Temp Gallery

June 30, 2014 - Part 2

We gathered in our outdoor dining hall for a delicious spaghetti lunch. The dining area had a small bar off to the side where we would gather for a drink before dinner every evening. This building would soon become the place where we got to share the highlights of our day and bond with our fellow group members over some amazing dinners. After lunch we were treated to a bit of a Swahili lesson hosted by Peter, one of the Maasai Warriors. He taught us some basic words and phrases that would help us show our appreciation for the staff at Bogani and the people welcoming us into their community.

Later in the afternoon we set out for our first ride in the wonderful off-road bus, where Gravol became quite popular. Our destination an elementary school, built by Free the Children, volunteers and members of the community. Among all the new buildings, still stands the skeleton of an old school house. The walls were built with sticks and mud, there was no floor. The desks were nothing more than a small wooden bench attached to a narrow shelf. One of these desks would often be shared by three or four students at one time. These desks are where we sat while Elizabeth, Ryan and Justus spoke to us about Free the Children. They told us about the origin, the history, and what they are currently doing in Kenya. I strongly urge anyone reading this to visit the Free the Children website and learn more about what they are doing, not only across the world, but right in our own communities. Hearing our facilitators speak from the heart about a foundation they are believe in was touching and their message had more of a personal impact than I could have expected. 

After that humbling experience it was time for some fun. We were invited to roam the school yard at get to know some of the students. The children were all so excited to show us their classrooms and tell us about their favourite subjects. We quickly learned how much they love to have their picture taken. I met a group of boys who were a little apprehensive about talking at first, but as soon as they saw my camera their eyes lit up. The next ten minutes went like this; I would take a photo then the boys would run over to see it on the camera, say “One more!”, and run back for another pose. Even though we didn’t talk much, I felt a connection with these boys. The innocence of the whole experience reminded me of when I was that age.

As the rest of the group started to board the bus, a few of us decided to hang back and listen while the principal addressed the students. He started by thanking us for coming to visit the school and told us we are always welcome. Then he thanked the students for coming to school and reminded then how important it is to always ask questions in life. Seeing this commitment to the future of this community was truly inspiring…and it was just the beginning.

After an amazing dinner we went around the tables and gave everyone the opportunity to share the highlight of their day. This would become a nightly tradition which went well with my other nightly tradition; a couple bottles of Tusker. I didn’t know what to share the first night, it was such an overwhelming day. All I could think about were those children and how easily their happiness became my own. I feel like this is exactly where I belong, at least for right now.

June 30, 2014 - Part 1

As I drifted out of my sleep this morning there was brief moment when I thought I just had a crazy dream that I was in Kenya.  When I opened my eyes I was caught off guard by the mosquito net draped over the bed in our suite at Karen Blixen.  The last 24 hours had been so unbelievable that I was certain it couldn't have been real.

Dawn and I were the first of our group to head out to the garden for a generous complimentary breakfast of omelets, bacon, sausage, fresh local fruits and vegetables.  While we ate, we watched a friendly little cat rub up against the legs of the other guests as they arrived for breakfast.  It is such a cold morning here.  Thank God for this hot and healthy breakfast.  In the coming week I'm sure we will learn just how much of a blessing it really is.

Shortly after breakfast it was time to check out of the coffee gardens and take a bus to Wilson Airport.  The airport seemed more like a small town with cars lining every street.  There were a variety of businesses that seemed a bit out of place at an airport.  We arrived at the security checkpoint building that was extremely relaxed compared to what you would imagine an airport to be.  I put my backpack on the conveyor belt and walked through the metal detector (still wearing my watch, sunglasses and belt) and there was no beep.

We proceeded out the back of the building to the tarmac, where we waited for our planes to be started.  We were escorted between a bunch of small planes until we got to three that had the engines running and doors open.  The inside of the plane only had seating for about twenty people, including the pilot.  One of the girls from our group got to sit in the co-pilot seat up front.

After a surprisingly smooth take off, we were 1,300 feet above Nairobi; about to embark on life changing journey.  The flight to Masai Mara was beautiful the entire way.  We saw a lot of farm land, which we would later learn is the way the Kipsigis people make their living.  We flew low over a mountain and the pilot started the landing sequence.  I looked out the window to see a small flat clearing of grass.  Is this where he's going to land this thing?  We cleared the last row of trees and touched down on the grassy runway.  The landing wasn't quite as smooth as the take off.

