Travel and Personal

An Interesting Christmas Weekend

By Dweep Chanana ⋅ December 27, 2005 ⋅  Email this post ⋅ Post a comment

Christmas is not a festival to be celebrated away from home, family, and friends. Most cities slow down. Nairobi, therefore, was a pleasant surprise after Washington, DC and Geneva. One reason for all the activity was the large Indian community, out as always. Then there were the young - expats and locals - that celebrate at home before heading out nonetheless. Nairobi nightlife on Christmas eve is not something to be scoffed at.

Still, I must thank Kenyans (African and Indian) that welcomed me home and into their circle. As before, Kenyan hospitality continues to surprise. Overall, a busy weekend, with some time to relax and much to recap.

On Friday evening I attended an official cocktail, filling in for the UNDP, at Kitisuru Estates. It is a part of Nairobi not known to my colleagues. Getting there I understood why. Estate is an appropriate word for the mansions there - each at least 1 sq. km., most with their own pools and tennis courts. This is the abode of the richest of the rich - of all colors - white, black, brown.

It brings me back to a point I’ve pondered for some time now, which comes up often among UN circles. Here, as in much of the developed world, the poorest live and breath right next to the richest. Across from the skating rink is Kibera, the slum. Across from the clubs of Westlands are rows of informal markets and shacks.

Every city on this planet has its poor, and parts that an expat avoids. Washington, DC has Anacostia and the SE quarter. Avoiding these parts is as easy as skipping the interstate exit. In Nairobi it is more difficult and needs a mental disconnect. We see, but do not notice or choose to ignore, the poor beggar banging on the Mercedes’ window. Perhaps that is why the European and American in India cannot resist giving money to that beggar. We in the developing world are better trained to let such things be.

Still, I find the veil is very thing - perhaps because I walk home. Ever so often one must face one’s own luck, the penury of others, and the discomfort of the disconnect. It is a good reality check.