, but the trip takes us at least an hour and a half because you usually are not driving the speed limit.
Upon reaching Nairobi we are faced with more obstacles. First we have to roll up our windows so nothing gets stolen out of the car, then Mutuku has to get us through Nairobi’s many round-abouts (I really dislike these things) all while dodging bicycles, cars, people and animals.
Mutuku will then drop us off at a store (like the Uniform Distribution Center where we purchase school uniforms) and drive around to either find a parking spot or just keep driving around until we call him and are ready to be picked up. Once everything is purchased, loaded in the car and we’ve had a bite to eat it is off to Tala – praying we don’t hit any traffic jams (simply referred to as “jams” in Nairobi) which could set our schedule back between an hour up to 5 hours. I remember one trip we were in a mini-van and got stuck in a jam for approximately 3 hours, basically sitting amongst traffic not moving but leaving the vehicle running (for a quick getaway!) so by the time we start moving I have a headache and am sick to my stomach because of the fumes I’ve been breathing in – yuck!
After that experience, and several others similar to it, we started to make our trips to Nairobi few and far between. I do however get a coffee from the Java House whenever we are in the city – yummy, just like home! But it sure does make me appreciate what we have here in the States: nice roads, stocked stores, traffic laws that are (on the most part) obeyed and emissions testing!
As you can see it isn’t just get in your car and leave, it takes planning, organizing and patience to make a trip into the city and while we are in Nairobi I appreciate Tala village even more and can’t wait to get back to the fresh air!