We’ve finally signed the lease to our new apartment! We’re living in the Kilimani area of Nairobi–basically where all the NGOs are based. The apartment is furnished and as such a bit overpriced, but what clinched it for us was the large lawn in the back–the only complex we saw that had a green space at all, unfortunately. And in the middle of that lawn stands a big thorn tree, the top of which is level with our (4th floor) balcony:
Not a bad place to have breakfast, eh? There are tons of different birds living in this tree, as well as hawks/eagles (?) constantly circling above (note to self: don’t leave baby alone outside). As to the complex, there seems to be a variety of different tenants, including middle-class Kenyan families, expats like us (we’ve met a couple of Canadians, a Brit and an American around our age), and even some Dutch couples here to adopt internationally.
We’re actually taking over the apartment from an acquaintance of G’s who is moving to Vancouver. She happens to be Chinese Canadian, so when I met our landlady’s handyman he exclaimed how I look like her. (I don’t.) Incidentally, this handyman promised to come back the next day to supply us with missing light bulbs and to fix our curtains, but it’s been five days now and he’s nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, the caretaker for our complex is apparently known to appreciate a drink or two (okay, the first time I met him I had never smelled alcohol so strongly on anyone before)–but he helpfully warned us not to swim in the pool in the mornings, which is when he adds “the chemicals”…
Home Sweet Home!