Youth Voices: Adjustments

Making this journey hasn't been easy in the slightest, but the experience is making it worthwhile. Traveling halfway across the world has always been a major milestone of mine, and when I was awarded this internship I was ecstatic to finally get this opportunity. I was briefed on the feelings I would go through during my adjusting time and I doubted the sheer magnitude that it would all hit me.

Being granted the opportunity to travel to another continent to learn with little monetary strain to me or my parents is more than I could ever ask for during my college career. During my time of preparation, there were actions I could have took to better adjust, but my excitement clouded my pre-departure. I have managed so far pretty well by myself, it is just the mental challenge of being alone is one of the biggest challenges that I have faced during my time. Along with the language and trying to keep up with a bilingual community, adjusting isn't simple. It has been a gradual process for me but enjoyable nevertheless.

I love to accept any challenge that I find myself faced with. It may not always start like a breeze, but as I get used to the challenge, I not only thrive but I enjoy the ordeal the more I encounter it. I hold the philosophy to try anything at least once, and my favorite way to implement this is through trying new and different foods. Being in a culture that does not season food the way I would was interesting to taste during my first culinary endeavors. The food seldom needs the amount of spicing that we partake in back home. I find myself rarely trying to put extra spice on my food aside from the occasional salt sprinkle on my omelet or serving of fries.

Since arriving here I have been treated to appetizing cuisine for each meal. I enjoy seeing the changing menu for my lunch and trying something I have never had before. So far my favorite dish has been stewed goat, I have always heard how goat meat tastes and I can confidently say that I have joined the percentage of people that enjoy consuming goat. When it comes to cultural-specific favorites, I have come to love chapati and ugali, which can be pretty much enjoyed with any meal. As much as I enjoyed the stewed goat, one of my go-to meals for the day is a BLT wrap, which is not that different from how we would prepare the sandwich at home, but there is something about how they make it that has become a staple of my three meals of the day.

My love for the culture doesn't just range from cuisine to being able to explore the county of Nairobi during the weekend has given me a new factor to admire. During my time I have experienced the family values, economic ways, and day-to-day routines. A negotiating system when it comes to the market was not something I expected but it was interesting to experience when trying to obtain souvenirs. I hope to be able to participate and see how I fare even if I am not the most successful. Coming from a country with strict traffic laws and coming to streets with no stop lights and nobody really stopping was an adjustment I had to get used to quickly. With that being said it is interesting to see no motor accidents occuring so far. As I continue my time here I hope to adopt other parts of their culture that I can use in my everyday life and to better myself as well.