first time on the internet!

Hello! I wrote this the first day I came:

At around 8:00 or 8:15p.m. Kenyan time (just after 1 o'clock in the US) our group of seven departed from customs, having spent around 17 hours on two planes and about 20 hours total of travelling. We were exhausted, smelly, and rumpled. We walked down the stairs, got our luggage (none was lost!) and looked around aimelessly in hopes of seeing someone with some sort of sign. We didn't have to look too far before we saw a large group of people, holding signs with our names on them. I found my family and was immediately grinning ear to ear, so excited to finally be here. My host mother, Mama Carol, was holding a BEAUTIFUL bouquet of red and white roses for me and my host brother, Kevin, stood smiling. I was greeted with two large hugs from both of them, which I appreciated greatly, making me feel at home already. Kevin took my luggage cart, even after I insisted that I could manage, and we walked over to where the group was standing. After a short introduction from Roseanne, a woman who will be helping us get situated our first week here, we walked on. Carol introduced me to a friend of hers (whose name I have already forgotten) who is the host mother of my friend Amelia! The two women work together and she explained that when she was out of town, Amelia's host mother would be taking care of me and vice versa. We left the group and got into the car.
The city is BEAUTIFUL. Lights everywhere, cars (and crazy) drivers everywhere. Carol told me that I probably had the best location as far as homes go, and Kevin told me that the walk to campus was only ten or fifteen minutes. Horrah! Kevin is turning 23 in September and has just graduated with a degree in commerce and business. Carol works at the YWCA and I have already told her all about my working at the YMCA Camp these past two summers.
We live in apartments sponsored by the YWCA, which are lovely. Carol has her own room, bathroom and shower, as do I. There is a small kitchen, a dining room and a "sitting room" as she calls it with cable TV and a stereo. They also have someone who helps around the house named Cecelia, whom I haven't met yet. While Carol took a shower, Kevin and I talked and ate some dinner - rice, chicken and vegetable stew. He said that he lives in the same complex but his room is down the corridor, and I was instructed to wake him tomorrow morning if I woke up and he wasn't there. He's going to show me around the city, help me find and buy a phone and some walking sandals. Kevin says he likes music (hip-hop, of course) and likes to go out with his friends when he has free time. I asked him if he wouldn't mind taking me out some night to a restaurant or a bar to show me the fun places in town and he said he'd be glad to.
So far I couldn't be happier with my family. They are small, but their hearts are big and they have already been incredibly kind and welcoming. I have set up my bedroom, put up pictures of family and friends and put my things away in the dresser. I miss home and friends but am THRILLED to be here and can't wait to get to know the city better. Earlier tonight, Carol mentioned I should take a walk up to the top of the complex, which I did. The view is spectacular: lights, big buildings and cars everywhere. It's absolutely breathtaking.
I miss you all but have so far had a wonderful couple of hours in Nairobi! I'll write when I can.
-Katie

Mom and Dad - sorry I couldn't email when we got to Amsterdam! Our flight out of Detroit was delayed about an hour and a half and by the time we got to the Amsterdam airport we had to walk swiftly to make it to our next flight on time. I hope you weren't too worried.