Karen Blixen's Farm
Nairobi
August 17, 2018
At Karen Blixen's house and museum, Em met the first of many Swahili speakers who would be thrilled with her knowledge of Swahili and attempts to learn more. Our tour guide Sophia walked and talked mostly with Em, only occasionally turning to include the other three of us during the most rehearsed parts of the tour. "I'm going to give you a Swahili name," she told Emily. After thinking a while, as we walked from the house to the remains of the coffee roasting factory, she said, "Your Swahili name is Hamisa." She and Em exchanged email and Instagram, and I would not be surprised if she turned up in Long Beach at some point.
