Father's, brother's, nephew's cousin's former roommate...

One of the interesting things about deciding to go somewhere that seems totally foreign and exotic is that everyone seems to magically know someone who has been there/is there/will be there. Whether their friend, co-worker, or father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate, it goes a long way towards making the scary seem familiar. And in this day and age of email, everyone is willing to instantly connect me with these long lost relatives and roommates - so don't worry Mom, I totally know people in Nairobi..