Last Day in Lamu

I took some amazing pictures of the Masai in Lamu and will post them.  The Masai live still immersed in traditional ways.  Last spring, Joseph Tipanko, a Masai activist and leader came tot he States and I saw him many times and I contacted him here and he's invited me to his village. So I may have the opportunity to go to a real Masai village and spend the night there.  The Masai are so sweet.  One of them showed me the scar from where he killed a lion--part of their initiation is to be alone in the woods and not come back until they've killed a lion.  And he showed me the claw around his neck that he wears from the lion he killed.  

Leaving Lamu Today

It's been very difficult to post while in Lamu because of the lack of internet.  The hotel does have WIFI--when it works! That and a hot shower. Hahahaha! I've been showering with ice cold water for 5 days, but fortunately the Indian Ocean is right out my door. Lamu has got to be the most exotic place I've ever been to. Donkies in the streets, Masai warriors who wear the claws and teeth of the lions they've killed around their necks, little children playing games with coconut shells and mango seeds, people carrying bundles of wood on their heads, fisherman, old timers, and everyone greeting you with "Jambo," (hello in Swahili) and a smile.  

Last night was SLS's open reading and it was so beautiful to hear the work of all the participants on Mando Beach.  We ate a giant buffet and swam in the Indian Ocean and sailed back at midnight under stars that we can't see from the Eastern US, thousands of them lighting up the sky.  I'm going to lose my internet connection so just was to load in some pictures of this magical place before I do...

Second Day in Nairobi

First fall day in Nairobi

Well I just spent a full day in Nairobi and did quite a lot. Went into town to buy a cheap cell phone with SLS leaders Tom and Rich.  Went to the Nairobi synagogue--it was closed and I couldn't get through the security gate. Had a long talk with poet and fiction writer Terese Svoboda all the way to the Rift Valley. Saw part of the Rift Valley from an overlook (place where Leaky explored, where the Garden of Eden existed, where humankind began).  Met Bishee's mother and brother-in-law and delivered to them their gifts. Attended SLS opening reception where I met among others the Kenyan poet Ngwtilo Mawiyoo.  Here's the final stanza from her poem Childhood Revisited:  "The grass is dead, the last generation gathered in a heap at the foot of the hill.  No one has offered last rites, else it would rot, become part of the healing.  The soil has slid downhill since earth has limited and receding immunity.  There is no hedge..."

Am exhausted!

Malaria medicine

Going to start taking it on Wednesday.  I hope it doesn't make me dizzy, because on the bottle it says it might.  Have to take it everyday I'm away and a whole week after I'm back. That's lots of dizziness.

October 21, 2010

I got my shots for my trip to Kenya. I had to get four shots--yellow fever, typhus, hep A, and polio. It was really scary, but fortunately I didn't get any reactions. The shots were so expensive-$400.00--and insurance doesn't even cover it though the US won't let you back into the country without a yellow fever certificate. I hope the trip doesn't get cancelled with all this live virus in my body. I just can't believe that they give you all these shots at once. There does seem to be a lot of activity going on beneath my skin and my stomach is mildly upset and my arms really hurt. I'll be careful to sleep on my back tonight.

Lea Remembers

Today as I sat editing footage from the 2009 Reunion Project I wondered when James and Mary would be taking their trip back to Sudan to be reunited with their families. Although this is not the first time that the Writing Program has worked to raise awareness about the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan, this year was particularly special because we were able to send two people back to be reunited with their families, instead of just one.

This year, the Drexel University Writing Program led a Read-A-Thon to raise money to reunite a Lost Boy or Girl with his or her family. Students took pledges of around $10 per book and could read up to 100 books from a list of works focusing on the crisis in Sudan, African folktales, genocide, and more. In the meantime, Sudanese Lost Boys and Girls applied to the Reunion Project by writing essays, explaining how the trip home would affect them and help them with their lives in the United States.

When the essays started coming in, I was lucky enough to be one of the writing tutors assigned to read them. The stories were heartbreaking. Each person described in detail the trauma of being separated from their families and their homes. There were passages about losing friends and siblings, missing meals for days at a time, and coming close to death itself. I knew that it would be nearly impossible to pick a "winner" out of the participants in the Reunion Project, but we moved forwards nonetheless.

When I met with participant, James Deng, I knew that his story must be heard. We spoke for a while over coffee about his essay—about his life then and about his life now. Although it was my job to help James revise his writing, it was difficult to critique such an emotional story. We mainly focused on adding more description—which was difficult since James was only about 5 when he was separated from his mother and couldn’t remember all the details.

While writing tutors were reading the essays, other participants in the Reunion Project were doing their best to raise money to support the cause. Six Drexel University students who formed a genocide awareness group teamed up with the University Writing Program and Center for Civic Engagement who co-sponsored a “Jam against Genocide” benefit concert on May 5^th from 7 to 10 PM. Also, in honor of Mother’s Day, postcards with original designs by a Drexel writing tutor, Sarah Solomon, were sold to raise money.

On May 19^th, 2009, the final decisions were announced at The “Lost Boys” of Sudan Reunion Project Celebration. James Deng and Mary Ayom took the stage and spoke about their experiences, reading from their winning essays. Also taking the stage were Michael Kuch, last year’s Reunion Project award recipient, College of Arts and Science Dean, Donna Murasko, and Drexel University’s Senior Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, Tom Elzey, who presented the final check for $10,000 to James and Mary. The audience was filled with all different types of people; there were students who helped raise funds, members of the community, and friends of the recipients.

Sitting among all of the people who worked so closely with this project, I couldn’t help but feel that I was a part of something special. The respect that I felt for James and Mary was only augmented by my admiration of the people that chose to help fight for this cause. The Reunion Project Celebration was a perfect culmination to months of fundraising. Taking time to revisit the project now, I am even more eager to find out about James’ and Mary’s trip back to Sudan.

Stay tuned for more!