catch up

Today marks a little over a month back in Nairobi. Strangely, it already feels like I have been away from the states for much longer. The preparation for moving for the year consumed my life for more than a month prior to departing, and now that I am here it is a weird feeling…I feel settled but somehow feel like I have 10 million things to take care of. But everything will be taken care of in time. 

I hit the ground running work wise and it has been a great learning experience thus far. In the nature of any new position there is an adjustment phase, but I feel confident that this year will teach me things that a classroom could never capture. I am working for an organization called Shining Hope for Communities (www.shininghopeforcommunities.org) for the next year. My position includes a lot of different things from working out of the clinic to developing new and existing programs. The organization is the definition of a community based organization with programs to support everyone within the community: there is a tuition free girls school, a free clinic, a clean water initiative, multiple community development programs for youth and adults, to name a few. All of these programs are based out of Kibera, an informal settlement that is debatably the largest 'slum' in Africa. Kibera lacks amenities that are taken for granted in the western world...things like clean water and sanitation, consistent power, education, roads, security, etc. To read more about Kibera and Shining Hope for Communities, please read one of my friends detailed article here: http://matadornetwork.com/change/finding-ones-place-in-kibera/

Largest Clean water point in Kibera

Recess with the girls

Recess with the girls

Aside from work I have also been able to catch up with my Nairobi family. I cannot imagine moving to a place not knowing anybody and I am so thankful to already have such a solid network of people here. Also, the people I meet here constantly inspire and amaze me. Nairobi seems to attract a population of go-getters...a large number of foreigners are here doing something interesting and I find most of my conversations to be intellectually stimulating. There is something really great about this...after living in the states for a year it is refreshing to have a conversation lacking any bullshit small talk and actually learn something from the person I am talking to.

With that being said, it doesn't mean I don't miss the states. I had a profound conversation about moving abroad with a close friend prior to leaving the US...and the main take away from our chat was this:

Following through with dreams and ambitions is not easy. In the world we live in today, a lot of people dream big, but most people never see their dreams come true. Here I am making one of my dreams happen and it isn't easy...that's for sure. Leaving a comfortable life in the states and working within a very different culture and population of people constantly challenges the way I think, but the challenge is part of the process. Traveling and immersing myself in a foreign culture is an environment that fosters a unique kind of learning...the type that can never be put into textbooks or taught in classrooms, 'experiential learning' as my mom would say. 

Missing family and friends is also part of the process...but I am thankful to have people to miss and a supportive network back home who believe in this lifestyle I have chosen.

I definitely struggled with whether or not I could commit to an entire year away, but I would rather take on this adventure than regret not coming at all. Life threw a serious curve ball at me recently reminding me that this life we live can be taken from us at any moment. I tend to live my life assuming I am invincible to some degree, but the truth is, we are only on Earth for a tiny fraction of time. Keeping this in mind, I know this year will come and go but the impact it will have on my life is invaluable and long lasting.

Aside from all that stuff, I have been making some awesome travel plans while I am in this part of the world. I am definitely climbing Mt. Kenya at the end of this month, running a half marathon in a safari park at the end of September, going on an extreme safari in Masai Mara in October, traveling to Cape Town South Africa for Christmas, and working on itineraries for January when 2 good friends are making the trip to Kenya to visit!

Lake Naivasha

Saw some Hippos on a quick day trip out of Nairobi!