Out of Canada, Into Kenya - Danielle's Journal

The travel study is over.

For the past week and a half Shawn and I have been pretty sick. We’ve had fevers and upper respiratory infections. Not very fun. We are now on the mend. We are spending the week with the Felkners until we head north with WorldVision. I have to admit I’m a little nervous about our trip north. We don’t know where we are staying or eating and it’s not the safest area of Kenya. However, we are going up with another group and so we will be safe.

Mombasa was beautiful. We had spent the last week of the travel study on the coast of the Indian Ocean. Unfortunately Shawn and I came home early cause we were sick. It was really neat getting to see another part of Kenya. I found it to be really different in some ways but also the same rest the rest of the country. Many more people on the coast dress traditionally. Mombasa also seemed to be a little more laid back that Nairobi. However, you can really tell how focused on tourism this area is. I’ve heard Mombasa referred to as Europe’s Hawaii. The one thing that seems to be the same across the country is people trying to sell us things. There were people on the beach selling their wares at inflated prices for tourists.

The travel study was an amazing experience. We learned so much about Kenya and were really challenged to think about development and international aid in Kenya. We also focused on the issue of AIDS as well as orphans. My heart was broken repeatedly as we visited children’s homes and discussed what we could do to help. I know that many of my ideas were challenged and I am still trying to come to terms with some new ideas I have been presented with.