Maybe it sounds Dutch, but I kind of miss my bike. How’s that possible you might think, well, the traffic is horrible in Nairobi, and easily the worst in the world. The small commute of 15km takes me about 3 to 4 hours going back and forth. Sleeping during the trip? Don’t even think about it. The roads are so damaged they have reached Belgium levels. That’s not even the worst, because all busses (so-called Matatus), emit large fumes of black matter, roughly equivalent to a pack of cigarettes a day.

Maybe you’re asking yourself what am I doing at the equator? Well, the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) brings me there. It is an organization that supports start-ups and SMEs in the field of business consultancy, like marketing, business modelling as well as technical support. I am mostly involved in the last bit, where I can contribute to a new generation of climate-friendly enterprises. Not totally irrelevant is that I am following the graduate program Sustainable Energy Technology, where an internship is part of my second year, followed by a concluding thesis.

And you know, I am really enjoying my internship. The people on the job floor as well as on the streets are friendly and open for some chit-chat. My colleges are highly educated as well, which I honestly wasn’t fully expecting. Not only am I learning a lot on the job, but I have also learnt a lot on a more personal level. I have been able to not kill myself in a new environment, such as the largest slums of East Africa.

I also keep a diary during my stay, where I put things down that surprise me during my time here. And believe me, each day is full of surprises. Take the example of an 8-person van carrying 21 adults and a kid, followed by reckless driving through traffic without any sense of responsibility.

Finally, a day in Kenya without dancing/near death experience/new people/music/booze is a day not lived, and that is why I can recommend everyone Nairobi as a great place to do your internship for the complete experience on a professional and personal level, as opposed to staying inside your ‘bubble’.