Submerged in Culture

My friend and I volunteered in a clinic as nurses for 2 weeks and stayed with our host family in Nairobi. The family was very welcoming and encouraged us to learn Kenyan culture by allowing us to participate in making meals (we mastered making Chapati!), going to the market to shop for food and learn to take local transportation.

The clinic allowed us hands-on experience to interact with the people of Kenya and to learn how different the health care and processes are however, the clinic was not what we had expected and felt that our nursing skills were not useful in that setting. Our volunteer coordinator was very receptive to our feedback and he brought us to visit multiple projects in and around Nairobi where we were able to experience much more. We visited different schools, had the opportunity to bring food and a water filter to a rural school in need as well as, visit an orphanage in Nairobi. The coordinator brought us to his countryside home and we also visited Masailand where we learned about Masai culture and projects being started there.

The people of Kenya were all very welcoming and we felt very safe traveling around the city. The coordinator traveled with us on the bus multiple times to ensure we were comfortable getting to and from shopping and the clinic. On our weekends in between volunteering, we were able to see all the unique things Nairobi has to offer, whether it’s going on safari or visiting local attractions.

My favourite part of this experience was being submerged in Kenyan Culture. Living with our host family was fun; we always felt welcome and like a part of the family. Meeting the children was always exciting. Their energy and smiles are contagious and I looked forward to interacting with them daily. The children are so kind, playful and eager to learn. They loved to sing for us and I left each day with my heart feeling full.

Kenya is a beautiful country full of vibrant landscapes, opportunity and growth. The people of Kenya are in great need but their resilience and positivity is inspiring. This experience has been life changing and we will definitely be returning!