A Bit of Reflection

I used to think that I could never work for a big western company in a developing country. When I was here in 2007, I saw first hand how the policies and work environments of these “Western” style institutions are often misaligned. It is like putting a square peg in a round hole...sometimes it might fit but there will always be gaps. These gaps might be in the form of local knowledge, language, cultural practices, mentality, efficiency, regulations, or a plethora of other things. But there are always gaps.

Though I still think that organizations such as the World Bank and UN are more ineffective because of these gaps and their extremely “western” style approaches to management and work ethic, I am becoming more and more attracted to the stability and security of that type of work environment, as opposed to the local mentality. And this is scaring me!!! Working for a local company is exciting and energetic but also exhausting and lonely. I'm realizing that both paths lead to a type of isolationism that is hard to get out of. The UN compound in Nairobi, for example, is far out of town—maybe 10 kilometers. The people that work there have virtually no incentive to go into the city center unless they need to meet with a government official. There is only one public transit line to the compound and the roads are not made for people to walk along. Everyone drives. Nearby is a huge western-style mall with mini-golf and a movie theatre that when we visited, felt like we were in the twilight zone. So, there is an isolation one experiences within this ex-pat community that is comfortable but doesn't drop you into the nitty-gritty of the situation on the ground.

On the other hand, the local organizations that hire foreigners are generally focused on a particular issue or topic. They are in the trenches day in and day out, also isolating them away from the broader picture of development and potentially limiting their ability to establish sustainable changes. I am realizing that neither approach is particularly effective and both must co-exist in order to survive in this global era.

I've seen so much “development” in the past five years in Kenya. The middle class is booming. People can afford cars. There are Africans in restaurants that were exclusively catering to foreigners five years ago. Many many many more women have their hair done, another sign of an emerging middle class. Construction is booming and there is massive deforestation, superhighways being built, and people generally seem to have more disposable income. There are all the signs of development happening here. But I'm having a hard time being able to tell if this is a good thing. What are people trying to achieve with this development? Better standards of living? Economic development only? They are definitely leaving environmental and cultural development to the wayside.

I've always thought a “better” type of development was needed but never doubted actual development itself. Now, I'm seeing the rapid-growth here and wondering what it is all for. I am definitely in favor of decreasing poverty and mortality rates, increasing literacy rates, and ensuring that people are able to live a decent life. But my anthro-brain keeps nagging me with questions like “what does a decent life look like?” and “why do we assume economic growth is the answer to everything?”

I realize I've written about much of this before and it is probably quite boring to read about, but it is something I've been thinking a lot about during my time here. I have no answers to these questions and I don't think there are answers per-say. I guess I'm just figuring out what I'm comfortable accepting about the “development” world and if it is something I can feel good about participating in for a career. Scarily (to me), the more I spend time here, the more I am accepting and even desiring the idea of working for a “western” style corporation. What is happening? It is almost like when a professor told me that everyone turns republican when they get older and start making money. More to come on this before my time is up here. :)

Fun things (finally!):

-The kids that live in our apartment (owner's kids...unclear where they actually live) watch Hercules the Disney movie several times a day. Love it!

-Between the Chin-glish, Swahi-lish, English accents, tribal languages, and various Chinese dialects, PLUS the lack of street names in Nairobi, it is a wonder we ever are able to locate ANY companies let alone interview them effectively. See the post on the other blog about Siemen Po for an example :)

-Kyla is a master-mosquito killer. She has a gift.

-One of the only brands of spaghetti sauce here is “American Garden” and is made in New York, USA. If you pair it with Iranian-made pasta it all ends up tasting like spaghetti-o's. Yum :)

-They show the Olympics at the restaurant across the street, and we've had the pleasure of watching the Men's Single Trap Shooting Final (which was a nail-biter...a shootout for bronze as well as gold/silver) and the Rhythmic Gymnastic Semifinals. Surprisingly, none of the running events where the Kenyans actually compete and win.

Kyla and I at the top of the International Conference Center
overlooking Uhuru Park and Upperhill

-It was sunny a few days ago and we went to the top of the Kenyatta International Conference Center. Though the inside looks like a giant funeral parlor, when you get to the top, you can walk on the helicopter landing and see the entire city. The breadth is magnificent.

-At Westgate mall there is a movie theatre. However to get to it you have to go THROUGH a toy store. Genius!  

MAGIC-ARONI!!!!

-The regular grocery stores here have more types of boxed cakes than I can find in the UK (including funfetti). Remember that the majority of the population here doesn't even have ovens! Also, best find ever....MagicAroni, the Kenyan equivalent of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!