Sylvia's Journal

Whatever I had done on Friday, the effects continued the next day. I was so full of confidence about my progress but yesterday was discouraging. It was good that Eunice came for my massage at 8 AM. Even so, I had a hard time walking to the breakfast restaurant, which requires descending stairs and then walking over uneven pavement. I had wanted to go downtown and walk around a bit or to the museum, not wanting to stay in my room all day. Walking around did not seem a good idea anymore. I ended up going to the national archives, on Joseph’s and Kristen’s suggestion. It was small enough that I could manage a little less than one hour on my feet. It was hard as it was without any places to sit.

The Kenya National Archives are located in an old building that used to be the Bank of India in the very old days. It is a temple like building and must have looked quite imposing in the center of old Nairobi before it got overshadowed by much taller buildings. But now, with a new paint job, it looked quite charming in the middle of the pollution and chaos of downtown. The ground floor is filled with many artifacts from various Kenyan tribes, sometimes in unlit cases so you can’t really see what’s inside but beautiful craft work nevertheless. Then there are small displays of artifacts from neighboring and other African countries. Upstairs was a rather dusty exhibit of large photographs of many people, white and black, who are presented as heroes but who were in real life villains, crooks and criminals, who enriched themselves beyond belief at the expense of the country. Some were also responsible for unthinkable brutality. I found it hard to look at these glorified pictures. They are collectively responsible for most if not all the current messes.

I was dying to look into some of the old and worn file folders that were on display in glass cases containing official government correspondence on various topics. According to a sticker on them, these folders were open to the public for viewing as they were more than 50 years old. But you could not just lift up the cover and look inside them. I required probably something more than I was prepared to engage in.

The rest of the day I did stay in my room. I took a nap, did some reading and prepared for the workshop. I had a wonderful video skype chat with Tessa and Steve. The webcam allows me to have a full screen window into their room. I could see them play with the new puppy. With this new technology you have to get dressed and be somewhat decent before you sit down at the computer. No more skyping without any clothes on!