Closure

So, the last blog.

It is strange, as well as challenging for me to write this last blog. I find myself stuck at many points and forcing it at others. I am now sitting on my bed in the US, as opposed to 8000 miles away in a small internet cafe tucked away in one of the many buildings of Kahawa West, Kenya.

Over there I felt like I could just write on and on without having to stop for a single thought. There was so much going on around me that provided a constant fuel for thought and reflection. Over there, everything was worth writing about and sharing, the place mine as well have been Mars for how little my friends, family, and I knew about it.

Well, now the good thing is I feel like I do know a lot about it. I learned about Kenya and in the process learned a lot about myself and our country as well. I think that the biggest thing I learned is that people can be very different, yet be very similar at the same time. The kids I taught, the family I lived with, the workers in Dubai, and all the volunteers from various places of the world all had their own story and unique existence in life. However, no matter where you are in the world it is possible to connect to others and learn from one another.

There is no doubt that Kenya has many issues that need to be resolved; a corrupt government, a disastrous water supply situation, a reliance on crops that very well may be "ungrowable" in the future due to climate change, etc. However, you will never find people so full of spirit and hope as you will in the Kenyan people. This hope and determination is the reason why although surrounded by countries like Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia, they are a successful democratic society. Many would crumble under such circumstances but the Kenyans are fighting to better their country.

Our host Steven defines this Kenyan spirit. I promise you that you will never find a better man than Steven. He is constantly smiling, laughing and seeing the good things around him. Show him a banana fiber painting of a Maasai warrior and he will spend 5 minutes pointing out details you yourself never took the time to recognize (This is what happened when Tommy and I gave him such a painting as a gift).

Here in America we have characteristics that are just as honorable. We work hard. We are a society that revolves around our work; for better and for worse. The Kenyans know what it means to wake up at 5am to get water from their wells but may not yet have perfected their intellectual pursuit. We may know what it means to study diligently for 20 years of our life and then work 70 hours a week, but sometimes we lack that which the Kenyans have - the ability to appreciate every crumb of life.

This opportunity was an amazing one. It made me want to go to every other inch of the earth and explore. Everyone reading, if presented with the opportunity, should go to Kenya. Before leaving, many people were concerned with whether or not Kenya was safe. It is hard to learn about Kenya and what to expect when going there. I personally spent months before this trip looking for information, specific information, on what I could expect on this trip but was constantly let down. I left for Kenya with very little knowledge of what to expect. The picture I had created in my head was far from accurate. There is no doubt in my mind that many, many people do not go to Kenya, and other countries for that matter, because they are afraid. This is a pity because there is so much to see and learn, and as they say - you only live once.

Nearly every person I met in Kenya told me "tell your friends good things about Kenya." They are saddened about the misconceptions about Kenya. I would spend time telling you how wonderful of a place Kenya is, but I think my many blog entries said enough.

Thanks for reading everyone

-Kevin