Kenya celebrated it's Independence (Jambhuri) Day today & went to a big celebration. Amazingly, it was only 45 years ago they finally got rid of England. Couldn't convince my English friend to come, she's had one too many Kenyans tell her that her father killed their father. But since my people fought to be free of the British too, figured I'd be safe. Besides, the President would speak, there'd be tribal dances & an air show... basically a big, free party... had to go!

Get there & I'm 1 of 3 white people in a stadium of 40,000 people. It was fun but the sun was blaring, too many boys staring & half of it wasn't in English. So after 5hrs decided to leave. Then found out why there was 40,000 people... once you got in, they wouldn't let people leave until the President spoke. Good way to make sure he had a packed house... lock 'em all in!

But as a white Westerner, usually local rules don't apply. Rarely try for extra special treatment, just wannbe treated like I would in my own country. Which includes not being forcibly retained in a stadium. There's a number of approaches that work...

The first approach is to flirt. But could tell right away this was too uptight so began with the basic indignant rich Westerner approach. Not quite sure why it works... maybe they think I'm someone important or that I have important connections. It's all about a snooty, firm but still kind attitude. So when they told me they didn't have keys to open the gate, said ok, who does? Next gate... ok... went there.

Same deal. Then tried the rational approach. No keys, okay, I'll climb the gate. (Yeah, maybe this is more the crazy person approach.) Was told they couldn't let me do this. Next, scare them approach... let me speak to your boss. But he's at the next gate... what's his name & what's yours. Typical, the policeman wouldn't tell me his name! It's really tricky but at this point you can try to take their picture. Didn't do this & it can go horribly wrong, but if it works, it's brilliant.

My final approach is usually to cry. The crying white woman just breaks 'em. But while pushing my way to the last gate saw an ambulance & decided to try a medical approach... told them my heart medicine I had to take was outside. Sensing they were breaking, added "President Obama is going to be furious if I die because you wouldn't let me thru this gate!" Without a word they made a sliver sized opening in the gate so the crowd about to stampede couldn't get thru & one of the officers literally pulled me out!

Now got two new approaches... Obama & death... fantastic!