Today was Labor Day, celebrated the world over (except in the US, since we like to celebrate on our own schedule). I spent half of the day inside reading. To be honest, I was a little scared to go out. I don’t know how anything works or where anything is, which resulted in my first meltdown last night. When I moved to New York, I loved being asked directions. Or knowing how to get to work when the A train stopped running or decided to run over some crazy avenue on the other side of town. Transport is a real issue yet, and I’m totally lost.

I decided that I needed to get out and see the neighborhood. So I set out for a walk. And I walked and walked and walked. An hour and fifteen minutes later, I realized that this Bunga area I’m living in might be the boonies (at least for walkers). I got a lot of strange looks and a few “Hey! Muzungu!”s while I was out there in the mid-day equatorial sun with no hat or sunscreen or shoes that don’t rub your feet raw when it’s humid outside. Sure, I could have hopped on a boda-boda. But my mom has instilled a healthy fear of motorocyles, and people drive a little crazy on the road I was walking. Or I could have gotten into a matatu. Except that I haven’t figured out how to hail them, how much it should cost, or where to go. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to find my way back, either, so I figured I was safer walking. My feet really disagreed with that decision.

May 2, 3, 4. The internet still isn’t working at home. And the internet at the office doesn’t seem to want me to get online either. I feel cut off. Argh.