Party Time!

*These photographs were taken by Serena Dunhavey.

We had prom.  It was more of a morp where girls had to ask boys and since there’s 22 girls and eight boys (students) we were encouraged to ask the staff, which made for some really embarrassing and awkward moments. No staff really showed up but no matter, it was one of my favorite nights here so far. 

A few hours before dinner all of us students were driven to Club K, which is a little ratty bar in Kimana, the nearest town.  There are two gazebos in the back of the backyard where we all drink Tuskers and Smirnoff Ice.  Drinking alcohol is illegal before 5pm on weekdays, a measure taken by the government to reduce the alcohol abuse in the country, and hard alcohol is nearly impossible to come by and would seriously damage or kill you anyways because of all of the extra additions that are snuck in to it.  But Club K, which to most college students would be the preliminary hours before any boring night, is for us like enjoying an hour of the biggest party ever thrown.  Seriously.  My study abroad experience is a dramatic juxtaposition to those of my friends in European countries. 

Drinking and chatting ensued and then we were picked up and driven back to our dry campus and continuously made fun of by all of the staff.  Most of them don’t drink because of religious beliefs but the ones that do only ever have one or two because it is very inappropriate to even appear a little tipsy in public.  They think we’re hilarious though.  After all, we’re mzungus and their social rules don’t really apply to us. 

Dancing ensued that was fun, completely plutonic, and unfortunately limited to only about half the people that were supposed to be there.  A lot of people were tired and went to bed early, but for the rest of us, the party went on until about eleven.  So late!  I know! The sun goes down around 6:30 here, we have class anywhere between 7:30 and 8am and breakfast crew always has to wake up an hour before that.  What Americans consider late nights don’t really happen here unless you’re an insomniac, are kept up by the screaming baboons, or have a desire to be exhausted. 

Ultimately, the social scene here is, needless to say, a little different than it is back home.  For anyone reading this, know that situations are what you make of them, and know that I am about to regurgitate many clichés. Any party can be fun, any event can be new and exciting, and awkward, weird, and odd moments are only so if you let them be.  Appreciate the good things that come to you. 

This is half as much a reminder for myself as it is for you.  My next blog entry is not looking to be as upbeat, but life is also about acknowledging and respecting the fact that it is a never-ending roller coaster.  The hard times make the good moments that much sweeter.