Why Kenya?

Nairobi, Kenya

On February 4, 2024—right in the middle of Trinidad Carnival—I got the sweetest message: an invite to celebrate Ebitie’s 30th birthday in Kenya.

“So as promised, I would love to officially invite you to my birthday trip in Kenya. There is no pressure at all to attend—I know it’s a big commitment—but I’d be honored to have you join me on this experience. ❤️”

My entire definition of excellence, thoughtfulness, and trip planning changed the moment I opened the then-password-protected website (now public) she sent over. It outlined every important detail needed to book the trip—from October 18–26, 9 days and 8 nights. She removed every possible excuse to say no and solved all the typical group travel headaches in one go.

Hell yes I wanted to join Ebitie in Kenya for her 30th. And of course, I was that person—I asked if my +1, Haile, could come too. This felt like one of those moments where you just know deep in your bones that you need to be somewhere, that it’s going to shift something in you. I couldn’t not make it happen. This was my best chance to experience travel the way Ebitie does it—luxurious, curated, intentional, and rooted in deep research. I was honored to be invited. I love my life. I love my friends. Everyone’s just doing such cool ish. Kenya? Really?

But seriously—how does Ebitie do it? She managed to get 30 of her friends to fly 24 hours across continents to celebrate her birthday. That’s not normal. That’s extraordinary. People left their jobs, their kids, their dogs, their lives—just to land in a country that’s not on the average traveler's radar, simply because they love her. All of her friends? Dope. Most are badass women in tech or people who’ve known her since high school. From the pre-trip calls alone, I knew this was going to be better than AfroTech for networking and wholesome vibes. Ebitie is truly a queen—she’s built real, deep, soul-level connections with every single person on this trip. The kind of connections that make you stop what you’re doing and get on a plane just to celebrate her. If someone is Ebitie’s friend, I already know I want to know them. She’s endlessly generous with her time, love, and care—so of course she attracts great people who reciprocate that same depth. She’d show up for any of us in a heartbeat. Just being in her orbit inspires me. I’m lucky to call her my friend. 🖤

So here I was, stepping off the plane in Nairobi, Kenya, ready to scream: "Happy 30th Birthday, Ebitie! 🎊"

I won’t lie—it was a relief to land. And to actually be let in. I had been anxious about the borders. The fear of Africa—rooted in a mix of safety concerns, subtle Western programming, and subconscious bias—was really coming for me. But it all disappeared in an instant. I was home, yo. And instead of the struggle I imagined, I was immediately greeted by what I now call African privilege.

Welcome to Africa,

Where you don’t have to lift a finger.

As soon as we stepped outside the airport, our driver was waiting, holding one of those signs with our names on it. I’ve never had that before! It was my first-ever airport sign moment.

Karen’s host picked her up, while our driver took my suitcase and backpack right out of my hands and escorted us to our shuttle. Monique and Chiamaka, two other E30 ladies, were on our flight, so we waited for them to exit while I—now fully in giddy tourist mode—started geeking out over these vibrant, African Superb Starling birds flying around the parking lot. Thanks to Google Lens, I learned they were African Superb Starlings, and I was completely enchanted. In that moment, I finally got why people do that bird watching thing. I stood there just watching these birds twist, turn, and nibble at scraps—so full of color and character. Pure joy.

We arrived at the Trademark Hotel around 8:40 AM, checked in, and went straight to breakfast to catch the other E30ers before they headed to Karura Forest and the Giraffe Centre. There I saw Chantal and Autumn—I hadn’t seen them since our apple-picking trip in the Bay back in 2020. I also got to hug Ebitie, and her sisters. Chantal mentioned there was a massage spa on the same floor, so I paused mid-breakfast and walked over to ask if I could book something before our afternoon cooking class. The answer? A resounding yes.

That massage? Magical. The perfect remedy for jet lag and the suffrage of leaving SF on Wednesday and arriving in Kenya on Friday.

From ✈️ to breakfast 🤤

From breakfast to massage 💆🏽‍♀️

Luxury. Ease. Joy. I was here for as much of it as my jet lag would allow. And just like that, I ghosted the Western world.