Preparation

Today I got more money from the university in the form of a $700 grant cheque from the dean of the graduate school, Harvey Waterman (thank you, Dr. Waterman!). This helped me cover some of my travel related expenses, most notably the vaccinations and medications that I need to go to Kenya. I feel like I walking drug store inside my own body, having had five separate injections since February (this doesn't count the ones I already had, like tetnus and meningitis) and a TB skin test (I don't have TB - big surprise). I also have anti-malarials, anti-biotics, and just about ever over-the-counter medication you can think of to come with me. It's daunting, since the only other places I've traveled have been within Canada, the US, and western Europe. I needed no vaccines to go to any of these places. It feels strange to go to a country where there is so much risk.

All of my drugs and I are pretty much packed to go, at least in terms of field supplies. I still have to pack clothing for Europe, but that will only be a small suitcase that I can take onto the plane with me. I am a bit concerned right now about how much stuff I will have to manage on the return flight. I know my action packer (a heavy-duty Rubbermaid container) will be much emptier on the way back, since all the food I've packed will be eaten and most of the clothes and some equipment I can leave in storage in Nairobi with the rest of the field school stuff, but my problem is that I'm flying into JFK on the way back, which is in New York City, not into Newark. That means I have to negociate the from the airport to Penn Station with an action packer, a hiking packback, a regular backpack and a small suitcase. Good times all around. At Penn station, I have to go down stairs to get to the train platform from the NJ transit holding area (this is where they keep everyone from New Jersey, to separate us from normal people). I probably shouldn't be thinking of this over 3 months in advance, but I am anyway. I was just going to say I've never been away this long in the summer, but that's not true; I was away for 4 months when I worked for Landsong (the summer I dislocated my ankle, which I know most of you remember!) Still, this is different, because I will be on two different continents.

Here's hoping the suitcase situation works out on the way back.

Hello, everyone! I got the idea for this from Dan, who did a traveller's blog last year when he went to Ghana. Unfortunately, I won't have email access for most of the time that I'm in Kenya, but I will keep a written journal (what's that?!) and type it up (or most of it) when I get back to Nairobi or the Netherlands.

For those of you who don't know, I will be in the Netherlands for 4 weeks, then Kenya for 7 weeks, then the Netherlands again for 3 weeks. During my first stop in the Netherlands, Eowyn, Maddie and I will be taking a trip to London for a couple of days. I have a sister, brother-in-law, 2 nieces and a nephew in the Netherlands. In Kenya, I have my PhD field work to begin! Should be fun. And hot. And dusty.