The Final Post

Hi everyone,

Its been very long since I last posted; I'm sorry for the lack of updates throughout the last too weeks of my trip. As the trip wound up things got more hectic and I lost track of the blog.

The end of the trip was very successful. We managed to visit all of the schools that we needed to in Mituntu and finish up early so that I could surprise my parents at the airport.

My mom and dad had a great trip in Kenya. Randie (the director of SOTENI International) and Edward (Programme Manager of SOTENI Kenya) helped them get in touch with a great tour company who organized transportation for them while they were in Kenya. They got to spend a couple of days in Nairobi, a couple in one of the Villages SOTENI works with, and four on a safari. My dad took a million and a half pictures, so I won't steal his thunder on that one, but to summarize we saw incredibly beautiful animals. It was nice for me to get a chance to "pamper" myself at the nicer places they were staying and also to see the amazing wildlife in Kenya. Its really sad that most Kenyans never get to enjoy it.

I want to thank all of you who have been following the blog this summer; it was really great to know that people back home were interested in what I was doing. It made me feel much more connected to the world, even when I was far away. I also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone who made my trip this summer possible. Especially Pat, Grace, Mo, and Filipo (fellow interns); Edward and Marion (SOTENI Kenya); Calvin, Mathias, and Doris (SVH coordinators); all of my host families; all of the interns at SOTENI International and SOTENI Kenya; Randie Marsh (Director SOTENI International) and the SK and SI boards; the Professors in Kenya and the US Dr. Charles Ngome and Professor Margret McMillan, who advised me and enabled me to conduct the project; and all of my family and friends who supported me throughout this entire process and let me travel so far away from home. Asante Sana! (thank you very much)

I guess I'll say goodbye for now to Kenya and to blogging. If you would like more information about my trip or about SOTENI feel free to contact me (mhspivack@gmail.com). You can also check out SOTENI's website for more information and opportunities to support the work that we do (www.SOTENI.org).

For anyone in CT SOTENI is having an open house event with one of their Kenyan board members in Hartford this Saturday afternoon. My family and I will be there, as will other former interns and SOTENI board members; check out their website or email me for more information.

Again, asante to everyone who has helped me throughout this experience; I could not have done it without all of your support!

Kwuaheri (goodbye)