My Kenyan Adventure - Journal Entry 1

April 15, 2012

Jambo! I am currently in a home in Nairobi, Kenya. Yes, this is my real life. There is so much to say. My head has been racing since I got here. I don't know how I am going to put these thoughts and feelings into worked, but we will see how it goes.

This journey actually begins years ago. We all see the images and read the stories about poverty and death in third-world countries. Those stories always would bring me to tears. I always felt like there was so much more we could do to help. So much more that I could do. I have donated money, but sometime in my early college years, after watching another documentary about Africa, I told myself I need to do more. I made it a life goal to one day visit Africa and help these people. They were so far away, yet I always felt this unexplainable connection to their pain.



So that was it. I made it one of my life goals and knew someday I would make it happen. I assumed the trip would happen when I was "grown up" and successful. Someday when i had money and the ability to take the time out of life. Through a strange series of life events, fulfilling that goal comes at a time when money and success are the furthest thing from my grasp.

I had decided last November that the Disney thing wasn't working out. I was more motivated than ever to leave and find a graphic design job in California. I planned to leave in March and would then risk it all and move to California. Within weeks of that decision, this crazy thought kept creeping into my mind. "I should look into going to Africa." I had looked at and researched some volunteer programs while in college, but never acted on any of it because of my lack of money and time. But this time was different. Here I was about to leave my job and move across country with nothing lined up. I was in a rare situation. I may never have a time like this in my life again. I am young, healthy, and have no attachments to anywhere. The perfect line up for trip to Africa. The only issue was money. This time, I would not let that stop me. I have this dream and if I didn't do it now, I may never get the chance again. So I raised some money, got some donations, and drained my entire savings account.

I am here with International Volunteers HQ. They do programs all over the world and are very reliable and reasonably priced. i had researched them while in college. I was accepted into the program, but wont know exactly where I will be located until Orientation which is tomorrow.

This is my first time traveling out of the United States, so it has been quite the adventure for me already. My travels began Friday morning (4/13/12) at around 5 a.m. when I left my parents house in American Fork, Utah. My dad drove me to the Salt Lake City airport, we said our goodbyes, and then my flight to Houston left at 7:30 a.m. From Houston, I took a 15 hour flight to Dubai. This was my first international flight ever, so I didn't know exactly what to expect. Just getting on the plane itself was an interesting process. After scanning your boarding pass, there is a hallway of men in security uniforms pulling each person aside to ask them questions. This whole situation seemed quite intense. The man who pulled me aside asked me my reason for travel, final destination, and how much money I had on me. After that I boarded what would be the longest and mow "interesting" flight I have ever been on. This plane was on its way to Dubai, so obviously the plane was occupied by mostly Indians and Middle Eastern nationalities. There were only a handful of white people on the plane, and this was the during my adventures that I would be the minority. This feeling is new to me and this plane ride was just the beginning.

So this plane is a Boeing 777. Basically, it was HUGE! My seat was right in the middle of two Indian men. My years with Disney have exposed me to a lot of different cultures and people. I have come to learn that Indian people don't usually have the sense of personal space that American's do. I have no issues with that, except for when I am sitting in a TINY chair on this crowded airplane. I had elbows and knees all up on me during the entire flight. They weren't purposely being rude, but I am not used to being that touchy with strangers. The man on my right was quiet and seemed quite angry with life. So I tried to just let him be. The man on my left wanted to talk. Any second I pulled off my headphones, he was ready to way something to me. We ended up having a good conversation at one point, but again, NO personal space. When I was looking at the food menu to decide what I was going to order, he was literally half way in my seat and asking in my face what I was going to eat.

And now that we are talking about the food, I can mention that this moment was a turning point for the rest of my travel time. The food was Indian food and it really wasn't bad for an airplane meal. Or so I thought. An hour later, I regretted eating at all. My stomach was not handling it well and I knew what was on the way. . . gas. And not embarrassing farting. Oh no. This acid wanted to escape another way. So the gassy burps began. I hate those. I also realize that while these gaseous burps can be silent and unnoticed by those around you, they tend to leave a foul stench in the air. I could tell these particular burps were no exception. Those around me would be smelling them. So naturally, I had to attempt to cover is up each time it happened. I totally pretended each time that it came from somewhere else. I made a disgusted face and covered my nose each time so that no one would think it was me. I was just an innocent victim like everyone else. We have all played this game, so don't pretend you haven't. After a while of that, my stomach was only getting worse. I had to do it. I went to the restroom and threw everything up. Luckily I made it to the restroom! I felt a little better for a little while, but it came back. We were experiencing heavy turbulence and the flight crew was strictly making people stay seated. Each time it came up, I fought it hard. Several times I swallowed the throwup that had made it up to my mouth, just before it could escape. Being sick on a plane is awful. Especially a long flight. But I survived and after 15 hours of being on that plane, I was in Dubai.

The Dubai airport was unbelievably lavish. It felt more like an upscale mall then an airport. My layover gave me about 2 hours to recover and then it was back on a plane for 5 more hours into Nairobi. That plane ride was better. I still felt sick, but was getting much better. I was even able to sleep for a couple hours.

I landed in Nairobi, Kenya, and the airport was a far cry from the lavish Dubai airport I had just left. It was humid and a little run down. I stood in line for my Visa for quite a while and then went to pick up my baggage. Then the worst panic cam over me when I couldn't find my bag. I looked and looked. It was gone. I went to the help desk and he began filling out my lost baggage forms. Just as we finished, I looked over and there was my bag! I don't know how that happened, but the severe panic of the previous hour was suddenly destroyed.


Outside the airport, I was greeted by Edwin who was our driver. There were two other new volunteers he was picking up as well. Teressa and Wesly. They are both so nice and i was glad to know I wasn't alone in this anymore. Edwin drove me and the other two girls to a home owned by a woman named Regina. Pastor Regina runs an orphanage here and also houses several volunteers in the home along with her two little girls. The drive was overwhelming and it was definitely a huge culture shock for us. The streets even at night, were chaotic and full of cars and people. There seems to be no real traffic laws. Everyone just goes. It was crazy. And to see the buildings and the people . . . For years I have seen this in movies and on T.V., but nothing compares to seeing it in real life. It is shocking and I can't really think  of any other way to describe it. Pulling up to the house was unsettling. I am so glad Edwin was so good in calming our fears. He was incredible. And I am equally as glad the two other volunteers were with me. Because none of us knew where we were being taken and the whole experience seemed to be very shady. We eventually made it to the house and met Regina and the other volunteers who are currently living here. There ate a total of 11 volunteers in the house now.

Today we took a trip to the local mall. It was a lot more "westernized" than I had expected. I exchanged currency for Kenyan Shillings, bought a cheap cell phone for use while here, had lunch, and visited the Kenya version of "Wal-Mart", Nakumatt. We took a Matatu back to the house. That was quite an experience. Everyone just crowds into, or actually piles into this passenger van. People just jump in and out. It was raining and muddy on the way back, so I got a little wet, but it was still a good experience. We all talked and played card games at the house the rest of the evening. Regina had brought a group of young high school boys in to feed them dinner.

I am still in a culture shock and not used to any of this yet, but i am enjoying it. I am finding people here are generally very kind and good. Very hospitable. The next two months are going to fly by and will definitely change my life forever. There is no doubt about that.