Last week ended on an energetic note, with readiness for this week to begin. Having been in Mombasa for two weeks now, I’m prepared to delve into work and especially into work-flow.
My first week moved steadily, keeping my mind busy, right from when I arrived around noon that Tuesday morning, following 48 hours of travel. I spent time in the office, witnessing and experiencing the excitement of daily surprises and obstacles; I became well-acquainted with Nyali [knee-ah-lee] (my local area), local foods– and cheap eats :]–, and possibly the most interesting and unforgettable of mundane Mombasan experiences: matatu (‘bus’) rides; I made myself at-home.
Somewhere over the hump between week one and two came a moment of nausea, a missing interest in interacting or verbalizing, and a desire for the presence of one person that wasn’t there. I prayed to God and slowly came out my place of reservation.
With the arrival of day 13 came Hannah, my co-intern, a Jewelry and Medalsmith graduate from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Decisions were constantly being made. Adapt and acclimate. Throughout the week, Hannah and I started to find our rhythm. Our first priorities involved taking care of the household, exchanging money at the local casino, grocery shopping, finalizing payments on rent, and getting re-settled in the new two-bedroom apartment. By the close of the weekend we’d taken free swahili lessons from Dulla, our new beach friend; been shopping with The Bosses in town, at the markets; gotten to know one another over dinner at Cuba Libre’s; and even experienced night life, dancing for hours at Club Tembo.
Tuesday Team Meeting
Within house-keeping and keeping ourselves up ’til five on Saturday night, Hannah and I shared an invigorating anticipation for the work ahead, after our KEZA meeting with Bombolulu Workshop on Friday. With a signed MOU, KEZA and Bombolulu will begin collaboration in jewelry design and production, branding, and merchandising. In addition, a third party, who we also met with Friday, could come into play, adding an impressive spin on the merge between creativity and eco-friendliness which KEZA is always working to achieve.
Hannah and I, being gifted and hired for different purposes, were most excited by different aspects of the projects we are about to begin together, but there was also a mutual understanding and appreciation for the other’s area of focus. I can’t wait to see her designs, and I’m excited to dive into the branding and marketing for the sale of those designs– let’s get started!
beechiles 