Shopping in Nairobi

Who does not like shopping these days? It is such a huge part of our lives now! Kids, man even babies, like to dress up and look fashionable. And, don’t you worry about Nairobi. They are definitely catching up with the world! There may not be many shopping malls here (at least from my point of view), but they are definitely growing.

I remember when we were looking for a house over a year ago. Our real estate agent talked to us about shopping malls with such enthusiasm. She told us about these newly opened places with this degree of amazement in her voice! She even made me excited. So… for first timers in town, I have put together a list for you.

-Junction Mall: (on Ngong Rd) It is only a few years old and there are plenty of parking spaces. On Thursdays, there is a Masai market, which I would definitely recommend. There are many restaurants in Junction Mall including the following cuisines: Italian, Chinese, Lebanese, Japanese, and continental food. I have tried it all and the verdict is in… It is delicious! There is also a wine place on the first floor. A big popular restaurant chain called, Art Caffe. I would definitely recommend the bakery, which has many healthy and tasty choices. The food court is located on the top level. Some of the stores in Junction include: Bata, Mr. Price, Kazuri, Banana Box, Nakumatt supermarket, Zucchini grocery store, Text Store, Kikoy, an art shop, Nike, Baby Shop, Converse, Levi’s, Beauty Shop, a movie center, and much more! You can check out website here at http://www.thejunction.co.ke/

- Westgate Mall: This is very, very popular. It is the biggest and newest one in town, has plenty of stores, and there is a Masai Market on Tuesdays on the top level. There is another Art Caffe which serves continental food and baked goods. The live music occurs during the weekends and it is always a crowded, popular spot. There is a chic Japanese restaurant on the upper level and a tapas place and hamburger joint on the first floor. There is also a food court on the top level for a quick bite when you want many choices. Also, there is a kids arcade located on the top level across from the food court. Nairobi Java House is also located on the top level. It is relatively new as it was recently opened. There are also many stores such as Bata, Mr. Price, Nakumatt, travel agencies, Palacina, Woolworth's, Kazuri, Ivory, Identity, Nike, jewelry stores, a movie center, and much more. Check out website http://www.westgate.co.ke/

- Sarit Center: It was the first mall in Nairobi and is known as the largest mall in East Africa. I personally think it is old, dark, and airless, but it still has many helpful stores. It is also conveniently located within walking distance of Westgate! Stores at the Sarit Center include Bata, Bike Land, Banana Box, Uchumi (a grocery store), Levi's, Toy world, and a few specialty stores such as jewelry and rug store. There are also a few restaurants (not big names), a movie center, and much more. Some of the food accommodations include a Nairobi Java House and Doorman’s Coffee Shop located on the ground level, both serving fresh coffee, desserts, and quick bites to eat. Check out the website http://www.saritcentre.com/

-Galleria Mall: On Langata Road, the Galleria Mall is new but very small since there are not many stores inside. Since there is huge road construction in front of it, I would not recommend the Galleria Mall to anyone, at least these days! You can also find an Art Caffe here and a food court on the upper level for a quick bite. Some stores include Bata, Nakumatt, Health store, Mr. Price, bike store, Uniform Store, Converse, and a few more. The best thing about the Galleria Mall is that the Nairobi Hospital outpatient center is located on the third level. It is very new and provides the best customer service in Kenya. The Nairobi Hospital at the Galleria Mall is open 24/7. Check out www.galleria.co.ke

-Yaya Center: I would not call this a mall as it is hard to get a parking space and is also quite old looking! But any expat who has a child must visit this place since the Uniform Store (all Nairobi school uniforms are sold in this place) is located in here.  Other things located at the Yaya Center include Mr. Price, Chandarana (a grocery store), Pro Bike, Mr. Price, Doorman’s Coffee, Bata, Truworths, Toy World, Book Shop, Beauty Shop, Nairobi Sports House, specialty stores such as bridal, art, optics, health, photo studios, and more. Check out www.yaya-center.com

-Village Market: Located in Runda, this is an open air, three level mall located in Runda. It is old as well, but since it is open air, I find it very refreshing. Village Market is very popular among expats. It gets very crowded during weekends and most expats hang out here. There is another Art Caffe, which is an always crowded, newly opened Italian restaurant serving good food. Many shops are located in the Village Market such as Bata, Identity, Nakumatt, Toy World, Palacina, art shops, beauty shops, bridal shops, Kikoy, Nairobi Sports House, Kazuri, Palacina, Zucchini grocery store, and some other shops as well. The last time I was at Village Market it was going through major renovation. There is also a game center for kids on the upper level. Check out www.villagemarket-kenya.com

-ABC Place: The ABC Place is located on Waiyaki Way. The best thing about ABC is the popular restaurant called Seven Seafood & Grill located on the ground level. They serve fresh fish and simply delicious food. Here, you can also find Chandarana supermarket, Zucchini grocery store, Toy World, Java House, and a few other stores. Check out their web site www.abc-place.com

In regards to grocery stores, I would recommend Nakumatt because it is easy to locate in all shopping centers as the biggest chain in town. Nakumatt sells anything you could look for from fish, to poultry, to toys, to bikes, to mattresses, to furniture, to dairy, to veggies, to mosquito nets, to garden supplies, and much more. At Nakumatt, you can get all of your shopping done in a single place that is both clean and convenient.

