Hello again Kenya

After 24 hours of travel to the other side of the world and two days of research work I've finally gathered enough jet-lagged energy (and strong enough wifi) to write this.

On Monday, I escaped the thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding of Texas on a trans-atlantic flight to London. The team included Professor Rispin, Prof Sasaki and Danielle. 8 hours later, we arrived with time to crawl through layers of Heathrow security and wander, sleepy eyed through the airport to our next gate. By 11am we were on our final 8 hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya. My plane buddies included a Kenyan track runner who's said he's filled up three passports traveling and racing in countries around in the world (completely paid for by sponsors, by the way). And he hasn't even finished college. Why am I in school again? Kidding... sigh... Med school... My second plane buddy was a newly graduated Kenyan-born pharmacist living in Houston. He reminded me how much doctors are needed, especially in Kenya. Okay... sigh... Med school... He mentioned he has several friends in Baylor Medical College and University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston. Yay connections! ;) Finally, we landed in Nairobi and met a driver for the hour trip to Thika town. Oh Kenyan roads how I've missed your lovely bumps and works-better-than-caffeine pot-holes.

This trip to Kenya has been filled with deja vu experiences as I return to stay at the SACDEP hotel (our "home" during the three weeks of my first Wheels trip) and work at Joytown school (our research location).
Deja vus:

• The hotel's free-range monkeys... and bunnies, 
• falling asleep to a chorus of frog croaking and waking to that. one. bird. 
• hiding every inch of my body from mosquitoes... and finding bites later,
• showers with heated water that must be "turned on" with a switch on the wall, 
• the wi-fi chase,
• deliciously oil-filled chapati bread, 
• fresh-as-heck-because-they're-grown-across-the-street PINEAPPLES, 
• interpreting Swahili-mixed English phrases and accents,
• handshaking, 
• hand washing 
• and more handshaking. 

I was surprised by the strength of the excitement and joy experienced walking into the room full of Joytown staff and therapists. Old friends with the same welcoming smiles and handshakes. My favorite deja vu experience of all has been daily chai time. Tea + milk + sugar = why don't we do this in the US!

This trip to Kenya has also been filled with new experiences like walking from SACDEP down Thika town streets to Joytown school. As a (very) white, (very) tiny, (very) red haired girl, I don't stand out at all... ha... You learn quickly to ignore the stares, dodge the motorcycles, and joke around with the entourage of giggling school children following behind you. It's been crazy to recognize kids at Joytown and realize how much they've grown, marking the unbelievable passage of time. Am I really a senior in college now?? Our research work at Joytown has been successful and productive but tiring. Lots of computer data entering time for me but mixed with some interaction with the kids which is always interesting. Cheese.

Moses - my computer-loving buddy keeps me company

Tomorrow we will enjoy the countryside of Kenya as we travel closer to the Great Rift Valley (aka one of the greenest places I have ever seen). We will spend the weekend in Kijabe, connecting at Kijabe Hospital. This will be the first time Danielle and I meet the doctors who have agreed to take us on as shadowing students in the next week. Let's hope our offering of requested medical supplies and American foods (Hormel turkey pepperoni??) is accepted.