I'm Back in Kenya!!

I am now back in Kenya and its as if i never left - strange how quickly and easily i have just slotted back into everything. I guess not a lot changes no matter which side of of the planet you're on! I now have my own place, well actually sharing a house where i have my own apartment on the ground floor and just share the Kitchen with a young and very nice British couple who are here until July. I am still on the same street as before so i already know the neighbours, so that too has helped me settle back easily.
I have just finished a 3 day workshop on Care Standards for Children's Homes, which went down really well and now i'm back in the office writing it all up!
Yes the rains are due this month but the weather is still great,actually very hot still but with a nice gentle breeze. There just seems to be constant colour here in kenya. Those trees which over the past few months i just thought were evergreen, now have the most amazing huge pink or orange flowers on them, it really is fantastic.
I will set off on a field trip to Garissa next week.It's mostly a Somali area, and i am told that i had better get used to the idea that i'll be expected to eat camel meat!! I am advising on the setting up a Child Protection Centre up there and also in 5 other districts. I am feeling really optimistic about the work and enjoying seeing the progress in action. The greatest thing this time is being able to see Roy, Josh in Rio, Rosie in London and my home on Skype. It's just amazing that we can still have our usual daily chats - well sort of!! I know some of you are thinking of coming out to see me.Wonderful! There's one definite booking for June. I think everyone should see this continent or at least Kenya, but then i'm biased!!
The big plan for us as a family is being able to go and see Josh in Brazil in April, so we plan to spend Easter in Rio - surreal!!
Remember i still get email here so feel free to keep in touch.

Love to you all

January and Beyond!

Mombasa 20th January 2009

I am coming to the end of my four and a half month period of work in Kenya and I really can’t believe that I will be home and back in my own house again!! In some some ways it's gone very quickly, I have had such a amazing experience, but I have to admit that I have missed my family so much more than I would have expected. I'm not as brave as I thought i was!!

My last few weeks have been spent negotiating with the Government the establishment of Child Protection Centres. I have also begun a series of meetings with Regional District Commissioners (a bit like Chief Executives), concerning partnerships, and how things would work in their particular areas etc. It's very interesting being the only woman in these meetings, and an ‘Obama’ as well. I've had to learn that using first names in senior meetings is a very western practice and doesn’t always work with the old men. I've had some fun though!

The major distraction for me however in the last few weeks has been to consider whether i should, or would be able to stay in Kenya, and finish the work I have been doing. Or to at least leave things at a sustainable level. In fact I have been asked to stay for another 6 months, and after lots of discussions and obvious concerns about home, family and money, I have decided that I am going to stay on. So athough i am coming home on 23rd January, i am due to return to Kenya in mid February – thanks mainly to my employers CAFCASS for making this experience possible, and extending my career break. Funding has now been agreed, and all my expenses are to be covered by the UN, which is brilliant!

I will continue to focus on setting up a structure of standards for children in institutional care, and the creation of Child Protection Centers – so just a small project really!
Now all that’s left is just to convince everyone that I haven’t run off with a Maasai Warrior.

Roy will be coming out to see me again in March. Hopefully we will also get out to see Josh whilst he's still in Rio. It could be another busy and exciting year! Josh is doing fine and having a fabulous time. We all really miss him, but they have to go and do their thing at some point I guess. The greatest treat for me this week is that Rosea arrived 2 days ago. I met her at the airport in Mombasa and just burst into tears!! Anyway she’s great and has updated me on all the events i've missed and everything else in the first couple of hours and is now resting and getting a sun tan!

The biggest event ever is happening today it seems, January 20th. The whole of Kenya will again come to a stand still. The inauguration of President Obama.
Obama night in our beach hotel will be very interesting i'm but not sure what to expect. I don't mind, as I know that I’ll be overwhelmed by it all, and still in disbelief. It's a great place to be on this day, we've just got to savour the moment and remember the journey that has been made! First black president of USA!

Although my work here is continuing, i want to thank all you guys who have kept my sprits high and supported me, and just been interested in what i'm doing, and been so understanding. Thanks for updating me on life and events back home and for making me smile when I really could have cried. That's really important to me. The blog will continue so please keep checking regularly.