I arrived in Nairobi just over three weeks ago, eager to jump headfirst into my Masters program and absorb all I could about my new home.  I'm here as a Rotary Scholar for the next year, and will return on my own to finish my degree and pursue research next year.  I've been planning for this experience for the last year and a half and it's incredible to be here - especially given what's going on throughout the world economically and politically.  To start, I can't imagine another country that is following the U.S. elections as closely as Kenya - people here practically consider it their election with the son of a local Luo up for the world's (arguably) highest office.  I am so excited for next Wednesday - when  Obama wins (positive thinking!) I can't imagine the joy this country will feel.  I can't imagine the joy I will feel!  I look forward to being able to say with 100% conviction, I am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. 

On another front, it feels especially timely to be studying Development given the international economic crisis underway.  Today one of my professors said, "When the developed world sneezes, the developing world catches a cold...and we're about to get pneumonia."  It's like I will experience this from two totally different vantages - as an American whose investments have been heavy hit, and as a Kenyan resident who is simply waiting for the trickle down effect to hit.  Kenya has of course already been hit by quite a lot this year - but I find that even in the aftermath of the post-election violence and relative chaos, Kenyans remain in high spirits and hopeful about the future of their country.  As I wander the streets and start to build my life here I know of a number of reasons why that optimism is fully warranted - regardless of the hardships that are in store.  The primary reason is that Kenyans are hard workers.  I rarely, if ever, see someone begging for money here.  Instead I see men and women willing to do whatever it takes to bring in some income - even if it means selling pieces of candy for 5 shillings (less than 5 cents) or small toys on the side of the road that I can't imagine sell very well.  And that's just the point - this country is developing, and there are people who want and need to work - but not all jobs provide real returns on the great investment Kenyans are willing to make.  You see similar issues in the local craft market - once a great source of business, it's now struggling due to the lack of tourists following January's unrest.  You see oodles of traditional crafts - almost identical from one stall to the next, that are beautifully made but not really all that appealing because they're so common, and they're not created with the modern consumer in mind.  But again, there is hope as if you stop to talk to a vendor and give him some feedback, "try making these soap stone dishes with the pattern you currently put on the back - it looks like the tie-die cloth you make your kitangas from and people will notice and buy them because they are different,"  you get a very positive response.  That, I think, is what makes being in an actively developing country at this exact point in time so exciting.  There is an energetic and driven workforce, there is enthusiasm and there is the constant opportunity to learn from the so-called already developed countries' mistakes and chart a future that is full of jobs and equitable wealth for all.   It's not easy, there are hard roads ahead - likely just around the bend - but the spirit of progress you sense walking down the street is enough to convince me that we'll all make it through these tough times if we keep our priorities in line.