Here is the one that led the pack. Images are difficult to upload for now– will wait on the video.
Tag Archive for 'wildlife'
I’m at an internet cafe in Mombasa. First Internet for a while. It’s slow and I’m not prepared (no USB stick in my pocket), so the longer what-I’ve-been doing post will have to wait. Some highlights from my notes:
- My goodbye present was amazing. Thanks so much to everyone who called in.
- They didn’t weigh or measure my bags AT ALL. I’m sad now that we pulled so many things out at the last minute.
- I drank a white port in Amsterdam during the layover– a final treat!
- I sat next to the CEO of microcare.co.org during the 2nd flight– cool guy who gave good advice for a long life in Africa: “go to bed early” and “don’t eat salad.”
- During the bus ride to Mombasa, we had to stop because GIRAFFES WERE RUNNING ACROSS THE ROAD. Video to follow.
- I already knew this, but Obama is HUGE here.
- Mosquito nets over my bed in the hotel during training. Emergency malaria meds in a kit courtesy of Novartis.
Today we visited 2 deaf schools around Mombasa. My hair poofed up during the bus rides due to all the wind (needed because it’s HUMID), and the kids at the second school named me (meaning that this is my “sign name” for life, KSL, ASL, or otherwise). My name goes like this: wiggle your fingers on your right hand while you trace your hand from the top of your scalp down toward your right ear. Basically, indicate long curly hair. They also named a girl in our group by tracing the shape of her scarf on her head. Other volunteers will be named as time passes. I like my name.
I really like the other volunteers. There are a few of us who came from a multimedia background and we’re all hoping to apply it somehow here.
I’ll be in town for roughly a week before catching back up with the other trainees, at which point internet access will drop off even more. I’ll try to over-post before that happens. Wish me luck in learning Kenya Sign Language!
2 Responses to “Mombasa”
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Paul – I hope you get this. Let me know so I can write more. FOr my comment on the giraffe, does he have a tail that looks like “long curly hair”??? I can’t believe it. How many were there? that is so cool. So, are you really in MOmbasa or somewhere outside? I’m going to look up the town now. Don;t let them send you near Somalia, PLEASE. I miss you so much already. In a way I’m glad that you cut back on your stuff because of having to lug it around.
We are trying to send you a package after Thanksgiving, so let us know what you would like and need. Edith at work has a friend who works at Fed Ex. She said a package 18X18″ 30lbs normally is about $500, but that her friend will give me a BIG BIG discount, so please let us know before you go too far away and let us know the mailing address. If you want us to wait til you get a closer mailing address, that’s fine too. We will send a package no matter what, so let me know the address for arrival in December. I gave Bailey a bath yesterday. He was a dirty dog. Love, Mom Isn’t Ammsterdam a great airport? I would like to stay in Amsterdaam a couple of days sometime. I will send you some Lomotil, which is better for diarrhea, which I hope you don’t get just the same. -
Do you know why the CEO said “don’t eat salad”? Because there’s termites in it. Do we eat them here in the U.S. (voluntarily, that is)? No. He gave some damn good advice.
Paul, I put my name as Elise, because I thought it was the code name, but it was really me who sent the last reply. Mom
Hi Paul it’s grandma blair saying hello and hoping you are having a success at learning the sign language. it is cold here and I prefer warmth. we send our love and good wishes to you Have a good Thanksgiving Grandpa and grandma Blair
You should have taken some Luna Bars with you. Like, 866 of them to offset the Termite breakfasts.