Charleston to Kenya - Part 1

Nairobi, Kenya

I've had so many experiences in the last few days honestly it's hard to know exactly what to say in a blog post. Wow.

Safely home after a 30 hour trip. The first day back after an adventure like this always feels a bit disorienting. I joked about not kissing the ground when we got home but the floor of the first Charleston bathroom where everything worked and flushed in the manner we know and love!

Quick summary: The health system I work for - Roper St. Francis Healthcare had raised the money to fund a water purification system for the Plateau community in western Kenya. The project had so much support from our staff that they decided to send three of us to go to be present for the commissioning ceremony and to develop a continuing relationship with the hospital. It didn't hurt that the Water Mission International headquarters is right here in Charleston and we were able to take a tour before we left and see the units being put together and ready for shipment. It is such a neat and practical solution that everyone who sees it wants to be part of it. Muddy water can go in one end of this thing and be turned into enough pure drinkable water to take care of a community of 3,000 people.

We arrived in Nairobi with some time to spend before our in country flight west so visited the National Museum, and a cottage industry bead factory. The beads were made by single mothers and widowed women and allowed them to support themselves. We then had enough time to visit the Giraffe Park which was definitely a highlight. It was incredible to drive up and see these amazing animals walking around in their natural habitat. It didn't hurt that they came up and gave me a smooch to get the nugget of food I held in my teeth.

We flew west to Kitale and stayed the night in the old Kitale Club. This reminded me of old colonial type hotels I had stayed at as a child in India with a leftover golf course and monkeys on the roof. The heating elements in the shower head come with a posted warning that if you didn't follow the directions you would make the heater explode. Moses, our Water Missions International contact helped us divide the loot of toys and gifts that filled my suitcase for the different schools and hospitals we were to visit.

My companions were Scott Broome the Director of our Cancer Center and Caroline Pate who works for our Public Relations Department. Scott's suitcase never arrived and he had to buy a quick new wardrobe at a Kitale Shop. Selfishly Caroline and I were relieved that of the three of us we didn't have to buy a new wardrobe in half an hour in Kenya.

Oddly exhilarated we wandered to the open air bar and on local advice tried a Tusker Beer. We were treated to a drink by a gentleman at the bar who spoke with such pride of the rich soil in Kenya, the farms, the weather, schools, people and of course everyone's favorite cousin - President Obama. Our host lived in Nairobi but had a maize farm in the area.

On to bed ready for a good night's sleep under the hanging mosquito netting.