Walking around the Christmas market right next to our hostel in Zurich today, my brother and I come upon a booth selling African-style curios: wooden animal figures, necklaces, bracelets and the like. “Reminds me of home,” I say, at which the shop owner gives me a bit of an incredulous look and asks where I come from, to which my response of late has been, “Kenya.” Next thing I hear is, “Karibu chai,” and I am immediately thrust back into my life in Kenya while a cup of hot chai is thrust into my hand. Here I am, standing in freezing temperatures in Zurich, Switzerland, and I am having a conversation with a Kenyan in Kiswahili.
Lydia’s been living here for 18 years now, but her family comes from Nakuru and she is a Kikuyu. She seemed to get a kick out of the white boy in Zurich speaking Kiswahili with her, but it was a nice time. Actually, she even gave Chris a discount on what he was buying, which was really nice of her. The chai was delicious, spiced with cinnamon. We wished each other a merry Christmas and went our separate ways, myself still move convinced of our shrinking world (hurry, contact the geologists!), as well as the generally magical nature of Christmas markets.
One Computer at a Time 
great update from you and Chris. Keep it up. Have a great time!
yo! you were in europe?! cause that’s where i am right now!
i was wandering around brussels yesterday in the very african section of town. it felt a bit like “home,” but all the africans there are from french-speaking west africa, and so it also felt a little off. i went into a store to find ugali unga (because i’m going to cook ugali for my friends here) but found lots of fufu unga (fufu = west african ugali, and not nearly as good) and peanut butter instead. oh and everyone speaks french instead of kiswahili. i keep listening for kiswahili speakers but no luck yet…
Jon- have enjoyed your blogs!
Q: and you don’t have to answer, but I really want to know: tell me the scoop/lowdown/gossip/real truth about Nic D (understand: I love the guy, from everything I read of his during 2009, but I also want an objective assessment from a third party). Happy New Year! Mike