When you think of Africa all that comes to mind are lions, pride rock, and dry landscapes. This is not the case. On a 17 hour bus ride you have time to really look at things. Inside yourself and outside the window. Africa is lush. Green. Humid. Unexpected. The bus promised air con, just like the hotel, and all it was was an old school open window. Unexpected. But now we know. Our definitions of things back home are influenced by western culture. Definitions in Africa are influenced by functionality. An air con is a mechanism that moves air. This can be a fan, a piece of cloth swinging above your head, a breeze through town, or a once fully functioning air conditioner, now just a machine that blows air around the space you are in. Functional. The toilet and shower share a space covered in white tiles with a small drainage hole in the corner. Functional. The steel frame nervously dangling above the bed holds the mosquito net. Functional. Nothing needs to be pretty or have aesthetic value. If it works, it stays.and it makes sense...it's all you need.
The East African landscape is a mix of colorful huts, garages, smiling locals, cashew nuts, and some more cashew nuts. Every bus stop swarms with vendors trying to sell their goods. They hop onto the bus in one town and hop off at the next. This is probably the equivalent of modern internet shopping or in transit kiosks you find on airplanes. We even have onboard entertainment, a movie playing from a very sophisticated usb device. The traffic is surely influenced by something other than western culture. If there is a space in the oncoming traffic you are free to make use of it...as long as you honk your horn to claim it. It smells different too. A mix of oriental flavor and burning wood coming into the bus through the African air con while enjoying our complimentary glucose biscuits and soda.
In conclusion, Africa is full of surprises and five star luxury air cons. It all just depends on your definition of it all. I call it home.