The search: New Home

Once we arrived in Mombasa, the adventure was just beginning. Now we had to find our own home as soon as possible. That shouldn't be so difficult, should it?

We set off the next day at 9.00 am. My partner found a gentleman who knew a few houses. Together with him, we drove from one house to another, but soon his offer was over and we weren't satisfied with what we saw.

We, or rather I, had an exact idea of where I wanted to live. It should be as close to the sea as possible, have a bathroom with separate shower and toilet, be open and bright and have a beautiful view. The first flats we saw had none of this. We looked into the neighbouring flats or were completely surrounded by other buildings.

So we set off on our own. We drove from gate to gate and asked the guards if they knew anything. They either gave us a landlord's number or showed us the vacant flat themselves. The gates were often labelled "Apartments for rent" and then a number. This worked really well and from time to time the guards also gave us tips on where else we could look.

I soon realised that high society lived in the area where we were looking for a flat and I began to doubt my expectations and wishes. Yes, there were flats that met and even exceeded my expectations, but at the same time the prices were far too high.

We didn't find what we were looking for on the first day and I started to make plans. What if we just spent the first few months in a cheap, dark flat and as soon as our income increased, we would move to a slightly more expensive flat? But my partner reassured me and made me realise that it was absolutely okay for me to have these demands and assured me that we would find something.

In the evening, I searched for adverts on Instagram and actually found what I was looking for. A flat by the sea, with a pool, for exactly the price we had set!

We contacted the number the next day and were allowed to go there straight away. When we got there, I thought to myself, yes, this is it.  But then we saw the house from the inside. The flat that was shown on Instagram was bright, with a sea view and at the top. The flat we were shown had a view of a burnt field, the other flats and was in absolute need of renovation. The balcony was literally falling apart and the house was not maintained or cleaned at all.

It was already Friday and we had to find a house because my partner would be travelling back to Kisumu by car on Monday and flying back to Mombasa on Wednesday. Me and Zawadi were supposed to live in the new house in the meantime.

Towards the end of the afternoon, we drove past a house and my partner asked the guard if he knew of any vacant flats in the area. He then referred us to a property agency. Seeing no other option, we drove there and met an agent who immediately understood exactly what I wanted and what we had in mind.

Half an hour later, we were in the car with an agent and set off again. We were already familiar with the first flat he wanted to show us; it was a property that was in dire need of renovation. So we drove on straight away and he took us to a residential complex less than 600 metres from the sea, a few shops just around the corner, with a pool and in an absolutely quiet and green location. We took a look at the flat and both knew immediately that this was it!

A day later we met the landlady at the church and the flat was ours. We have now been living in this flat, our home, for a week and two days.
As you can see, everything is going absolutely smoothly here and the nice thing we have learnt from this culture is how to live together. Because everyone helps together and if someone hears something, you are informed immediately.