And then it was gone...

I have to admit, many times I’ve been telling people how long I’ve been staying in Nairobi, without ever being robbed or stolen from. I bit proud perhaps, that I’ve been able to avoid it. Thinking I’m not so naïve, and by now I have learned to read situations and avoid dangers.
But maybe it was just bound to happen, and at least it has taught me to always be alert.

Now I’m sitting here with a new phone, my old one has gotten a new owner, together with my wallet, cards and money. People are clever, and the wazungu girls might be slightly stupid and naïve.

Anyways, the story goes like this. I have just visited the ATM to withdraw some money, and top up the credit on my phone. I meet Solfrid and we board a matatu heading towards town. 4 other guys enter, one is limping. After being asked to help the poor limping guy, Solfrid moves further back in the matatu. The limping guy sits down next to me, the remaining guys place themselves strategically around in the vehicle, one seated next to Solfrid, in the backseat. Suddenly the guys start talking about the police further down the road, and are stressing putting on their seatbelts to avoid a fine. They shout to the wazungu girls, and say we have to put on ours as well. Of course the seatbelts are not working, and confusion rises. The matatu conductor is also very eager to make sure we are busy trying to put on the safety belt. Very helpful people, indeed..

They keep talking about wanting to avoid the police, and in a few seconds the 4 guys have jumped out of the matatu, and disappeared. I move back to Solfrid, saying “These guys, they are so afraid of the police..” Still trying to find a seat belt that is working, I suddenly notice that my purse is so light. I open the zipper, and nothing is left inside. Solfrid checks her purse as well, and the phone and some money have disappeared.

Those guys are clever..

There and back again

Two weeks ago I went back to Norway to say goodbye to my dear grandfather. A man who I have always been proud of, and who has lived a life showing that it actually is possible to put the needs of others higher than your own.
A sad reason for going home, but still so nice to meet my whole family and my friends again. Grandpa - I will miss you!

Sitting in front of the computer in my apartment in Nairobi, I feel quite exhausted. A lot has happened lately and my mind is occupied by so many things.

We've had uninvited visitors, that actually forced us to move. BEDBUGS.. Not my favourite bugs.. They clung on to our beds, not willing to give in, even to the company that sprayed the whole apartment. So the result was washing ALL our clothes and blankets and... you name it.. Then we moved to a new apartment - without bedbugs, and actually with a much better view, so after all the moving we were quite happy.

Going home to Norway, already tired after moving, luck was definitely not on my side. While running away from bedbugs in Nairobi, I was running to catch my flight in Amsterdam. Chaos at the airport with people and long lines everywhere, resulted in sprinting throught the airport, reaching the plane 10 min before it was supposed to leave. Happy to be inside the plane, I found a lady sitting on my seat. In my confusion I wasn't even sure I had boarded the right plane. But it turned out to be an even more confused non-english speaking lady sitting on my seat, so I got a new seat and could sit down and start breathing again.

But the story doesn't end here. With one more plane to catch from Oslo to Trondheim, I was happy when I could actually sit down and wait before boarding the last plane. Things seemed to be going well. But entering the plane, there was once again a lady sitting on my seat. This one was speaking both English and Norwegian so communication was not the problem - but double- booking.. So I sat down on a temporarily seat, waiting to see where the promised free seats would appear. Then suddenly two crutches fell down from above, and hit my already tired and heavy head. A girl had opened the packed luggage room above my seat, and now my head was pounding, and I was fed up with travelling, airports and stupid aircrafts..

The story still ended well with a nice dinner at my friend's place back in Trondheim. :)