Bullfighting

Note for the folks at home: As all of my knowledge on traditional bull fighting is second-hand (at best), I can't guarantee the accuracy of any of this additional information: bull fighting is a tradition of the Luhya tribe, which originated around the Kakamega region in western Kenya. The fight is not to the death; a winner is decided long before one of the bulls dies. The bulls are, according to all of the sources I can find, given controlled substances, but my colleague (pictured above) is the only source attesting that this substance is Marijuana, and not some form of traditional alcoholic brew.

And a note for mom: please ignore the image of two high bulls above.

American Phrases

Note for the folks at home: while American slang is nearly nonexistent in Kenya, it's impossible to overlook the existence of "Sheng". Sheng is, nominally, a colloquial mixture of English and Kiswahili most popular, not surprisingly, with the youth of Kenya. In practice, it seems to be something much more complex and sinister. So far, I've documented reversed syllables ("kuja hapa", 'come here', becoming "jaku paha"), flagrantly extended ending vowels ("ugali", a popular Kenyan food, becoming "ugalaio"), and the total deconstruction of English to what I can only term 'AIM Speak' ("hi iz u cmn 2 da prti?") as 'legitimate' examples of Sheng.

Super!

Note for the folks at home: Kisamburu is the local "mother tongue" of Maralal, the native language spoken by the indigenous people of the region: the Samburu tribe. "Supa" is the standard greeting, to which the response, "oyie", should be given in a slightly rising inflection... something I've yet to master to the point where it doesn't cause my listeners to laugh/cringe. Other Kisamburu phrases: "supa deyi", "serian" (both greetings), and "kara lmalimoi" ("I am a teacher"). The lone syllable "eh" is a tremendously common part of speech. It seems to have a great deal of conflicting meanings, to the point where one can't help but think it was invented with the sole purpose of confusing foreigners.

Whoa!

Note for the folks at home: gigantic anthills and gigantic piles of elephant droppings are pretty common sights (and obstacles while walking) in the Samburu area of northern Kenya. Other local wildlife includes zebra, gazelle, cape buffalo, hartbeest, eland, and rhinos. The area is also reportedly home to lions, hyena, and leopards, but I have yet to see any (or touch their excrement with my bare hands.)

Nipe

Note for the folks at home: Kiswahili (the language of the Swahili culture - usually simplified to "Swahili" outside east Africa) is the national language of Kenya, making it the most popular common language among individuals of different tribes. There are about forty different tribes in Kenya, each having (at least) one "mother tongue" of its own --- usually dramatically distinct from Kiswahili. Add to this the fact that English is gaining ground country-wide, primarily in big cities, and you're left with the linguistic maelstrom that is modern Kenya. Moreover, visitors should expect even the youngest child growing up in Kenya to know two or three more languages than themselves.

Right Now

Note for the folks at home: "Rude", it turns out, is a relative term on a global scale. Things to do in Kenya: pick nose, cut forward in lines, chew with mouth gaping, spit freely, urinate in semi-public situations. Things to avoid doing in Kenya: scratch beard, greet someone with something as short as "hello", leave the house with dirty shoes, decline an offer of tea, use the imperative verb tense ("come!") instead of the subjunctive ("would you come").

White Person

Note for the folks at home: while a white person ("mzungu") isn't a rare sight in big cities like Nairobi or Mombasa, there are still places in Kenya where an individual of European ancestry draws a bit more attention. In rural towns, it isn't surprising to find a train of local children chasing a caucasian, chanting what they believe to be the standard white person greeting: "HAWAYU?"

And yes, that is how short ties are commonly tied. No idea why.