Although 7,200 miles separate Nairobi from Portland, Maine, on several occasions it has felt like a whole lot less. The "small world" encounters and reminders of the Pine Tree State over the last 5 months (although not numerous) never cease to amaze me. I've met two fellow Mainers in Nairobi - both of whom grew up about 15 minutes from my hometown. In Dadaab, I work with a refugee interpreter whose entire extended family lives in Lewiston. He was so excited to meet someone from Maine, and I was so thrilled that someone in Kenya (not from the US or Europe) actually knew about Maine!
Some visual reminders of home:
While hiking Mt. Kenya a few months ago, I spotted a Sugarloaf sticker at the peak!
And I even found a Nairobi matatu showing its loyalty to the great state of Maine. Usually references to God or Bob Marley grace the outside of matatus, but not this one! I wonder who the Portland Pirates fan is?!?!
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