The week before I left Chicago, I had all of the girls who will be joining me in Kenya over for one final meeting. I passed out "Survival Guides" on which I listed a couple of things to remember when traveling in Africa: Be flexible. Don't have expectations. Don't make plans. Well, the teacher is [...]
Tag: lone traveler
Nagolie Nkera Children’s Home
Last Thursday I went with Irene to visit Nagolie Nkera Children's Home in Maasailand. This is a project that I visited three years ago on a little Nairobi getaway with Tessa, Annie and Irene and it was so wonderful to be back! The project is run by Mama Agnes - a wonderful woman with an [...]
A Bittersweet Reunion
It's taken a couple of days for me to muster the energy to post about my return to Bethel Outreach School in Kibera (aka, Mama Mary's) a couple of days ago. As I'm sure you can tell from the title, it wasn't at all the kind of homecoming that I had planned or hoped for. [...]
Baruku Dust Babies!
After leaving Pipeline Friday evening, Irene wanted to stop in at Baruku IDP Camp to check the construction of a school house that is going up there. The van pulled off of the highway onto a dusty, seemingly deserted road. The sun was starting to set, making the dust seem that much thicker as it [...]
Jenn(y)
Kenya is the only place I let people call me Jenny. If someone shortens your name or makes it cutsie, it means that they really like you. Normally, I hate being called Jenny and, save a short time in 4th grade, I've never gone by it. During my days at Trisect, I was affectionately referred [...]
Carrying a Lighter Load…
I spent seven months in Africa and all that I had stolen was a case for my sunglasses. Therefore, it would only make sense that on my third day back I would have my entire backpack stolen - inside which was my laptop. I was having lunch with my friend and taxi driver, Joseph, at [...]
Like I Never Left!
Finally, I can say JAMBO FROM KENYA!!! I have officially returned home to Kenya, and, as the title suggests, it's like I never left. Moments after walking off of the plane things just suddenly felt Kenyan. Everything was familiar from the Swahili chatter to the smells (oh my, the smells!) to the crazy, unorganized visa [...]
Amsterdam Sunrise from Above the Clouds
I really wish I had a photo of that one to share with all of you, but my camera was safely stowed overhead and I had an aisle seat. It was beautiful and colorful and gave me renewed energy for the second leg of this journey. The strange thing about international travel is that you [...]
Jenn Winter 