My head is racing… get stuff done…. Pack. Raise money. Go to the gym. Program the global phone. Find a better blog. Get ready for BBQs for friends and family. Paint the family room. Call the exterminator. Buy USA pencils. Find some Obama t-shirts. Frisbees, water balloons, pepto bismo, allergy meds, protein bars, underwear and pajamas for little ones, lab work, appointment with oncologist, review pricing for furniture, send samples of fabrics, pay taxes, empty the kitty litter, find the address of the Kenya Embassy for Tuesday’s trip to NYC, love my cats.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe.
I am finding myself getting lost in the internet as I start to put myself in another part of the world. I have just found a blog from another volunteer that is at FKLA now (added to side bar-twosailingships) and I am in awe. The time difference, the weather, the children. As I watch Brian’s videos and read his words, I start to get intimidated. It seems as though the people there are extremely friendly and hospitable. That should make it easier right? But what about if they don’t like me? What about if I can’t understand them? What about if I am too old to be there? All the other volunteers are high school or college kids. I’m almost ancient at 42. It's all relative.
Toby, one of the founders of FKLA, has asked me to help with some projects while I am there. The Day of the African Child. Below is information from last year’s event and the reasons for it. This year they are looking to have 2000 children participate.
“Flying Kites celebrates the Day of the African Child
On June 16th 2009, Flying Kites celebrated the Day of the African Child. The event marked the massacre of 1976 in Soweto, South Africa. On that day, hundreds of students took to the streets to protest the inferior quality of their education. Police opened fire and over 500 students lost their lives. June 16th was declared an international holiday by the Organization of African Unity in 1991. Last year, thanks to the efforts of Benson Nderitu, Njabini, Kinangop celebrated its first Day of the African Child. This year, Flying Kites Kinangop led its second parade, marching over 300 children to the local Chief ’s office to learn about their rights and meet the people whose duty it is to protect them.
Online videos of the day’s events are available here. “
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6MXx37XJGo
Can you imagine? A massacre of children because they wanted education? I will be proud to be part of this event. This is just one reminder of how very different things are in other parts of the world. We have so much to be grateful for.
Toby also asked me to help with an upcoming conference of orphanages. I am not sure of the details but my answer will be yes. I will find out more at a fundraiser for FKLA on Tuesday night in NYC. Long story short, I am packing a suit to take with me to Kenya. I hadn’t planned on bringing heals to Africa but I guess I was wrong.
I thought I was going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro while in Kenya but this morning I woke up with the reality check of “How can I do everything that I want to? There is just no way.” In other words, I think that I am putting the trek on the back burner. I don’t think that I am physically ready. I have heard that the climb is not horrible but I don’t think that my body has totally recuperated. I still feel like I am in mini rest mode. Oh- you never know… As I write this, I think YES.. I can do it.. An ever present reminder that sometimes my brain and my body don’t communicate very well. Maybe next year I will go back and make that happen.
Speaking of mind/body connection, I came upon an awareness the other day. Ever since I decided to do this trip, my thoughts of cancer have subsided. They are not in the front of my brain anymore. I am not worried about Monday’s blood work or Friday’s oncologist appointment. It needed to be something big. Something that could knock out the last year of my life and put new, exciting and challenging thoughts into my brain patterns. It needed to be something that was not about me. It needed to be about others. Amazing how that works.