Being an Expat, expat wife, and child of an expat parents

For so many people, moving is such a hassle. Most people do not like going outside of their comfort zone. Imagine yourself, packing, unpacking, changing phone numbers, closing your internet, power, TV, saying goodbye to friends and in some cases to family, settling down with your kids, finding schools, and so much more every three to four years. I have so many friends and neighbors who were born in the same house they are living in now with their kids. They go to the same hair dresser, drive on the same roads and streets, shop at the same grocery stores, and their kids go to the same school they once went to. One of my good friend once told me she cannot even picture herself changing her hairdresser or moving to a new house every couple of years, let alone moving to a different country. I was never one of these people. Friends of mine always teased me. Even when I was single, I was very flexible with changing houses, buying and selling my furniture, and redecorating my new house. Some of my close friends thought I was crazy. Now even though I am married with two kids, my outlook still has not changed. I am probably very lucky to have found someone who shares the same views on life as I do.

Anyways, being an expat is not for everyone because there are so many roads you take in life with unknowns. But, that is probably what makes being an expat so beautiful and challenging. You go to these places you have never been before, witness things that you would never see by just visiting, meet so many great people from different parts of the world, and make friends from thousands of miles away. You end up missing so many things you used to have, understand their real value, and develop a greater appreciation for those things.

Our 7 yrs. old daughter (and now 2 yrs. old son) have changed schools so may times and met many friends in many places. There were times I felt guilty I did not keep them in one place, but overtime I learned something. These experiences involving changing schools, environments, and friendships will help shape their character and prepare my children for anything this century has to offer. Children have this ability to learn, see, and experience so much. They develop these personalities where they are flexible, non-judgmental, and open minded with a resilient confidence.

Of course that is not to say that there are not downsides of living an expat life. Just as there are so many beautiful and exciting unknowns, there are also unknowns that deal with culture, safety, knowledge of the community, potential loneliness, and a possible lack of the basic necessities of daily life. In my opinion, the hardest one is how hard it can become to stay connected with old friends because your perceptions and expectations in life change so much from the experience. But at time same time, you become flexible, adjustable, understanding, open to ideas, more patient, and so much more. You develop these qualities that make you realize why being human is something to cherish. Surely these changes do depend on your individual personality and character, but when you put in the effort you will see the rewarding returns.

So, I personally look at our African life as a personal development. Even sitting in the garden and writing these blogs make me think about my past experiences, what I have done, and what I could have done differently.

The bottom line is that we all need to find a way to be better and be more appreciative for what we have.

Power Cuts...

That's right, POWER CUTS! It is not occasional; it is USUAL!!! How can I explain… It is part of routine daily life in here. Yes this occurs in Nairobi despite the fact that it is supposedly a majorly developed African city. In my opinion, not so…But that is not our subject in this post.

During the rainy season, dry season, winter, and any timeframe you can think of, there are power cuts. Some days the power cuts last for hours, some days they last all day! First I thought this would be expected during the rainy season, but I have learned from living here over a year that this has nothing to do with the weather. This way of life that people are so accustomed to, (so much so that people do not even bother to complain about it or make comments about it, you feel like people have accepted this, as something that will never change  is like), it is the same thing for not having clean water or a sewage system...

When talking about power cuts, it is important to know that it effects everything around you including hospitals, schools, roads, safety and many more. I think that’s why generator companies make so much money here. You can see their offices when you drive around! This ties into my conspiracy theory that something is going on with those generator companies. There are so many power cuts that if one wants basic human needs on a daily basis, you have to purchase a generator which costs (depending on the size) around $2000 or more!

To make matters worse, in most cases when there is a power cut there is also a water cut! You get one and second one is free! And, strange enough it happens on evenings or weekends! This again goes to my major conspiracy theory. Imagine, you are home (not to mention if you have children) and there is no water and no power!

So, here is your options: You either buy a generator and extra water tank, which is usually huge because you need a tons of water, or you deal with having no power and/or water during most of your week. Just a give you an idea: imagine yourself coming home from work with long hours of driving through potholes, we you open your door there is no power or water.

For example, last night we had no power (well, we did… we have a inverter, which it was probably the smartest investment we have made!) and a huge sound was coming from outside. Guess what it was… the neighbor’s generator!!! But, do not worry, you get used to it.

So here are the facts on this issue: If you are planning to move Nairobi, be prepared for for many power cuts and/or water cuts. Make sure the place you are renting has an extra water tank. At least you do not have to spend money on this. And, buy a generator or preferably an inverter (worth extra money, but it makes no noise and the battery life is much longer!).

Blogging

There are many issues I want to cover in my blog, and sometimes I am so overwhelmed. It would be great if readers send me their questions and concerns. So following questions keeping me busy during the day, and rest of the day I am busy with my kids! Here are my questions:

1- What to write about
2-how to write about (in some issues, is it better to be politicly correct or just say it aloud?)
3- which issues readers are most want to read about?
4-how can I can make my blogs more visible?

