Sunday, March 17, 2013

Chateau de Kenya

Some of the windows don't close all the way. There are a few light bulbs missing. The tank to the latrine keeps leaking. The kitchen cabinets only shut when I slam them, and almost pull my arm out of the socket to open them. There is paint everywhere there shouldn't be. In the sinks, on the electrical sockets and on the floor. Some of the rooms have spaces where there should be electrical outlets, but instead they are just covered up. It's my new house and it's perfect.  
I can now blast music as loud as my little Dell computer will let me. I can smoke inside. I can light my jiko in one room and walk into another to watch a movie, or go lay down for a nap. I can do house hold activities in all the rooms that these actions were designated for.
This is paradise. 
After spending 9 months literally living on top of my things, the comfort of being able to spread out is almost intimidating. But only for a second, cause then I realize that I can dance over here in this corner, or not wear pants walking from this room to that room or wash ANYTHING inside. Most importantly though, it makes me finally want to be here. After a day of struggling with language, or multiple people commenting on my appearance in a not so polite manner I can walk inside close the door and know that I am completely alone to my own devices. I can say what I want to my friends on the phone and know that no one is listening. I can be my weird inappropriate and disgusting self in here. It feels like home.