We climbed out of the plane and joined the rest of our group that flew over in the other two planes.  We were greeted by James, a tall man with a friendly smile who was wearing a traditional Maasai Warrior shuka and bead work.  The whole group walked about fifteen minutes into the Bogani camp and got our first real look at rural Kenya.

As we made our way past the security gate and down the long winding driveway, we could faintly hear a group of people singing in Swahili.  Over the next ten days we would become very familiar with this song, Jambo Bwana.

All the employees of Bogani greeted us with freshly squeezed juice and a quick introduction.

We were taken to our luxury tents, where we will be living for the next ten days.  Luckily Alyssa, Vicky, Dawn and I were all in tents grouped together.  The tents, along with everything else at Bogani, were far beyond what I expected.  Built on a cement foundation, with a full bathroom in the back section, they feel a lot more like a small cabin.

June 29, 2014

The flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi was a painful nine hours.  I'm not sure which made me more miserable, the guy behind me whom would hit my seat every time I started to fall asleep or the lady beside me whom was extremely comfortable with sharing my personal space.  None of this mattered anymore once the captain announced our final descent into Nairobi.

When we touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport I had no idea what to expect.  As we walked out the door of the plane there were just a set of stairs leading down to the tarmac.  We were then directed to a bus that was completely crammed with people, standing room only.  Suddenly sharing a bit of my personal space on the train didn't seem so bad.  Let's call this preparation for things to come.  While waiting in line for our travel visa, all the lights in the room went out for about five seconds.  It caught me off guard at first, but I wasn't too concerned because none of the immigration officers even looked up from their computer screens.  It seemed like this happens often.  

We were greeted at baggage claim by two young Kenyan men holding a sign with the names of our group members.  They helped us retrieve our bags and quickly led us through a second section of security checks and out a set of glass doors which were guarded by armed soldiers.  As we exited the airport it was like an altered version of walking the red carpet at a movie premier.  There were hundreds of what I'm assuming were taxi drivers behind a metal barrier, most of them holding signs with names written on them.

We crossed a busy street into a parking lot where we were met by Elizabeth, our Me to We facilitator, and headed to a unique old bus.  After about forty five minutes of dodging oncoming traffic and slowing down for a ridiculous number of speed bumps, we arrived at Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens; a resort pulled right from the Kenyan history books.  We went inside and were greeted with a glass of fresh juice.  As I looked around at the hand made furniture and the antique decor, this was the first time it really hit me that our African adventure had begun.

Dawn, Alyssa and I made our way to the bar in hopes of finding some late night Kenyan food but we were a bit too late.  The waiter was still more than happy to serve us up our first round of Tuskers while we took in a bit of a World Cup game and tried to wind down from our full day of travel.  The smell of dinner was still lingering, mixed with the aroma of smoke from a hookah being enjoyed by a lone woman in the corner.  I could have sat in that bar all night and anticipated what the next ten days had in store for us.  Unfortunately, morning will come soon and we will be flying down to the Bogani Cottages and Tented Camp in Masai Mara.

Note: Morning came four hours later for me.  5 a.m.

June 28, 2014

After a hectic night of last minute packing, we have arrived at Pearson International Airport in Toronto and are awaiting our first transatlantic flight to Amsterdam.

The first good experience of many came as soon as we approached the gate and realized we get to wait in leather club chairs while we use complimentary Ipads.
I was just starting to grow bored of the electronic blackjack when I heard an older lady behind me arguing with someone on Skype about the poor quality of her webcam.  Please don't let her sit behind me on this eight hour flight.

Second Entry

As we near the end of our first flight we are currently 10,000 feet above Ireland.  I can't help but feel a strong sense of pride and a mix of other emotions as I look down through the clouds at the small clusters of lights that form the communities.  I know my Nana would have been overjoyed to know I am in, or over, her home land.  I know as I soar over Dublin, she's right here beside me; pint of Guinness in hand.  So with that, I leave you with a Gaelic blessing which she would often recite.  It seems very fitting for our journey ahead.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.