Stereo types

leshan · 2012-02-07 14:58:40

I have gone through the blog and am amazed how most people tend to fear living in Kenya 1 thing about Kenyans we like being nice to people ie everybody but there are some who exploit foreigners i think due to lack of knowledge like rentals in upmarket they have gone through the roof due to visitors not only from out side africa but for those who are perseived to be rich Nairobi is secured i live along Ngongroad been there since childhood downtown may be a litle bit unsecured but thats normal in all cities get out of your appartment reach out to people

Harmonie · 2012-02-08 05:51:31

Hello leshan and welcome to Expat Blog!

Do not hesitate to participate on the forum. wink

Harmonie.

Longonot62 · 2012-02-09 06:28:31

Isn't this very similar to the way that mzungu's tend to be viewed by Kenyan's? All super rich, which results in a dual pricing strategy. I have to get my Wife (Kikuyu) to buy most things, so that we avoid paying 'mzungu prices'!!

Wawuda · 2012-02-09 08:34:55

I agree with Longonot62. I have problems walking in the city center with my friends who are male and mzungu because of all the stares we get. Some people even make rude remarks, the automatic assumption from Kenyans is that I am dating the mzungu and it's because of his money.

Longonot62 · 2012-02-09 20:54:11

Sorry to hear that you have had rude remarks. My Wife and I have not experienced that, fortunately. Just the elevated prices,,,,,,,for me!! Quite frustrating, all the same! This approach is a poor long term business strategy. If I am treated unequally (ripped off) by a trader, based on my skin colour, I won't do business with them again.

leshan · 2012-02-10 06:25:43

Even the experts have the same attitude why on earth would they say an apartment is 60k at yaya centre in real sense the price for a two bedroom apartment is 36k why dont you stand your ground??

Diana barry · 2012-04-19 07:41:37

People tend to stereotype alot and sometimes it makes me just cringe ! I think it's a problem with some kenyans ..for example some people ask me how come you are married to a muzungu and you are big ??? Lol or how come you do not drive yet you are married to a muzungu ?? Lol they assume the only reason i would be married to one is for the money and he must have money to buy me a car !! Lol and to think muzungus only marry thin women !! Anyway we tend to be used to the stares and some rather not so good remarks from
Total strangers !! The best thing is to ignore !

Wawuda · 2012-04-19 07:43:43

I totally agree with you Diana the best thing is to ignore them and carry on with your life.

Daisy123 · 2012-04-19 09:17:37

The stares and comments are sometimes hard to ignore. For me what I have found annoying is how differently I'm treated when I'm with my husband, who happens to be white. Going to restaurants with him the service is amazing. We get the menu quickly, our food comes on time and the staff is super friendly but when it's just me with my friends the service is so slow. The staff ignore us, our food is always late. It's come to the point where I don't look forward to going out for dinners. It's insulting being treated like a second class citizen.

PeBo · 2012-04-26 22:32:39

Hi to all,

let me jump in here. Especially this staring thing can be very annoying. I'm a mzungu and I'm in a relationship to a lady who is Kenyan.

It happened to us as well that people in a hotels restaurant "got it wrong" and stared at us the whole evening. Ohh wait... it was not all the time because it stopped soon after we both started staring back at them.

Of course you can't change what is in their minds. If someone thinks he knows what's going on, seeing a withe male with a black lady in a hotel then there is not much you can do to rectify this thoughts. But you can make them stop showing it to everybody. Just let them know that you got notice of their behaviour and make it clear that you are aware of your surroundings. Most likely they will start feeling "trapped" and if there is a small piece of common sense they will stop it then.

We also made the experience of dual pricing and sales staff almost ignoring her. If we go together to look for whatever, many sale persons reply even her questions to me and of course things are more expensive then. But I also realized that this problem is smaller the more you leave the typical tourist areas. We stay together in Ongata Rongai and there I can get the same things for the same price as my lady does. I think it helps making clear if one is not a tourist but a resident

Best regards,
Peter

Longonot62 · 2012-04-27 06:55:37

I am white and my Wife is a kikuyu lady. We don't live in a tourist, or expat area and yet, the dual pricing goes on, except in places like supermarkets. As I stated above, my Wife usually does the bargaining in markets and in my absence.

We have been lucky with regard to 'stares and comments', but maybe this is because we were married and living in the UK for quite a few years, before going to Kenya and my Wife is well known in Thika. There were far more stares and comments (often racist) in the UK, sadly. However, there is still a widely held assumption that we both have money pouring from every orifice!

imani32 · 2013-05-21 17:33:08

Hey the stares of interacial couples is a global thing. It is not only in Kenya but I know for sure that you get stares from almost everyone. Ok the remarks are a little rude, so far I have never heard a remark from anyone.

pinguinoma · 2013-05-21 21:06:04

I always bought with cheap price (and mzungi friends too, but they were born here,). (I'm good stick it)
achieving even better prices than my (local). you have to learn their customs. but you can do it,.
even you can learn special techniques to spend desimulado,
in front of the (local) public places,. and pass as a local.

but then, you think, will be fine to do that ...
... and pay even less than the rest ...

note. the other day to buy some shoes on the open market ( I use my ability ) to pay half or less, of what you pay for a room .. (Black man pay more than twice what my...)

pinguinoma · 2013-05-21 21:27:30

I have something to fear. if I marry a lady from kenya and her
lives in my country (since black ladies in my country. they are super ...
are treated as semi gods. cool have the best jobs, are men who want,,, literally have power ...
(All my friends in my home country, I say these women are way too beautiful, .. and are black, you imagine, .. all envious of you will have ...
and will want that woman,,, hmm

Francesca · 2013-05-22 14:57:59

@imani32 and pinguinoma: feel free to create new topics on the Nairobi forum as this discussion dates back to 2012.

Francesca

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Stereo types

#1 2012-02-07 14:58:40

Stereo types

#2 2012-02-08 05:51:31

Re: Stereo types

#3 2012-02-09 06:28:31

Re: Stereo types

#4 2012-02-09 08:34:55

Re: Stereo types

#5 2012-02-09 20:54:11

Re: Stereo types

#6 2012-02-10 06:25:43

Re: Stereo types

#7 2012-04-19 07:41:37

Re: Stereo types

#8 2012-04-19 07:43:43

Re: Stereo types

#9 2012-04-19 09:17:37

Re: Stereo types

#10 2012-04-26 22:32:39

Re: Stereo types

#11 2012-04-27 06:55:37

Re: Stereo types

#12 2013-05-21 17:33:08

Re: Stereo types

#13 2013-05-21 21:06:04

Re: Stereo types

#14 2013-05-21 21:27:30

Re: Stereo types

#15 2013-05-22 14:57:59

Re: Stereo types

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