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Today was one of the slower days on our trip. After returning from Maasai Mara in the late evening yesterday, everyone needed some much-needed rest. We started our day with breakfast at the KUCC. Some went to breakfast, while others opted out in order to sleep a bit longer. The only prearranged event on our agenda for the day was lunch at the Green Spot Gardens around noon.
While waiting for the bus to take us to our lunch destination, Drs. Jalloh and Breitwieser let us know that one of the student members had left early and was heading back to the United States. The student, unfortunately, had lost a family member, was not feeling well, and thus needed to go home. We were all saddened by the news and hoped she would soon heal and recover. We were glad to have as much time with her as we did!
Shortly after, our moods lifted when Dr. Irene joined us on the bus for lunch. The Kenyatta team had not accompanied us on our short trip to Maasai Mara, so seeing them again made us realise how much we missed them. Although we have only known the team at Kenyatta University (Dr. Irene, the two Caros, Winters, and Palesa) for a week and a half, their kindness and generosity have bonded us to them. Being apart for three days felt like an eternity, and we were happy to be reunited. The group was complete when Ms. Caro joined us later during lunch.
After lunch, we were taken to Garden City Mall in order to exchange money and buy some necessities from the grocery store. Some of the students previously expressed that they were missing American foods like pizza, so Drs. Jalloh and Breitwieser arranged for us to order some pizza takeaway. Once we completed our errands, we each ordered a small pie. We were all eager to get back to the University so we could enjoy the delicious cheesy bread. Some even finished their meal before we arrived!
Due to visiting various malls during our trip, we found ourselves pondering the topic of malls on our ride back to campus. We realized that there is a major difference between mall culture in the United States and Kenya. The malls in Nairobi are much larger and livelier than those we are accustomed to back home. People in Nairobi go to the mall for social hangouts and often spend all day there killing time. The malls have everything that a person might need. Dr. Jalloh referred to the malls as a “one stop shop” and Dr. B says they are a “third space” that gets people outside of their homes and workplaces, something lost when malls die. The food courts are expansive, leaving shoppers with many options for lunch and even dinner. There are usually at least three floors and some even reach eight floors high. It is common for movie theaters, arcades, and grocery stores to be located in the malls as well. Seeing this from the perspective of America's dying mall culture was interesting.
The last, most exciting, thing on our agenda was to spend an evening getting our nails done! Some of the Hollins students coordinated with Palesa, one of the Kenyatta University students who is supporting us during our trip, to do our nails. Palesa is finishing degrees in Gender Studies and Psychology and runs a hair and nail business too. She is incredibly talented, and we were truly honored that she took the time to work on our nails and allowed us the opportunity to support her business.
Bagby went first. She opted for a hot pink color, which was not the blue that she typically gets. She said this color and the flower that Palesa skillfully crafted were fitting for a summer look, which was exactly what Bagby wanted.
Next up was Madison. She also chose a warmer color; this one was more red than the last. Palesa also added black hearts on Madison’s ring fingers, giving the nails the appearance of a ladybug.
Last, but not least, Hazel indulged in the pampering. Going against the grain, they decided to get a cooler-toned color. It is a bright blue that will complement the outfits they plan on wearing in Mombasa (and matches the Kenyatta school colors!). Hazel also did not go for a design, preferring to keep things simple with a solid color.
Palesa’s business Instagram handle is lessa.atelier. You should check her out! If you ever find yourself in Nairobi and in need of getting your hair or nails done, we recommend her!
After our day of rest, and with internet restored in our rooms, we now feel charged and ready to face tomorrow!
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