making friends with librarians

Eek-- ugh, this internet cafe is overpriced-- two dollars an hour instead of one. geez.

Tiff is still in Western Province-- or else on a bus back from there to Nairobi. I at least hope she is coming back as I miss having a friend to travel round Nairobi with. I don't like being the sole centre of attention!

These past few days I have been attending a conference hosted by the Kenya Library Association in conjuntion with NIGD (something that starts with N, something that starts with I-- maybe institute, for global democracy) about how librarians can participate in the World Social Forum and record the information produced during the forum in Nairobi. I was invited as a rep of the Tax Justice Network as a result of an e-mail I sent to the organiser of the conference...in fact on the second day, I gave a presentation on the issues dealt with by TJN and also what our goals are for the Nairobi forum-- including launcing the TJN for Africa. There was a Q&A discussion session after my presentation which was really interesting. Among the audience was someone working in the Ugandan Ministry of Finance for example who shared how their ministry carries out tax education sessions with street hawkers. There were also questions relating to how librarians could help protect information related to public accounts when that was sure to be stepping on some VIP's toes...

In truth it sometimes makes me feel silly discussing some of the issues related to freedom of information with people who have been part of a struggle for increased freedom of information and association in their own countries. I learn as much from their stories. One of the presenters for instance had to go into exile from Kenya during Moi's crackdown in the 1980s as a result of his research in the Mau Mau movement. He actually authored a book which was launched last night. We went along to the book launch downt0wn where we were treated to speeches from a Cuban ambassador (i think), the asst minister for education and others (good speeches tho rather long, esp when after about half an hour or more, the minister said, "and finally....yes, and then in other words..." No. No other words-- you said it already! No more words needed...your point has more than made it across!

It still was fun to chat to people, esp the people I had met at the conference-- now half the people I know in Kenya are librarians! And i have invites to go to tea at various uni libraries around Nairobi. Ah, comme j'adore le chai!

Well, i have to dash downtown now to meet up with friends near the Hilton...hopefully I will find it! I am still not very familiar with downtown having only walked around it half a half a dozen times (er, yes, that would be about 3)!

Still...I will try to write more soon. I have not even mentioned my adventure out west in Nyanza and Western where I ate a most deliciously cooked fish by the shores of Lake Victoria (where people bring their cars and matatus to wash them!)...and watched the end of the Germany v Argentina match in a bar full, chock a block, of men. Needless to say, felt a leeetle out of place. But, I was given a prime seat near the front-- the seats were all in rows facing the tv-- and personally brought a Tusker beer by the barman Adam who had the most hilarious giggle. Adam liked to meet people from countries like mine and was rather anxious to know when we could meet again. still, for walking into such a male-dominated environment, i think i escaped lightly with only one demand for my phone number. plus germany won the match.

bueno...off i go to town. wish me luck.

xx