Alfred, Grace, Mariam, Daniel and David

Alfred's and Grace's Wedding

My first Kenyan wedding! Very fun, even though there wasn't any alcohol. :) 

An entire steer roasted.

Cornell Grad School Friend's Reunion

Meeting up with Bart (from Belgium, now living in Ethiopia) and Tebogo (from Botswana, also living in Botswana, where I visited him earlier this year), both prior classmates from Cornell, for a reunion weekend the corresponded with Alfred's (also from Cornell) and Grace's Wedding was a lot of fun.  Since I was the only one familiar with Nairobi, and I enjoyed the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center  on my previous visit, I took them there.  

We also visited the National Art Gallery which is largely a result of the effort of  Joseph Murumbi and Nairobi National Museum which contained an impressive collection of early human archeological finds "cradle of mankind" from Kenya.  Lastly, we visited the Florida Night Club, a nightclub I visited twice before when visiting Kenya in 1985 and 1994.  Overall, there was  lots of laughing, reminiscing on old times, catching up on each other's lives, food and beer. 

Meeting Grace

I met Grace for the first time.  She's my friend Alfred's fiancé.  I planning on attending their wedding next month in Nairobi. 

Mokalodi Game Park - Rhino Tracking

Visiting Tebogo in Gaborone

I've known Tebogo since the early '90s at Cornell.  We took most classes together as we were both working on our Ph.D.  He's back in Botswana as an Executive Director of a Development Research Institute.  We visited his new house that's being constructed.  It was massive - 600 sq. meters.  It was great hanging out with him, even though we almost text daily on WhatsApp.  It was a fun visit. His humor and wit is still sharp. 

Philly Excursion

Lunch at Morimoto - a Japanese restaurant in philly. 

Philadelphia Museum of Art - I believe I've visited this museum 4 times prior and clearly from this visit I haven't seen the entire permanent exhibit.  All my prior visits seemed to have been focused on specific temporary exhibits. 

 We visited the Mütter Museum next. It contains a collection of medical oddities, anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment. The museum is part of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

Capped off by a fun evening at Talula's Garden with Alex, Denita, and Alfred.  

Cornell Class Mates

Haven't seen Tebogo (all the way on the right) since 1995 when I visited him in Botswana. We took almost every class together in the Ph.D. program.

Norwalk, Fun

Cornell 'Union Time

Having hung out with Naren in Memphis last weekend, on Saturday I met up with Alfred. I've known Alfred since 1991, when he arrived from Kenya to start his M.S. at Cornell. He arrived with only a small knapsack on his back. He now owns a huge 4 bedroom house and 20 unit apartment building outside Philadelphia, and employed downtown in the bonds department of a regional bank. Alfred rounded out his education with a MBA from Wharton.

On Saturday night, with Alfred being from Kenya and all, most of are conversation revolved around B.O., and how B.O. freed the shackles from Alfred's mind. Being a Kenyan in America got to be tough, but having the President now on his side helps, I'm sure. It raises that glass ceiling. Supporting B.O., Alfred was in attendance at BO's inaugural before sunrise replete with Kenyan drums.

Overall, it was a fun evening. And if you haven't been to old town Philly recently, I'd highly recommend it. The place was kicking - very hip, very alternative.

National Civil Rights Museum

The motel balcony in the first top photo is where MLK Jr. was assassinated. Appropriately so, the motel was converted into the National Civil Rights Museum. The second photo was taken from where James Earl Ray stood and fired the fatal shot. After viewing the civil rights exhibit within the museum and reflection on it, it was hard to believe hight of the movement was only 40 years ago. I was only a kid and don't remember much of the movement.