Last but probably hardest one, cause no matter what I do my blogs are still not where I want them to be! So, I am definitely missing something here!!! Thought blogging would be easy since there are so many people doing this! Obviously I was wrong!!!

Weather in Nairobi

In general, the weather of Nairobi is pleasant. Throughout the year, it is mostly sunny with some clouds. From June until September, the weather gets colder. Even though locals find months of July and August the coldest, after living in Washington, DC and Istanbul for so long, I do not find it cold comparing it with -10 C! So, during months of July and August the temperature can drop to 10 degrees at night. In my opinion, the most boring season is the rainy time month of April. Interesting enough, it can rain day in and day out for a couple of weeks! When I moved here, which was in the month of April, I thought it would never end! After the rainy season, the weather starts to get cooler, but there are still some sunny days though. After September, the weather shifts and starts to warm up getting ready for dry season. Short rain season is somewhere around November, although it is another rainy season, it is not nearly as bad as April and it begins to warm up again. By mid-December, the pleasant weather allows for lots of fun outdoor activities. The dry season starts somewhere around January and lasts until April. The wonderful thing about the weather here is that even though it gets warm during dry season, there is no humidity. Also, the evenings are very pleasant and you only need a light jacket.

Compared to other African cities, Nairobi has best weather with its mild climate and  lack of humidity. Kids love it since they can be out in the garden throughout the whole year.

Malaria in Nairobi

Malaria is one of the major concern for people who plan to move or travel to Nairobi.

As soon as I heard about my husband’s job offer, I started my search on the Internet and read so many horror stories. Honestly, I got cold feet and even thought about not moving here. Let me mention that at that time we had a one-year-old and a five-year-old. So, I packed all the mosquito repellents on the market!

But, like in any other case, reading something about it and living in it firsthand are two very different things. So, here are the real facts:

Nairobi is located 1,795 m above sea level, which makes it almost impossible for malaria carrying mosquitos to survive (low temperatures can drop to 10°C in June/July). The cold seasonal temperature in Nairobi is thought to limit the development of the disease. But still, in some parts of Nairobi, malaria can be seen.

Is there malaria in Nairobi? In rare cases, yes, there is. It is mostly to be seen in slums where there are no sanitary systems, no wastewater drainage systems, no sewage systems, and no clean water. Especially with migration from other parts of Kenya, mosquitoes (the ones that carry malaria are called "anopheles") are able to travel in trains or via the human body. If you plan to visit or work in one of these slums, it is recommended that you use mosquito repellent on a regular basis. And if you plan to stay overnight, make sure you apply lots of repellent and cover your bed with a mosquito net and wear long sleeves and pants. And just inside info, since these anopheles are carrying malaria, they are lazy and like dark places and bite at night.

What can be done? How can you prevent malaria? I highly recommend using a mosquito net at night. There are two types on the market. There are regular nets, which you can easily find even at Ikea. Or if you'd like, you can purchase them here. And, there are also treated mosquito nets (ITN---insecticide treated net). Both types can be found in supermarkets in Nairobi. When you use an ITN, malaria carrying female anopheles do not even come to that floor! So, paying the extra penny is definitely worth it. If you are traveling to Nairobi for leisure or business purposes, mosquito nets are available in all hotel rooms, and if they are not available, you better ask for one! Besides malaria, African mosquitos are very different from the ones I've seen before! They are big and make lots of noise!!! You still need a regular bed net, even for these mosquitoes, since they can be little bothersome and noisy at nights. And if you are traveling outside of Nairobi, you must use mosquito repellents, and if you have any of the symptoms noted below, do not waste any time and see a doctor! And if possible, carry your own malaria treatment (medicines are easy to find).

Is malaria contagious? No, it is not. Even though symptoms are alike, Malaria is not like the flu. It cannot be spread by sitting next to a person who has malaria.

How soon will I feel sick if I get bitten by malaria carrying anopheles? Symptoms begin after bitten from 10 days to 4 weeks, and in some cases, within a week. If you have any of the symptoms below, do not waste any time-- see a doctor and make sure to be tested for malaria. For this diagnostic test, your blood is examined under the microscope. Remember, you will only get sick from female infective anopheles.

Where can I find mosquito repellents? There are many different types on the market. Personally, I use herbal ones, since using 'repellent with DEET' can be more harmful. Pharmacies in malls, such as Galleria, Junction, and Westgate have wide varieties of repellents. And there is a big supermarket called "Nakumatt" where you can find all that you need in one place (nets and mosquito repellents).

The good news is, living in a country with malaria causes it to be tested faster and more reliably. All hospitals are very experienced with malaria. When you go to a hospital with symptoms such as (keep in mind the symptoms also feel like a flu, so no matter what, DO NOT WAIT, get it checked) chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, sweats, and fatigue, they test you right away. And antibiotics are always available in hospitals and pharmacies. So, do not be scared, but be aware. Always do your research before you travel to any part of Africa.