I've settled in at home in Dayton, Ohio after an excellent close to the school year. An increasing number of e-mails have been coming my way from ICODEI (that's what Volunteer Kenya is called in Kenya--stands for Inter-Community Development Involvement). I have my orientation information, how to travel from Nairobi to Bungoma, medical release information, and instructions on how to wire the fees. I'll be going by the bank later today, but I'm not sure if I should wire the money yet since they request sending no more than 10-14 days in advance of arrival.
Otherwise, there haven't been any new developments. It looks like limited internet connectivity will be available, but there's a place in town where access is about 1.5 Ksh per minute (or about 2.5 cents a minute, which amounts to $1.50 an hour; not bad at all). I have to call Josh and Krishna to get their packing suggestions and tips for following the directions given in the Volunteer Kenya orientation information.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
How far We've Come
One month from today will be my first day in Kenya. Flying from Dayton, Ohio to Chicago to London to Nairobi won't exactly be a quick trip--I leave on the 3rd and arrive the next day. I won't have any long layovers or anything of the sort. Between now and then, however, I will take two more final exams and move my things home from Dayton after the Cleveland school year.
In fall 2006, Josh and Krishna met me at Arabica, a coffee house across from where I lived at the time. They pitched an idea to me that night about international health and HIV in Africa that I never dreamed, a grant and a year and a half later, that we would have come so far. Krishna and Josh were in Bungoma, Kenya in the fall of 2007 setting things up, staying in the quarters provided by a non-profit organization, Volunteer Kenya. Krishna was to return in the spring, but the political instability delayed his trip and he worked at home in Texas to return with me this summer. The summer of 2008!
The project's incarnations have been quite varied. The group of four of us--in addition to myself: Josh, Krishna, and Phil. An entry alone could be spent on the quirks of the eclectic group we are--from Ohio, New York, Texas, and Oregon with multifarious interests, passions, experiences, and life trajectories.
There are still a few things I have to make sure are taken care of--I have to fill my malaria medication prescription (I had yellow fever and tetanus vaccines last week), make sure everything is fine with my visa, and send any advance money necessary for room and board while there.
I leave June 3rd. I return August 10th.
Penye nia ipo njia. Where there's a will there's a way.
In fall 2006, Josh and Krishna met me at Arabica, a coffee house across from where I lived at the time. They pitched an idea to me that night about international health and HIV in Africa that I never dreamed, a grant and a year and a half later, that we would have come so far. Krishna and Josh were in Bungoma, Kenya in the fall of 2007 setting things up, staying in the quarters provided by a non-profit organization, Volunteer Kenya. Krishna was to return in the spring, but the political instability delayed his trip and he worked at home in Texas to return with me this summer. The summer of 2008!
The project's incarnations have been quite varied. The group of four of us--in addition to myself: Josh, Krishna, and Phil. An entry alone could be spent on the quirks of the eclectic group we are--from Ohio, New York, Texas, and Oregon with multifarious interests, passions, experiences, and life trajectories.
There are still a few things I have to make sure are taken care of--I have to fill my malaria medication prescription (I had yellow fever and tetanus vaccines last week), make sure everything is fine with my visa, and send any advance money necessary for room and board while there.
I leave June 3rd. I return August 10th.
Penye nia ipo njia. Where there's a will there's a way.
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