Back in Nairobi

Well, I'm back in Nairobi... I arrived yesterday... to fanfare and applause. No okay, after 3 different buses for one bus journey I arrived in Nairobi and then had to wait for Evans because he was stuck in traffic. And then I came back to the guest house, said hello to the few people I still recognised, got rather overwhelmed by the large amount of new people and not feeling in the mood for new people I escaped to Java House for dinner and some quiet internet time. It was very nice. And when I got back I was more capable of talking to people and being sociable. Although not for long because I was so so tired, so I had a looong bath, and then curled up in bed to watch some True Blood before crashing out completely. I did wake up at 5am this morning, as I have done for the last few weeks, but because I wasn't in a tent and it wasn't getting light (Nairobi is cold and overcast) I went straight back to sleep. Until about 7am when Evans sent me a message to say he would send someone else to pick me up. It didn't occur to me that he would have got it wrong and thought that I needed a lift this morning, I'm pretty sure I talked about my flight being at night. Anyway, hopefully his car will be fixed by tonight so he can take me to the airport. I'll send him a message later. I was hoping to go back to bed, but Lees (the other girl in Room 1) didn't get up until 8.30, and now she appears set to work in the room. Which is a little annoying, but hey, I guess she has her little routines in place now. Maybe I'll have a nap this afternoon. I need to pack and do some work anyway.

As for an update on Olduvai, well that will come in time. I might write it at the airport while I wait for my flight. For now I will just say that I had a great time. I miss the stars, looking up at the milky way while brushing my teeth. Lizards scurrying away with every step during the day. Elias joking with me every morning because I'd never let him pour my coffee. Waking up with my coffee sat in the lab in the morning. The little routines of the day. Looking out at the mountains while walking across the camp. Sunrise over the gorge. Always missing the sunset because I was too preoccupied with work or shower day or talking to someone. Handling million year old stone tools every day. Beers after work. Melanie, Mike, Adrian, Nacho, Liz, Elias, Zera and all the other lovely people I met while I was there.

I was nervous about going, as many of you knew. I just wanted to go home and get my life started. But now I am so glad I went. I think it changed me a lot. Being away from constant internet was a big help. I'm happy and at peace with my life. It's a very good feeling. I'm positive for the future and very happy that there were a couple of people at Olduvai who I became close to who have unknowingly helped me to become a stronger person. Apart from the personal changes, the work was good. I was lab girl again, with very little venturing out to excavations. I think if I were excavating regularly, like every other day or something, then I would have enjoyed it, but going out for one day and being plunged into a group where everyone has their jobs and they all work together and know what they're doing and I had no clue what i was supposed to be doing having not worked on a site older that 500 years for at least 2 years, so I felt out of place and inadequate and generally a bit rubbish. So I much preferred being in the lab where at least I felt like I was doing something good and useful. But the artefacts that came from the site were awesome. Very very cool. Handaxe heaven. :) The scenery was impressive. The moon one night rose a fiery orange colour and hung huge over the mountains for a while, it was amazing. All of it! The mountains, the gorge, the stars, everything was just beautiful. And although I have taken photos, none of them do it justice at all.

I should probably get up and get packing, what with it being nearly 10am and all. Lunch at Amani today I think. I long for one of their delicious salads.