Jambo From Kenya!

JAMBO!!!!!!!

I made it! Sorry it has taken me so long to post, today is the first day I have been able to get out of bed since I got here on Friday.... Lets start from the beginning! 

Thursday night I left JFK around 8 pm, with three overweight bags and a carryon that was too big! I was supposed to have a window seat, but when I got on the plane a young couple who looked terrified asked if I could switch so they could sit together. So I figured this would be good Karma and switched. I sat between two really cranky British people for seven hours. Didn't sleep at all but did watch 17 again!

Arrive in London and wait on the runway for over an hour. End up with 20 MINUTES until the gate closes to my next flight. No joke. I had to make it through the airport and security in 20 minutes. RAN LIKE HELL!!!! Made it there and the women says "do you want the good news or the bad news". I would have preferred NO NEWS. So the bad news is my seat had been taken because I was late. The good news was I was upgraded to business class! So I get on the plane and have my own little seat/bed. There was my Karma! Until..... 5 hours from Nairobi I start to feel sick, and end up spending all five hours in the bathroom trying not to die.

Oh yeah, and as we are preparing to land in Nairobi we find out that there is a plane stuck on the runway because it lost a wheel. So we circle around and then start to head to some other African country that I can't even remember (so we can refuel and head back to Nairobi). Great. On our way their Nairobi calls and says "Just kidding, come back!" So we land in Nairobi at 10:30pm instead of 9, and I still feel like death. I got through customs ("who are you visiting" "my cousin" "what did you bring them" "nothing" "you didn't bring them presents" "nope, just clothes for me"... good thing he didn't open two of my three suitcases to see my cpr dummy, medical supplies, and 6 ziplock bags of girls clothes!)

Get to the hotel and sleep for the first time in 24 hours. Leave the next morning, feeling ok until... three hours into our drive from Nairobi I start to feel sick. Long story short: We pull over and I proceed to vomit all over my new shoes. Welcome to Kenya!

The next few days followed pretty much the same thing. My first meal here was a stew made with a freshly slaughtered baby goat, so that went well. The food is difficult, we all know what a picky eater I am! 

Enough complaining! KENYA IS AMAZING! These people have so little and are so grateful, it is inspiring. The girls are shy, but I'm working on getting to know them. Now that I'm out of bed I can start to plan my CPR classes.

Also, it is hot ad EVERYONE here is wearing sweaters! One of the teacher's sons (Steven) is four years old and i have not seen him in anything less that a sweater and knit hat! 

There is running water, pumped up from the river. I'm sitting in Nanyuki right now with internet and a Coke. Life is good!

I hope this post was not to long, I'll post more once I get my thought in order! Love you all!

Asante (thank you) for your support!

Last Post From The USA!!!

Daraja Academy Campus

It's 11 am and I just finished packing for what I hope is the last time. I now have three bags plus a carry on (oops!). It was just so incredible to have all of the donations, I couldn't imagine leaving anything at home! One of the bags weighed 110 lbs this morning but I somehow managed to get it down to 65 lbs.

Lets all take a moment to picture me getting through customs in Kenya with a backpack, a duffle bag, and two suitcases. By myself. : )

My flight leaves at 8:05 PM NY time, and I arrive in London after 6 AM their time. I have a two hour layover at Heathrow, and then it is off to Kenya! I should be arriving there around 9 PM. We are staying overnight in a hotel in Nairobi, and in the morning we make the four hour drive to my final stop: THE DARAJA ACADEMY!

Enjoy the pictures I stole from Jason's Facebook. Can not wait. Thanks for all the well wishes, and we're off!

This is where I will be.

I keep saying "4 hours outside of Nairobi" but who knows what that means.

Some Facts About Kenya

While I should be studying for the upcoming MCAT (July 17th - one week before I leave for Kenya), I find myself dreaming of Africa instead. Here are some things I learned today:

50 % of the population in Kenya lives on less than $1 per day. (Jeffery Sachs, End of Poverty)

  How unimaginable. I am floored that this is even possible. Besides a pack of gum or something off the 99 cent menu at Wendy's, I can't even think of a single item you can get for under a dollar. 

The life expectancy for the average Kenya is 48 years. 

This is why I want to go. Knowing basic principles of first aid, and beyond that CPR, can CHANGE LIVES. My Grandma Grant turned 98 last week. that is almost double...

Only 62% of the population has access to safe drinking water. 

I have never once had to worry about having water to drink. I can open my fridge and take out a bottle of water, or even turn on the faucet. Can you imagine? When I spoke to Jason he said they boil their rainwater and use it for drinking water. It hasn't rained in months.

Now this is the shocker for me. This is what told me I had to go...

The average yearly income for a person in Kenya is $360.

In a YEAR people. Most full time workers in the US make more than that in a WEEK. I am ashamed to say that I own a purse that cost more than that. How can their be such a divide? We are so lucky...

And then here is the good news!!!!!!! You CAN do something to help. There are plenty of organizations like Daraja that seek to make these changes. If you can't give money, volunteer. If you can't volunteer, spread the word. If you can't spread the word, pray. Do something, anything.

Welcome!

So here we go...

July 24th 2009 is the date! I'm headed to Kenya, The Daraja Academy to be exact! This is where I will be posting pictures, videos, and documenting my experience.

Why am I doing this?

Well for starters, because I can! I am so lucky to be blessed with a supportive family. Volunteer work has always been a major priority for me, especially in the medical field. While I don't have all the money in the world, I do have the time. And some special skills! So I decided to go visit my cousins Jenni and Jason at the Daraja Academy. 

Be useful to others.

 Please visit www.daraja-academy.org for more information on the school. 

I promise to give some more information about my journey up until this point... later :)

CAUTION: Spelling/grammatical errors  ahead...