Technology

One thing I have noticed here is the difference in technology. Kenya has pretty much everything we do, but it is all a few years behind. Some examples: instead of I-pod stereos they have CD Players; most people still use film cameras; cell phones are all by prepaid minutes; there is hot water, but you must turn on the heater for 15 minutes to let it get hot.
The internet has been in their newspaper a lot -- they recently got a broadband cable (the one at here is dial-up I believe... or something else very slow compared to what I am used to). Many people were skeptical about this cable. They had a big opening with many reporters and for a second it flickered out which led some people to believe this was another scam. By the way, this was front page news.
The electricity here is fine, it flickers every once in a while, but not enough to cause major problems.
In economics we learned about "leapfrogging" technology, in which developing countries adopt more recent technologies and hence their development is quicker since they did not have to go through all the stages. For example, they can just use cell phones instead of first having to create a landline infrastructure. So far I am not convinced either way about whether this is true: certain Kenyans certainly do have many modern things, yet they are (naturally) hesitant to give up the old reliable way. As with the broadband cable, it seems the people here are worried new things will not work and would rather not take the risk of trying them without a backup plan.
P.S. -- I will be going to the Chalbi desert for 3 weeks to do a camp and there is absolutely no internet there. It is the "forgotten part of Kenya" according to the Sisters and from the description I've heard it seems to be the stereotypical Africa portrayed in the movies.

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