Ms.Culture Maven

So I bought a cheap portable DVD player for the trip and a bunch of movies second-hand. I've assumed that certain entertainment favorites of my own are totally needed. Here's a sample population:

-The Princess Bride (bringing the book as well)

-The Jungle Book

-Whale Rider

-Star Wars Episodes 5, 6, & 7

-Muppets from Space

-The Secret of NIMH

I found myself in the typical Angela-esque state of hyperanalysis concerning what types of American pop culture Kenyans would be interested in....and/or what would be appropriate for orphans or people that aren't used to a culture based on consumerism and luxury spending. I didn't want them to feel badly about seeing all white, affluent people living great (fake) lives so I tried to stick to animal-based or multi-cultural themes. I had the same concerns when picking out books...would my childhood favorites be relevant to these kids? Would they understand stories with American racial overtones (like Maniac McGee, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, and Sounder)? Could kids raised in the bush with no electricity or water appreciate camping out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (one of my faves, The Secret Files of Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler)? Eventually I decided that I'd have to try and pick things that have such universal themes that they transcend all these differences:

-The Phantom Tollbooth

-A Wrinkle in Time

-Strega Nona (who can't relate to wanting a neverending pasta pot??)

-Spot Goes to School (for the littlest ones)

-Doctor Doolittle

-Island of the Blue Dolphins

I'm also bringing a copy of Roots but I'll probably check with Carol before giving that one over. I'm not sure what the perception of American slavery or African Americans is there, but I found it to be an immensly powerful book.

Below are some pictures of my Mad Science kids at Starview Elementary in Midway City, CA. I told them I wanted to send their greetings over to the kids in Nakuru, and I'd bring back pics for them next semester.

Closer and closer!

My mom is coming in tonight and I couldn't be more excited. I think we'll go to Tijuana on Wednesday (hopefully holiday traffic won't be super bad early in the morning) and shop for all the prescription medication I'm going to bring over to the kids. I'm still not sure if we're going to drive across the border or walk...each have their pros and cons. Basically I'm going to bring all the prescription pill bottles I have, a letter from IHF, and my plane ticket. As I understand it, as long as you declare all the medication you're bringing across is for "personal use" there won't be a problem. Again, crossed fingers would be appreciated : )
The flute project is a bust so far. Making them turned out to be far more difficult and time-consuming than either Johnny or I had patience for. Of course, there's still one more week and I'm hoping we can at least bring a few over.
I've also put together an itinerary. Note that all times are local...Kenya is PST + 14 hours:

11/27/07: 7:35 pm depart from LAX on Swiss Air flight #41

11/28/07: 4:00 pm arrive in Zurich, Switzerland. Will spend night at Kafischnaps
(http://www.kafischnaps.ch/zimm.php)

11/29/07: 9:45 am depart from Zurich on Swiss Air flight #292

11/29/07: 7:15 pm arrive in Nairobi, Kenya. Will be met at airport by IHF staff, and will
Spend night at Nairobi YMCA (http://pages.intnet.mu/servas/Nairobi.htm).

11/30/07: Will make journey to IHF center in Nakuru, Kenya. Mailing address is P.O.
Box 3137 Nakuru Kenya-NBO. Director of the center is James Tikonin:
jamestikonin@yahoo.com; phone: +254-722750309. IHF director is Carol
Sasaki, who can be reached on her blackberry pretty much 24/7 at
carolmsasaki@gmail.com.

12/17/07: Making trip to Bungoma, Kenya to stay with Elizabeth and Jeff Ouma.
Mailing address is Box 67508 00200 Nairobi, Kenya. Her mobile number is
+254-734886676.

12/24/07: Returning to IHF orphanage to spend Christmas with the children

12/26/07: 3:55 pm departing from Nairobi on South African Airlines flight #183.

12/26/07: 7:15 pm arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa. Will be met at airport by Sunny
Boy (011-27-72-524-7015), son of Mrs. Lolo Mabitsela. Will stay evening at
Lolo’s Guest House: 1320 Diepkloof
Ext Diepkloof Phase 3
Soweto, 1800
Johannesburg, South Africa
011-27-11-985-9183, lolosbb@mweb. co.za

12/27/07: 6:15 pm depart Johannesburg, South Africa on South African Airlines flight #207

12/28/07: 6:07 am arrive IAD, Washington DC, USA

12/28/07: 9:30 am depart IAD, Washington DC on United flight #205
11:58 am arrive LAX, Los Angeles, CA

Okay, hopefully more later this week as things start to come together!

Preparing...

I'm getting so nervous. And excited. Every day I vow to work on my packing list but it never quite happens...I'll probably just do it how I know best...power out the last few days before I leave. Thankfully I'll have my mom here to help. Since she's more fastidious than I, things should actually make it overseas in one piece : )
Ah forgive me. This is my first foray into the world of blogging. I should probably start at the beginning:
I'm going to Africa!
I've worked with a wonderful volunteer organization for the past year called International Humanity Foundation. Check out the website at http://www.ihfonline.org/. They do fabulous work all over the world for the poorest of the poor children in Thailand, Bali, Indonesia, and Kenya. I'll be travelling to Nakuru, Kenya on the 27th to work with the IHF children. There's an orphanage and school for 48 kids from the East Pokot region of Kenya. They've recently been relocated to the Nakuru area which is sort of good news for me because that means I'll have constant electricity and internet/telephone access. The climate is also more temperate; the permanent IHF center in East Pokot experiences temperatures in excess of 115 degrees. Eey yey yey.
Right now I'm gathering donations to bring over. So far I've got 2 iMac computers and plans to bring 50 PVC flutes. I just finished a Native American flute class at the community center and got an (overly optimistic???) idea to bring these to the kids. Cross your fingers that LAX security buys this explanation...it will look like I'm bringing 50 pipe bombs on an international flight. My next plan is to hit up some yard sales and ask for their leftovers; Carol (the founder of IHF) has specifically asked for CD players and cell phones for the kids. I also want to bring clothing, toys, and school supplies. If anyone has any resources or supplies contact me and let me know!