Destination: Kenya

A Local Encounter that Changed my Perspective - Do you have a pen?

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 | By sallynaylorhampson | Views [242] | Scholarship Entry

It is exactly how I imagined. The grass sways like lazy waves exhaling at the shoreline. Elephants wade through the thick grassland like mothers striding through shallow waters. Wildebeest search for water, their migrating stampede sounding of thunder.... Read more >

Tags: Travel Writing Scholarship 2013

Sharing Stories - A Glimpse into Another's Life

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 | By amcommins | Views [16340] | Comments [26] | Scholarship Entry

‘Jonathan’ is not the name of a fearless warrior. Jonathan, surely, works in accounts in an air-conditioned office, takes vitamin supplements and makes regular contributions to his pension fund. He secretly resents his work and dreams of any challenge ... Read more >

Tags: Travel Writing Scholarship 2013

Catching a Moment - A spotted spectacle

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 | By hargun3045 | Views [234] | Scholarship Entry

7:30 am, Peter scans the bushes with keen eyes. There’s something he can sense, that I can’t. All I see are dry pastures, and a rising sun. “Shh! Be patient. If you’re lucky, I’ll show you something special” In the Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya, ... Read more >

Tags: Travel Writing Scholarship 2013

Day 26: Monkey Park

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [208]

In honor of Kelly’s birthday yesterday, the girls and I took her to Monkey Park. She doesn’t go out much, and Ashlyn has wanted to take her for a while. We all took the matatu in to Nairobi, where we caught another matatu to the city park.... Read more >

Day 25: Hiking Mt. Longonot

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [343]

We woke up at 4 this morning to screaming, honking, and general cacophony. The election results were released early on Saturday morning. The girls and I had been planning to wake up and leave for the mountain at 5, but based on the state the city was ... Read more >

Day 24: Excursion to Naivasha

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [395]

As the election results still have yet to be released, and likely won’t be until Monday, my host mother and I agreed that it was safe for me to travel to Naivasha to hike Mt. Longonot. The mountain….. . Naivasha is about an hour and a half ... Read more >

Day 23: Breaking Free

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [150]

We all rebelled and left the house today. Counting the votes has been taking days – they’re all counted by hand. The four of us went to the disabilities school and just hung out with the kids. Although they’re all boarders, they have, ... Read more >

Day 22: Movie Day

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [156]

The girls and I just stayed in and watched movies today due to the ongoing election. We were hoping the results would be out, but luckily we stocked up on movies last week. With Pitch Perfect and Footloose both available, I’m sure Grace can’... Read more >

Day 21: Day Two of House Arrest

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [194]

Today the girls and I took a matatu to the mzungu mall for the day.  We were permitted to leave the house because votes are still in the process of being counted. By tomorrow, however, the results should be released, making it very unsafe to be ... Read more >

Day 20: Election Day

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [254]

Polling began today for the Kenyan presidential election. Due to the violence that broke out as a result of elections 5 years ago, N.V.S. is authorizing that all volunteers stay in their homes and not venture out to their placements. The girls and I ... Read more >

Day 19: Sunday at the Orphanage

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [151]

My first Sunday in Rongai, I decided to go hang out with the kid at the orphanage. I meant to work in the library a little bit, but it was very hot, and I took the opportunity to play with the kids instead. We played some football, which was really fun.... Read more >

Day 18: Beginning of Library Project

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [202]

Although volunteers are supposed to have weekends off, there isn’t a whole lot to do within walking distance in Rongai. It’s possible to take a matatu – the minibuses that serve as public transit throughout the country – to the ... Read more >

Day 17: First Dat at the Special Needs School

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [166]

Since aid wasn’t as necessary at the orphanage, today I went to the Special Needs School nearby. It was absolutely beautiful. It was in a nicer area of Rongai, and is the biggest and most beautiful house I have as yet seen in Kenya. A few of the ... Read more >

Day 16: First Day at the Orphanage

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [190]

This morning I went with some fellow volunteers to the school/orphanage where I intend to spend my time for the next month. Having not seen an orphanage yet, it was very different from what I was expecting. In fact, it was almost the same as Damside ... Read more >

Day 15: Arrival in Rongai

Sat, 2 Mar 2013 | By cfleisch10 | Views [334]

Day 15: Rongai This morning I moved out to my new placement in Rongai. It is a smaller “city” about 45 minutes outside of Nairobi. I was under the impression that it was more of a rural area than it turned out to be, but it’s alright.... Read more >