Monday & Tuesday

Well, I've been meaning to update for the last couple of evenings but after dinner I get to the stage where it seems like such an effort!
So yes, Monday's highlight was that I saved a small red bird from the Institute. There is a staircase at the front with windows all the way up. I was sat in the library upstairs trying to read when this little chirping started to disturb me so I got up to investigate. Anyway, it was very cute but flying headfirst into the windows so I tried to guide it towards the door and eventually it settled on the paper I was holding so I could actually take it to the door. I wish I'd had my camera!
Other than that Monday was just reading and research. I did a lot of research into masters I want to do, and I think I've decided to take the plunge and apply for Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology even though it will be a huge challenge.

Tuesday was Kenyatta Day and we celebrated by having a lie in. I sat in bed until about 10.30 reading Sarah's copy of Twilight that I have borrowed. After reading it last night before bed as well I'm already halfway through it! Then Hannah, Dave & I got ready and headed out into town. Dave & I are looking for trousers for all the hiking through tall grasses and bush we'll have to do in Sudan, and I could also do with another warm jumper layer as I really didn't bring enough and when we're sat around the institute and the guest house, especially in the evenings and when it's raining, it gets very cold! But the cheap shop was shut and we were hungry so we had lunch instead. I And then off to the Museum. It was quite good actually, I particularly like the fossil skull room. Photos to upload later.

Then we walked back to the Institute. All in all we did an awful lot of walking yesterday so that I was quite stiff in the evening. My legs are a bit better now, but I really need to get back into walking more. Anyway, today Matt isn't in yet so we're 'doing our own thing' which generally means reading. So I decided to do this for a bit as I've already read loads this morning.

I'm getting quite into the swing of things here, it feels like I've been here longer than a week, even though I haven't done much. I'm quite enjoying being brought round cups of Chai in the morning and afternoon while I'm here in the institute, especially in the morning while I'm sat shivering. The sweet milky goodness really helps wake me up. Mmm. It's quite easy to stay within the area of the Institute as well, but I'm going to try and venture out further at weekends and stuff. We're also trying to plan what to do for Christmas. Hopefully there will be someone around who I can go up and down the coast with, but Hannah's boyfriend is coming for New Years so it might get a bit complicated. Anyone want to come to Kenya for Christmas? Flights on STA are quite cheap at the moment.

On Friday we are planning to go down the road to a bar for a few drinks, then spend the weekend getting ready for Sudan. We'll have no internet access unless we stay in Juba the first night, and no phone reception either, so I'll be out of touch for a couple of weeks. That'll be so weird after being in constant contact while I'm in Nairobi. But I guess at least I'll feel like I'm actually away on fieldwork!

Anway, enough rambling, I'm gonan get back to doing my reading. Matt is in and has promised us flotation in an hour. Oooh. At least we'll be doing something I suppose, and being up and about might warm me up.
Brrrr.