What a Whirlwind

Somehow a month has slipped by me and my time in Kenya is nearly finished. I am very sad.

My project has really picked up in the last three weeks and I have been busy transferring Class 4 students from Fairview to other schools nearby. Although many tears were shed at their graduation ceremony, I hope that they see in the end, it is best for their education. We are sponsoring 8 students in total for the remainder of this year, and then an additional 6 when a second transition happens in January. We will be looking for sponsors of these children for the next few years so if you are interested, please let me know. $50 pays for a school uniform, books, a lunch nutrition program, a PTA fee, examination fees and extra remedial classes on Saturdays FOR ONE YEAR! It is impossible for families here to even afford that, so I wonder how the government can continue to claim 'free education' for all primary school students. Secondary school is even more expensive and the most tragic thing is that many of these students will not have the means to attend without the help of a sponsor.

Ok, enough pleading... sorry for that, but I thought I'd get the word out in case.

Saying goodbye to the children at Fairview broke my heart and I have left behind a little piece of it with each of them. In the goodbye ceremony I was decorated with Garland as the guest of honour and was sung to and danced with... you all recall how much I love being the centre of attention! My face was a nice shade of tomato I'm sure. Although my eyes leaked a few (a lot?) tears near the end, I had a bit of a distraction shortly afterwards as I had to remove a student from her uncle's home where she was being treated very poorly, to her Grandmother's place a few kilometers away. She instantly brightened when I dropped her off though I know she was very devastated to leave her friends to go to a new school. One day I hope she realizes it was in her best interest.

Saying goodbye to the family I have become a part of these past few months was even harder. The kids were somber, I was bawling uncontrollably, and my roommate Allison was going on about something with icecream and lollypops in an atempt to distracted me from my emotions. The last hugs were very hard to do. I will miss the entire household so much: Mama Maggie, Mme Jane, Eunice, Marion, Dickens, iventa, Colette, Mercy, Cheril, Natalie, and my baby Stefany.

I am now on a bus leaving Nairobi enroute to Moshi, Tanzania. I am popping antibiotic and immune system-boosting pills like crazy in an attempt to shake a throat and chest infection before I embark on a small hike tomorrow.... and the next day.... and the next... and next... and next.... and next. Yes. Somehow the time for Mount Kilimanjaro is upon me. I am a bit nervous because even in the best of health, the mountain is impossible for many hikers. I like to think that Kenya has made me reasonably fit, but then I still am out of breath when I reach the top of deep valleys. It will be all over on the 10th and if I maintain a combination of the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' and the 'Dorie the fish' mentalities, I think I can if I just keep walking... just keep walking... I think I can, I think I can.

Must rest. Wish me luck!!