Home

Back home now and the contrast between Nairobi and home in the US is stark. Definite culture shock flying into Amsterdam, Minneapolis and finally Seattle. Things aren't better here, but it is striking how much more organized, green, clean, perhaps modern is the right word, things seem here - and in a way I never paid much attention to before.

Feeling thankful for the experiences I have had in Kenya and looking forward to incorporating them into daily life from now forward.

I'm including below one of my favorite Prof. Ngugi quotes. He sent this to our class in an email before the program departed for Kenya this summer:

I can only join you on the mat you are lying on and stare up at the stars in the sky with you and wonder if the stellar constellation above is cryptic spelling for “hope.”

- Prof. Joel Ngugi

With confidence, I can say I do believe the stars spell "hope" for us all. Without that, we are lost. As long as humanity persists, we will always have hope, faith and courage to move forward, to work for human rights, to pursue our passions and convictions, to care for our friends and family, and perhaps most importantly: to envision a more just, peaceful, humanitarian world ~~

Welcome home, classmates and program staff. To friends and family in the US: can't wait to see you!