Riding in a Matatu (By Breanne)

Matatus are the main transportation vehicles in kenya, a matatu is really a compact 14 passenger van. If you want to go for a ride, first they tell you to climb over the seats until you get to a back window seat. Here in Kenya, in order to take less trips they cram people in until no more can fit (up to 35 and sometimes more if there are children!). Finally, there is no more room, but the pressure on all sides of you makes breathing almost impossible. You look around trying to find a way out, and you notice that everyone else is holding something in their lap. Some are carrying children, others have fresh produce, and some are holding chickens! The smells begin to overwhelm you, and you realize that you are by a window; you manage to get it open with some difficulty. As the window slides open, you notice that you are driving through the main Kisii Market with its cows, goats, rotten vegetables, stagnate mud puddles, and fried fish out in the hot sun. The smells seem to hit you all at once, you are tempted to shut the window, but you decide against it. You begin to feel nauseated as your driver swerves recklessly in and out of traffic. The noise inside the matatu spikes as children scream, terrified. Though it may seem to be too much for you to take our form of transport ion; the people here do it all the time!!