kenya photos!

A few quick photos of my Kenyan adventure. (stealing a few minutes at work over lunch to update.. more to come later!)

At Hellsgate National Park- where the Disney folks went to concept the Lion King!  We were walking down the road and I turned around and let out a little "squee" when I saw these guys- first time seeing giraffe in the wild!!

more info on hellsgate:  Kenya's National Parks- Hellsgate

 With a group of our Art Students at Ngeya Primary School where we worked.  This school is one of the several amazing programs supported by CTC (the group I went to Mai Mahiu with) ngeya primary school's blog

Sara modeling our giraffe (the "teachers" had a few advantages in the sculpting department :) If you want to make your own monsterlove head (in austin or wherever!) check out Sara's website: sara-hasslinger.com

Sara and the kids with their final monsterlove heads!!!

a few of my favorite photos from our safari at the Masaai Mara

http://www.game-reserve.com/kenya_masai-mara.html

kenya was amazing

I had a crazy, intense, amazing, surreal, sometimes frustrating, exhilarating experience in Kenya!! so many things to share- going to put thoughts to blog over the next week, but in the meantime, here are a few initial thoughts:

* the kids we worked with were absolutely amazing. The art class we taught was primarily teenagers, 13 to 18 year olds, and they were curious, creative and really kind. Of 20 kids, only a few had used color pencils, and none had used watercolor paints. Very thrilled to be able to share water color paints with them the first day, and watch as they learned specific art skills and then apply on their own time as they explored.
* CTC is an amazing organization. I knew that they did good things in Mai Mahiu  year round, but to see it up close and personal was an experience I cannot put into a few words. I was able to spend a morning with their Program Director and do some organizational/ planning with him the last day there- I hope to be able to go back in the near future to apply some of my professional skills to help them organize and manage their day to day operations.

* kids are kids are kids the world over. Girls are giggly, social and sweet regardless of what continent they are from. Boys are boys and roughhouse, tease and goof off the same in every country.  But one huge difference I noticed about the adolescent boys in Kenya- they are nurturing, caring and express physical friendship in a way that western boys don’t. I loved seeing eight year old boys hugging and holding hands as they hung out with their buddies.  So amazingly sweet.

* loved having no cell or internet access, and loved the slower pace of life.  Back to the US and to technology is actually a bit jarring for me at the moment.

* western kids have way too much crap. 

* i definitely want to go back and help make a difference in Mai Mahiu, but also want to really figure out how to help communities in need here at home.  I think the business model CTC uses can be replicated and applied to communities in need across the US as well as the world, and I really want to help expand the good they do.

Photos soon J