Kwa Heri, Kenya!

Hi All,

Our group left the Wildebeest Camp in Nairobi about 10 minutes ago after dinner and a shower. They’re on the way to the airport.  For those of you that were nervous or worried for the last 14 days, you can exhale now J I have the good fortune to be on sabbatical on this upcoming semester, so I’m running around Kenya a bit longer.

Returning home from this trip can be a tough transition at times. Your sons/daughters/loved ones have experienced something that goes way beyond viewing wildlife and eating different types of food. There will not be an easy way to respond to the question “How was Kenya?”  The easy part is telling you about the animals, the landscape, the clothes and food of Samburu culture, and so on.   But I guarantee you, the experience goes way beyond that stuff, and it’s not something that is easily described right away. Samburu is a place that can inspire and break your heart at the same time. It is often a collision of emotions.

It’s also likely that every member of our group feels compelled to make adjustments or changes of some kind, and we urge them to do so in a way that respects and doesn’t demonize where they come from. They shouldn’t be tossing their cell phones down the toilet or selling their cars. But it’ll take some time for them to figure out exactly how this trip translates to something different in their life.

So, ask about the obvious stuff: the wildlife, the food, the camping.  And  ask about the relationships with the many good people they met in Samburu because all of our student learned a lot about humanity from those relationships. Maybe hold off on asking about how the trip will affect their lives; that might be a better question a few weeks or months down the road.

My final note: this group was extraordinary.  My co-leader (Karina) and I often had side comments to each other about how easy this was. They took care of and supported each other, they showed good judgment, and they took advantage of every opportunity we put before them. They balanced empathy with pragmatism, and laughter with tears. It was truly an honor to be among this group.  Be proud.