When it rains, it pours!

I spent the last week on the beautiful island of Zanzibar to celebrate my birthday and relax after a busy month.  Zanzibar is a traditionally Muslim island and we were traveling through during the month of Ramadan (a very religious holiday where Muslims fast throughout the day among other things…). Natalie and I flew into Stonetown and prepared ourselves by wrapping our heads and covering ourselves from head to toe out of respect. We went to a beautiful fabric shop and toured the spice and seafood markets before having a drink and watching the sun go down.  It was a week of complete relaxation next to some of the most beautiful turquoise waters I have ever seen. I went on a snorkeling tour on my birthday and saw dolphins and other tropical fish.  The sand was like powdered sugar and I’m sure I will be shaking it out of my clothes for the next month.

Speaking of the next month, I am putting together the last minute touches to my lessons for camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). I was chosen to be one of the facilitators of the camp and it is going to be a week long camp for 60 high school age girl to learn about women’s empowerment, health, and opportunities for their future. I am the designated nurse for the camp, but I am also teaching lessons on female anatomy and reproductive health etc. I am so excited and proud to be bringing two of my health club girls with me!

The following week after camp I will be attending a Peace Corps funded conference on HIV/AIDs and community development. I will be taking a young woman from my community, Soila, who is a social worker student interning at the dispensary. This will be the second time she has ever left the village and I’m happy she will have the experience and can help me with some of my future projects.

Following that and my yearly medical exam in Nairobi, I will be flying out to Senegal for training to become one of the three chosen Stomp Out Malaria Volunteers. I will still be living and working in my village, but will also take on further responsibilities in major Malaria projects in Kenya, as well as working with some of the district offices and assisting other volunteers with Malaria based resources and funding.  I guess as they say, when it rains, it pours. I have a feeling my last year in Kenya is going to flash before my eyes.

Also, Check out a short clip on my life and work at the clinic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAF-HB41GGg

Kendwa Beach, Zanzibar

Paje Area, Zanzibar