I wake up to knocks at my door. I’m disoriented, unsure where I am or what time it is. I throw on some basic clothes and open the door. It’s my host, checking on me, asking if everything’s okay. Honestly, I have no clue—I barely glanced around the apartment. I tell her yes, thank her, and hope to crawl back into bed. But I decide to take a quick look around before I crash again. Honestly, the view is even better than yesterday.
Imagine, I’m in the heart of a city of five million, paying less than €20 a night. I head out to grab some groceries and check out my apartment.
This feels nice. I munch on some bananas and crash again. When I wake up, I’m starving, and it’s dinnertime. Too lazy to go out, I head to the rooftop eatery next to the pool—“restaurant” feels like a stretch. I order a chicken dish and a Tusker, but they’re missing some ingredients, so I settle for my second choice. As they prepare it, the sun starts to set, and honestly, the view is stunning.
The food is decent, but the chicken is too stewy for my European palate to handle. I try to eat it but leave some pieces on the plate. As I finish, two girls pass by, one saying, “Hi.” They just missed the sunset and linger at the corner for a few minutes. I text my ex, telling her it’s fine if she doesn’t want to be with me—I’d still value her as a friend. After all, she helped me become the guy I am today, leaving the old me behind.The girls head back, and one, Kaely, asks if she can sit down. I nod, and she takes the seat across from me. After a bit, she asks for my number, saying she’s cold and needs to head inside. I weigh the risks and give it to her. They leave, and I sip my second beer. Back in my room, I wonder what I’m even doing here. A message interrupts my thoughts: “Do you wanna join us for dinner?” I think it over but decide I’d like some company—after all, it’s just four floors up. What’s the worst that can happen? They seemed nice.The food is simple but tasty: ugali, greens, and avocado—I really appreciate it. We talk a lot, and I feel like we’re vibing. I share the whole story of what brought me here, and Kaely asks for more details, mentioning she studies psychology. Wow, that’s quite the reveal while I’m basically sprawled on a couch, pouring out my life like it’s a therapy session. But I don’t mind—I feel good.
