So, I started this blog with the intentions of talking about my travels, but I haven't had any until now. Last Monday, I got the call that the non-profit I worked for 2 summers ago (RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund), needed volunteers for a conference that they are holding in Nairobi, Kenya. The details included an all expense paid trip to Nairobi, Kenya. So, I thought, "why not!". I got off the phone, booked a flight, and now I'm here in our nations capitol, once again. I seem to come here at least once a year. I've been here every year for the past 3 years. Back in Utah, I was feeling unfulfilled. I was feeling like I wasn't living life and felt stuck. I wanted to travel, yet lacked the funds (still do). Don't get me wrong, I love working with my 4th graders and I love teaching my night ESL class. I miss my students. And I'm still hoping that coming here wasn't a mistake. I quit both my jobs and now I'm here, living off my savings and sleeping from apartment to apartment. But, this Friday I get to go to Kenya!
I'm so excited to go to Kenya and yet I'm so nervous!! I'm scared for the flight, but I'm planning on reading and, who knows, maybe I'll finish "The Number of the Beast", by Robert Heinlein. I've read three of his others books and have loved them. I've been reading this book for over a month, and still have yet to get anywhere. It takes me forever to read books. I just don't actually sit down and do it. Anyways, back to Kenya. Apparently, it's the rainy season and I don't even think we'll be have enough time to do the touristy things like a Safari. But, I guess it's not the season for a safari. All the animals are harder to spot this time of year. But, from pictures I've seen, Kenya is so beautiful! I'm hoping we'll 
be able to do some fun things while we are down there. Oh, we will be visiting Jamii Bora though (http://www.jamiibora.org)! For those of you who don't know, Jamii Bora is a microfinan
ce firm in Kenya, run by this lady named Ingrid Munro. She gives small loans to the very poor. This includes beggars, prosititutes, and individuals, who many have given up on. I think that Jamii Bora started in a slum and she and Jamii Bora have changed the lives of thousands! I love microfinance and the potential it has to positively change people's lives. I'm working for the Microcredit Summit (part of RESULTS http://www.results.org). They have set goals, along with 300 microfinance instituions, to reach the very poor. And last year, they put out a report that stated that they had--they had reached over 1 million of the world's poorest with microfinance. Amazing! Anyways, back to my travels. Coming to D.C. and traveling to Kenya were not in my plans. Coming here like this is not like me. I am the kind of person to plan things out. That way, I can mentally, financially, and emotionally prepare for trips. This "trip" was not planned. In fact, I got SO SICK right after I found out that they wanted me to come to D.C.
I've been so stressed since I got here. I haven't been able to relax and I've had so much anxiety. Now that I'm at my sister's friend's house, I'm hoping to relax a little bit and take care of myself before Kenya. Which is in 6 days!! EEK!! Oh...what did I get myself into!! But, hey-free trip to Kenya, plus I'll have something to tell my kids when I'm old. I can say, "yea, I did something spontaneous" or "I have been to 4 continents" or something.....
On top of everything, I'm scheduled to go to Taiwan at the end of June for 2 months!! Right now, thinking about that stressed me out. So, I'm not even going to go into Taiwan right now.
Anyways, I'll make sure to post pictures and tell more about Kenya when I get there.
For now, I'll just say that I'm about to embark on quite the journey, and not quite sure what to expect and also, I have no idea what I'm getting myself into....maybe that's a good thing.
