Sunday, Aug. 5
From Aug. 5-12, a dozen Saint Mary’s alumni and friends are visiting Nairobi, Kenya, meeting with and learning from a few of the alumni who have graduated from our Nairobi Campus in the Christ the Teacher Institute for Education (CTIE) and Maryknoll Institute of African Studies (MIAS) programs.
The first two days of the trip largely revolved around a tour of a couple parts of Nairobi and cultural immersion. Day 1 (Sunday) started with Mass, and though it was spoken in Swahili, it was easy to pick out the different parts of the Mass. The Mass showcased Kenyans’ love for music and dance, as nearly a dozen women celebrated the Mass with dancing and upbeat music was played.
We also learned a bit about Kenya through a trip to the Nairobi National Museum. Wildlife found throughout the region, Kenyan history, and the past and current state of Kenyan politics were a few of the highlighted exhibits. Before leaving the museum, the group took a quick lap through the snake park–with a brave couple willing to hold the animals around their necks!
That evening, we visited the Bomas of Kenya (the word “boma” means “home” or “community” in Swahili) where we watched a performance of a variety of traditional African dances. A favorite moment from the group was when Anthony, a 2007 Saint Mary’s alum who graduated from the Nairobi Campus, was invited out onto the floor to join in the performance of the dance of his home community from western Kenya!
The first full day of the trip was a great time to get to know a little about our fellow alumni, and the group is excited for where the rest of the week will take us!