Hello parents,
I just spoke with Shani, our Kenya country director, and he said the group has arrived in Shompole. Lauren Wyatt, who was in the community last year, is greeting her friends in Shompole. The kids are getting to know their new friends and playing soccer. The community stay has begun! Please call if you have any questions, (303) 669-3412.
We are hopeful the group's modem will work so they can post to the blog. If not, we will update the blog via what the group tells us via cell phone and sat phone.
Ross Wehner
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Day 1 in Kenya
Hi everyone- its Alyssa (hi Maya).
Yesterday we had the most amazing day! Like Ms. Wyatt said earlier, we were greeted to an amazing breakfast which was much needed since most of us slept through all the meals on the plane! After that, we met with our WLS leaders- David and Ray and learned a little bit about what was coming in the upcoming days. After that, we had time to explore. The lodge is beautiful. Behind the main "lobby" (where all meals are) there is a ravine with a river running through. Everywhere you turn, there are gorgeous plants, ranging from cacti to flowers to palm trees- I had no idea Kenya was this green! After exploring a bit, we met for lunch which consisted of french fries, pasta, hotdogs, green beans, and carrots- the perfect meal for Americans! After lunch we set out for our first adventure- the glass factory. On our 10 minute walk to the bridge, we passed gazelles (I think) and saw camels...pretty sweet considering our safari doesn't start for another week. Low and behold, the only way to get to the factory was to cross a 2 foot cable bridge over a massive ravine (I have no earthly idea how deep it was, but as Creed put it, it was too deep to survive should you fall). Despite everyone's fears, we all made it across, though some of us continued to sport shaky legs 20 minutes after getting off of it...
The factory was incredible. The people who lived/worked there were so proud of what they did and the handmade bowls, plates, figurines...etc were gorgeous. The furnace they used to make the articles has been burning every single day for 15 years. Also, we saw some giant tortoises in a pen and the world's largest pig- it could have easily broke the Guinness book of world records in my opinion. After leaving the factory, we came back to the lodge. Before dinner, we did a few more WLS activities and then had some down time. Most of us attempted to journal or read before enjoying a nice pre-dinner nap overlooking the Kenyan sunset and landscape- picturesque to say the least!
Dinner was, in my opinion, the coolest thing I have ever seen in life. The Maasai Moran came and danced/welcomed us to their home! Bearing spears, staffs, and other tradtional objects and clothing, we danced and sang with them. One of the elders presented us with goat's milk- a traditional symbol of friendship and welcome. We all got tons of pictures with them and tried are hardest to converse in Kiswahili. After the dancing, we were lead to a feast prepared in our honor- goat's meat, chicken, fish, beef, rice, carrotts, potatoes, karro root, spinach, peas, soup, bananas and tons more. To say we all left full is an understatment. After dinner, we all huddled in the conference room with the lodge employees to watch the World Cup game. It was weird watching it on "real" time here, considering it was dark out during the game and outside our windows. Shortly after, and extremely exhausted, we all fell asleep. Everyone here has been so kind and welcoming- they love sharing their home, culture, and lifestyle with us and we have all had a blast! Everyone is healthy and having a great time. Today we are heading over to Shompole and the real adventure is about to begin...Land Cruisers here we come!
Everyone sends love, hugs and kisses and Ms. Crenshaw- Keenan says his camera broke...
We miss everyone and our next post will either be tonight or tomorrow from Shompole!!
- Alyssa
Yesterday we had the most amazing day! Like Ms. Wyatt said earlier, we were greeted to an amazing breakfast which was much needed since most of us slept through all the meals on the plane! After that, we met with our WLS leaders- David and Ray and learned a little bit about what was coming in the upcoming days. After that, we had time to explore. The lodge is beautiful. Behind the main "lobby" (where all meals are) there is a ravine with a river running through. Everywhere you turn, there are gorgeous plants, ranging from cacti to flowers to palm trees- I had no idea Kenya was this green! After exploring a bit, we met for lunch which consisted of french fries, pasta, hotdogs, green beans, and carrots- the perfect meal for Americans! After lunch we set out for our first adventure- the glass factory. On our 10 minute walk to the bridge, we passed gazelles (I think) and saw camels...pretty sweet considering our safari doesn't start for another week. Low and behold, the only way to get to the factory was to cross a 2 foot cable bridge over a massive ravine (I have no earthly idea how deep it was, but as Creed put it, it was too deep to survive should you fall). Despite everyone's fears, we all made it across, though some of us continued to sport shaky legs 20 minutes after getting off of it...
The factory was incredible. The people who lived/worked there were so proud of what they did and the handmade bowls, plates, figurines...etc were gorgeous. The furnace they used to make the articles has been burning every single day for 15 years. Also, we saw some giant tortoises in a pen and the world's largest pig- it could have easily broke the Guinness book of world records in my opinion. After leaving the factory, we came back to the lodge. Before dinner, we did a few more WLS activities and then had some down time. Most of us attempted to journal or read before enjoying a nice pre-dinner nap overlooking the Kenyan sunset and landscape- picturesque to say the least!
Dinner was, in my opinion, the coolest thing I have ever seen in life. The Maasai Moran came and danced/welcomed us to their home! Bearing spears, staffs, and other tradtional objects and clothing, we danced and sang with them. One of the elders presented us with goat's milk- a traditional symbol of friendship and welcome. We all got tons of pictures with them and tried are hardest to converse in Kiswahili. After the dancing, we were lead to a feast prepared in our honor- goat's meat, chicken, fish, beef, rice, carrotts, potatoes, karro root, spinach, peas, soup, bananas and tons more. To say we all left full is an understatment. After dinner, we all huddled in the conference room with the lodge employees to watch the World Cup game. It was weird watching it on "real" time here, considering it was dark out during the game and outside our windows. Shortly after, and extremely exhausted, we all fell asleep. Everyone here has been so kind and welcoming- they love sharing their home, culture, and lifestyle with us and we have all had a blast! Everyone is healthy and having a great time. Today we are heading over to Shompole and the real adventure is about to begin...Land Cruisers here we come!
