AFRICA

Alternative service in Kenya

Habari!

Habari means "news" in Swahili and is used as greeting like How are you?. I.e. you ask somebody Habari za leo? (news from today?), then the person normaly answers: nzuri sana (good very).

So this page is kind of a news ticker or log book giving you an impression of what is habari za leo during my alternative service in Kenya.

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19.07.05 - Just spotted a sticker in the style as "Parental Advice: Explicit Content!" on a matatu: "Biblical Advice: JESUS SAVES!"

10.07.05 - high tide and high waves!

07.07.05 - walking miles through Kenyan bush bush to visit Wardai Tribes and their toothless elders

28.06.05 - the smell of a Bergstaiga Wuarscht is wonderfull! rounded up with some fresh Krenn - supa!

23.06.05 - one shirt, one pullover and one fleece jacket - still freezing!!! IT IS F.. COLD HERE IN AFRICA!!

21.06.05 - drizzly rain! like on a October's day in Austria.

10.06.05 - there is a place in Kenya I think I could settle down: Buchinga, N 0 ° 17.002', O 34 ° 39 ' :-)

04.06.05 - the ecofest was great for us, but Wangari Mathai did not show up though said so.

30.05.05 - the trip to India was gorgeous! a lifetime experince!

16.05.05 - still waiting for some data from Lower Tana! 6 weeks now!! :-(

13.05.05 - In bright daylight a colleague was attacked in East Nairobi and now has a huge cut on his head.

04.05.05 - Working permit approved! Visa for India done. New alien pass for 1 year in process.

01.05.05 - Skype!

21.04.05 - Lucky me I have access to a faster internet connection now, because my host cancelled all file by accident.

06.04.05 - Imagine you have to teach the full function of a special software to a person, who even can not navigate a mouse.

05.04.05 - met a Sikh Guru in white clothing, appeared like an angel

28.03.05 - Jesus films the whole weekend on all channels!

25.03.05 - Happy Easter!

23.03.05 - Ooh! I'm an alien, I'm an legal alien! I'm an Austrian in Kenya!

09.03.05 - Birthday of Jakob B. :-))

08.03.05 - Should I stay inside and sweat because of the sultry air or outside and sweat because of the heat?

05.03.05 - holidays in Lower Tana: do not forget to bring the swimming pool!

04.03.05 - The heat is on!

03.03.05 - I really went to Lower Tana today. Nairobi-Minjila (700km) in 13 hours - an expedition!

01.03.05 - first rainfalls in Nairobi.

28.02.05 - oK - it will be Thursday.

25.02.05 - Tuesday next week I will go to visit the Lower Tana River Project.

18.02.05 - "you look very smart" did I hear many times today due to the shirt I was wearing which was a present of Edmond.

18.02.05 - We had a really good staff meeting of all the 55 employess of KWAHO.

16.02.05 - From the corporate mission paper of a local ISP:

• Excusable Delays:
  Company shall not be liable for delays in delivery or failure to perform due directly or indirectly to
  - Acts of God
  - Acts of government authority
  - Strikes or any other labor disputes

15.02.05 - Another computer re-installed.

14.02.05 - The road up to our house has been rebuild by means of the appartement's residents.

12.02.05 - How to safe money: switch on the flourescent tube lights, remove its starter and put it into the next, switch it on, remove the starter and use it for the next light...

05.02.05 - Playing badminton with the children from the compound is very ok after work.

03.02.05 - 1.5 hours waiting for a matatu is not funny.

02.02.05 - Had no time for "Habari", why? travelling, office resnovation, work, girlfriend, visitors...

08.01.05 - The mango season is at it's top.

24.12.04 - Krisimais njema! Siku ku njema!

21.12.04 - If you have a message, write a telegramm!

20.12.04 - "you know, Josef knows" (by Paul Ochieng) :-)

11.12.04 - Do not buy handy crafts on markets! The shops are much much cheaper and have exactly the same stuff.

10.12.04 - Has somebody ever made good experiences with XP Service Pack 2?? F*** M$!

08.12.04 - Hopefully the last days of the rainy season. Every morning rain sucks.

04.12.04 - Iris has arrived! :)

29.11.04 - I am very happy today!! Congratulations Iris :-)

23.11.04 - The watch men at the parking place of Yaya centre wear a red christmas hood, a red t-shirt and a yellow emergency jacket.

21.11.04 - 13 hours in a bus is much time to sleep.

14.11.04 - Long weekend with much rain. :(

12.11.04 - "Denn keiner, auch nur einer, hat(te) so sinnliche Lippen wie der Yassir Arafat - Arafat, Arafat" (Döf oder Trio)

11.11.04 - A nice Martini-Gansl, here they are celebrating Bonfire, I guess. Otherwise do I miss a concert of Youss'n Dour tonight hence it is sold out.

10.11.04 - Back in Nairobi. Home!?

04.11.04 - A very sad week for the world. I am disappointed by the people of USA.

02.11.04 - People are strange, when you're a stranger! (J. Morrison)

28.10.04 - It is not bad here in Kombewa, but reasons for suddenly expressions of joy are rare.

26.10.04 - Kampala is nice. Much better than Nairobi.

22.10.04 - I am angry about the fact that I write emails of which I do not know when I will be able to actually send them. Sorry by the way for any confusion arising of this issue.

21.10.04 - Riding a motorbike while at duty is a great pleasure on this roads :)

20.10.04 - My frog was very active this morning, but no quack.

06.10.04 - At the moment I am in Kombewa near the Lake Victoria in western Kenya.
We have a very very bad internet connection here and the next internet cafe is in Kisumu, about an hour ride with the motorbike. But Kombewa is a very nice place so I have written a narrative about it, which you will find here (only in German). So I hope this explains why I am answering rarely emails, sorry for that.

28.08.04 - There is no 2nd chance for first impressions!