Asante and Kwaheri

Well, there are many more stories to tell but I have to cut it off at some point and after more than a week at home I think I’m ready. This is the final entry for Erin In Kenya.

Someone recently asked me how my holiday was. This question perplexed me as I certainly wouldn’t consider my experience in Kenya a holiday. But after some reflection I realized that for someone following my blog it might appear that way. I definitely have a tendency to focus on the positive in life so the blog is more of a “best of” chronicle than a comprehensive description of my experience in Kenya. So I apologize to my readers for not painting a more accurate picture of my volunteer experience but I just can’t help myself :) Thanks to all of you for reading my stories and e-mailing me over the past 6 months. This blog has been a great way to stay in touch and a nice release for me when work got too intense.

During my 6 months in Gatura I was incredibly lucky to have a satisfying work experience, make some great friends, and live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I was there to contribute my skills and knowledge but I learned plenty myself in the process. I think the most life-changing skill I learned was the tendency to laugh, smile, and find enjoyment at work. For whatever reason it always seems easier to do that at home but Kenya taught me that work doesn’t need to be nearly as frustrating as most of us make it out to be. Maybe it has made me a tiny bit lazier but I like the attitude we have in Kenya of not getting upset when something doesn’t go how we expected (because things rarely go as planned) but adapting and enjoying whatever happens if we can.

Being back in Vancouver feels a bit strange but I’m settling back in. All the Olympics construction was finished during my absence and the city looks amazing. Plus it’s my favorite time of year in Vancouver when there is still snow on the mountaintops but the weather is sunny and warm from where I sit admiring them. Stephen made it through my absence but I’m a bit surprised he didn’t die in a fire from not emptying the lint filter in the dryer for 6 months or eating expired food as I recognized most of the contents of the fridge from before I left. I also found his Halloween costume still in the laundry... But we both did survive the 6 month separation and though we are grateful for my experience in Kenya we don’t think we’d like to be apart for that long ever again!

As for the future, I’m not sure what it holds for me. I don’t have any plans just yet but I now have my Canadian residency so I guess the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for sharing Erin In Kenya with me.

Cheers,

Erin B.

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My final project for Gatanga Kiiga was to create a website which you can check out at http://gatangakiiga.wordpress.com  I haven't proofread or tagged it yet and there are still some more adjustments I'd like to make but any feedback you have is appreciated. The site is designed for donors to learn more about the organization.