day one...

Not much to report yet, but the hotel has free internet access and a computer, so here I am... The flight was fairly uneventful except for the one random time I looked out the window and saw St. James! That's the part of Winnipeg my family lives in - I looked out and recognized what I was looking at. Fun to tell Madeline that I saw her from the plane. She was out riding her bike when I called from the airport, having fun with her cousins. Her first two days at the new school have gone well - she says everyone is nice and friendly and she's made lots of friends already. No suprise there! And they're going on a field trip tomorrow to the Symphony.

I've met four of the others on the team, and we'll meet up with the three from here in the morning. I'm sure I'll have lots more to report after our full day of orientation tomorrow - until then, good night!

it has begun.

I said good bye to the kid today. (sniff, sniff) I know she's going to have a great time there with family and making new friends, and we've never had any attachment issues ever (see ya, Mom!) but she's mine, and I'm not going to see her for a while. Must be that built in attachment thing that parents get...

emailing...

I was asked tonight about if I'll be able to get emails while I'm there. I do not expect to have a lot of access to a computer, and when I do I won't be on for long. That means that I won't be checking all 5 or so email addresses... The one I will check is carolynandsean@yahoo.ca and then I'll try to update this blog. Don't expect too much, though! Probably I will add lots to here once I'm back and have the time (and the access to technology) to tell all my stories.

I am so encouraged by all the excitement people have for me about this trip. I feel so loved!

The Flag of Kenya

Switzerland will be #12!

I've never been to Switzerland, but it's on my list of want-to-go's. (It will be the 12th country I've been to!)

I got an email today that was full of details about what to pack and our schedules for orientation and debrief times in Toronto. So no new news about what our time in Kenya looks like, but some good info anyway. I'm giving myself just a couple more days to finish these last two assignments then I'll be in packing mode.

The email did say that Friday at 6:15 PM we fly to Zurich Switzerland, and we fly from Zurich to Nairobi Saturday at 6:10 PM. I checked online for the arrival time (they included the flight # for the flight to Zurich) and it arrives at 8:05 AM. So that means we have all day to explore! I'm a little bit excited about that!!! (Translation: I'm quivering in my chair with excitement and have already looked up scrapbook shops there...)

Our orientation includes meeting everyone on the team and the crew at CBM, considerations for our academic work, cross-cultural communication and overview of Kenyan culture.

The debrief time is mainly a day to prepare a presentation which we then share with the CBM office.

***FYI - the first 11 countries are Canada, USA, Mexico, Holland, Italy, Austria, Germany, England, Venezuela, Portugal and Barbados.***

a link

Thought you might like to check out the blog of the Kenny's, who we will be with in Kenya.

http://fourkennys.blogspot.com/

it's getting closer...

In two weeks I will be in Toronto, have met the others, and started our orientation!

I haven't heard any more details, but I have to pick up Malaria pills next week, so hopefully I'll get the itinerary details I need in order to get the right amount in time.

I'm feeling okay about the timing. I still have some work to do on my course, but the end is reasonably close, and I've got my 'to do before I go' list made and a few things already crossed off. One of the more exciting things was booking Madeline a flight home. My flight home from Toronto touches down in Winnipeg, so I booked her onto the flight I'm on. I doubt I'll even get to get off the plane and see Mom, but it'll be great to share that last leg of the journey home with Madeline.

I realized something today. I was on my way to work, and I was wondering what to pick up for supper (I'm usually pretty good about doing up the menu for the week and getting all the groceries in one shop, but these last couple of weeks have been a little slack) when I realized that I DON'T HAVE TO COOK FOR A MONTH!!! I'm pretty excited about that.