Back to Kenya

Dates have been confirmed and I must say I am excited to be returning to Nairobi and seeing my Kenyan friends again! This will be my 11th trip to Kenya and I learn new things each trip. This time a colleague and I will divide into 2 teams with our Kenyan university and CDC colleagues and visit each of the 11 Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campuses. All campuses implemented the standardized medical laboratory science curriculum this past year (Sept 2008) and we will access how the implementation process is affecting the students and the professors! This means we will be traveling all over Kenya to visit all the campuses! I am hoping I will get to visit the campus at Eldoret - after reading (and re-reading the Hot Zone) I really want to visit the mountains and cave where the story begins! Another aside with this post- I am fortunate to have met and worked with Dr. Peter Tukie who is a doctor in Nairobi also mentioned in the book! WOW- I know a famous doctor! And, I might add he is a terrific person to work with.

Enough about my excitement on returning to Kenya! I will also have an opportunity to visit Mama Tunza's orphanage and deliver school supplies and personnel hygiene products to the children.

I do have to add one more comment and that is that our son, Richie, will be joining me after my work to go on safari with me and to see 'what it is that I actually do and love about Kenya'. This is his college graduation and 23rd birthday gift! As fate would have it- he will be joining me on his birthday- what a celebration. Now, of course, I must say that our daughter, Cat, met me in Nairobi and we traveled together to Mombasa where we toured, relaxed, and went on safari last summer! There was a bonding after spending the night in a 'tented lodge' - with the lions and zebras and giraffes just on the other side of a small fence maybe 100 feet from our tent!

Cat relaxing in the lobby of our "Tented Lodge" Notice the Masai plaid (red and blue) on the chairs!
Isn't this a grand picture? Amazing how the animals blend in to their surroundings!

Cat, John, and Cathy getting ready to begin our Safari!

Flat Stanley Visits Morogoro, Tanzania

Flat Stanley is a United States student. His story goes like this: Stanley was giving a report in front of the blackboard in his class when the blackboard fell down on him and flattened him. Now Stanley is 'flat' and travels where ever his classmates mail him. When he arrives at his destination, he makes new friends and visits exciting new places; of course he takes alot of pictures of what he does. This way children in all classes everywhere can learn about places they cannot travel to!
Flat Stanley traveled with me to Tanzania and attended the Curriculum Standardization and Teaching Methodologies Workshop!

Flat Stanley traveled with me to Tanzania and was so popular that he was given a Tanzanian name: Zuma (which means week in Swahili). I was then given the name: Mama Zuma as that is how people are named in Tanzania- assuming I was Zuma's mother! At any rate, we all enjoyed taking Zuma with us as we visited different places around Tanzania. Mr. David Ocheng, AMREF, asked to have Zuma remain in Tanzania for a few weeks- he will continue to take pictures and email them to me. I will share pictures as I receive them!

This is me, Stanley Juma, in my room at the Morogoro Hotel. To protect me from contracting malaria the hotel uses netting to cover my bed and keep mosquitoes out! You also see a salmon-colored silk sleeping bag liner- I use that to keep bedbugs away from me while I sleep! The silk liner travels in my carry-on bag so I don't lose it while traveling!

Wednesday I was invited to have lunch with Mr. Ocheng. Look at this delicious lunch! Lots of fresh vegetables and chicken AND watermellon for dessert. We have Tea Break every morning and afternoon too! I could get used to this lifestyle.

Here I am with Tanzanian Professors writing objectives for a class lecture on HIV infection and diagnosis- We are in Group 5 and I am sure we will give the best presentation!



Here I am below with ASCP consultants, Perthena and Marie. I love watermellon and in Tanzania fresh fruit is dessert. WOW!

Perthena and me talking with Mama Chaquila and Grandmama (balancing 10 liters of water) on the pathway up the mountain. They are both wonderful ladies and shared many stories with us.