Everyone sends love, hugs and kisses and Ms. Crenshaw- Keenan says his camera broke...
We miss everyone and our next post will either be tonight or tomorrow from Shompole!!
- Alyssa
Monday, June 28, 2010
Settling in
Good morning,
The students will give a longer update later today, but since they are sleeping in this morning I thought I would tell you a bit about our travel day yesterday.
All of the flights were smooth, with the climax being a weather delay into Detroit and a 32-gate sprint in ten minutes to get to the Amsterday flight. We all laughed as the other passengers looked at us like "What took you so long?" Most of the students slept on our final flight and those that didn't enjoyed the scenery over Europe and the Nile River. Once we made it through the visa line last night (the "fast lane" still took two hours...the students were SO patient), we were divided into groups of 5 and whisked in Land Cruisers to the Maasai Lodge. Even in the dark, we enjoyed sights of the National Park, former U.S. embassy and the ever-evolving Kenyan roads. Once we arrived at the Maasai lodge, students enjoyed a quick de-briefing and pizza dinner before going to bed. Now they are gradually waking up to a breakfast of pancakes, omelets, sausage, fruit, toast and their first tastes of Kenyan coffee and tea. Everyone seems to be in good spirits and couldn't stop asking questions yesterday even as they were tired. My Land Cruiser group asked our driver many questions about Kenya, new Kiswahili phrases and the city. He enjoyed their inquisitiveness.
I'm writing this remotely from the Maasai Lodge office but plan to get on the laptop and have students writing them and posting pics later today. Thanks for your support of this adventure!
-Lauren Wyatt
The students will give a longer update later today, but since they are sleeping in this morning I thought I would tell you a bit about our travel day yesterday.
All of the flights were smooth, with the climax being a weather delay into Detroit and a 32-gate sprint in ten minutes to get to the Amsterday flight. We all laughed as the other passengers looked at us like "What took you so long?" Most of the students slept on our final flight and those that didn't enjoyed the scenery over Europe and the Nile River. Once we made it through the visa line last night (the "fast lane" still took two hours...the students were SO patient), we were divided into groups of 5 and whisked in Land Cruisers to the Maasai Lodge. Even in the dark, we enjoyed sights of the National Park, former U.S. embassy and the ever-evolving Kenyan roads. Once we arrived at the Maasai lodge, students enjoyed a quick de-briefing and pizza dinner before going to bed. Now they are gradually waking up to a breakfast of pancakes, omelets, sausage, fruit, toast and their first tastes of Kenyan coffee and tea. Everyone seems to be in good spirits and couldn't stop asking questions yesterday even as they were tired. My Land Cruiser group asked our driver many questions about Kenya, new Kiswahili phrases and the city. He enjoyed their inquisitiveness.
I'm writing this remotely from the Maasai Lodge office but plan to get on the laptop and have students writing them and posting pics later today. Thanks for your support of this adventure!
-Lauren Wyatt
Students are in Kenya!
Hello Parents!
The students have safely arrived in Nairobi and are settling in to the Masai Lodge (www.masailodge.com) for their first evening in Kenya. They will be recovering from their long flight all day tomorrow before leaving for the community on Wednesday. They should start posting blogs tomorrow morning!
Erin Lasky
Program Director
The students have safely arrived in Nairobi and are settling in to the Masai Lodge (www.masailodge.com) for their first evening in Kenya. They will be recovering from their long flight all day tomorrow before leaving for the community on Wednesday. They should start posting blogs tomorrow morning!
Erin Lasky
Program Director
Students are almost in Kenya!
Hello!
The student's flight left Amsterdam on time this morning and they should be arriving in Nairobi at 7:25pm local time. Hopefully we will have the first blog update from them tomorrow morning! Please call the office with any questions - 303.679.3412.
Erin Lasky
Program Director
The student's flight left Amsterdam on time this morning and they should be arriving in Nairobi at 7:25pm local time. Hopefully we will have the first blog update from them tomorrow morning! Please call the office with any questions - 303.679.3412.
Erin Lasky
Program Director
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Student's flight to Africa!
Hello parents!
The students took off from Detroit to Amsterdam at 6:15pm. They should arrive at 7:50am and they leave Amsterdam at 10:25am and arrive in Kenya at 7:25pm. If you have any questions - please call the office at 303.679.3412.
Erin Lasky
Program Director
The students took off from Detroit to Amsterdam at 6:15pm. They should arrive at 7:50am and they leave Amsterdam at 10:25am and arrive in Kenya at 7:25pm. If you have any questions - please call the office at 303.679.3412.
Erin Lasky
Program Director
Friday, June 25, 2010
48 hours to go
Hi everyone!
I write this from my cozy desk at the high school as I eat a sandwich and reflect that in just 3 days we will be in beautiful Kenya. I received a facebook message just the other day from our country coordinator, Shani, saying how excited the entire Shompole Community is to meet the Ensworth students and work with us on their school. The message reminded me once again of how friendly and hospitable the Maasai people are. Here is a quick pic of some of the students from last year to help you envision the faces greeting us in just a few days.
Enjoy your final preparations-
Miss Wyatt
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