the sun will come out tomorrow

It's hard to believe, but in less than 24 hours I will be driving to O'Hare with my best friend Kaitlan and Aubrie.

I woke up this morning feeling nauseous with stress and uncertainty, but as the day has progressed my nerves are (sort of) being calmed. It also helped when I weighed my duffle bag and it weighed only 35 pounds!  

But, Africa.

Hakuna matata means no worries. 

I should start embracing that philosophy before I leave.  

Tonight I am baking cookies because rumor has it they are kind of gross in Kenya.

Tomorrow will be the longest travel day in my life up to this point.  Last time I traveled it took me 3 flights, 2 vehicles, 5 cities, and 19 hours to arrive in St. Mary, Montana.  This time I am driving 4 hours to the airport, boarding a 10 hour flight for Istanbul, Turkey, then boarding another 5 hour flight for Nairobi , Kenya, and finally a 30 minute drive to my new home on the Athi River.  Keep me, my sanity, and my fellow travelers in your prayers? 

The past week has been full of goodbyes and it's been rough.  My brother got home from school and I tackled him with a massive hug and trying to get him out of school tomorrow so he can come to Chicago with me (I'm also trying to win brownie points so he'll let me borrow his ipod for the trip).  We've become closer in the last month while I've been living at home and I don't want to let him go.  Moving has never been a thing that's difficult or scary for me.  Moving into college was one of the best feelings--freedom finally.  Then moving out west this summer to the middle of nowhere was the best experience in my life (up to this point).  Each move I learned something new about myself, good and bad.  This time it's a little different.  First, I'm moving to another country. Second, I'm moving with a group of people and travelling with them.  I've never done either in my life and I honestly don't know what to expect-- except for lots and LOTS of pictures. 

Here are some pictures from my last days in this snowy state:

Next time I post on this blog I'll be writing from another time zone!  

kenya bound

Grand Rapids was humming with energy last night because of the holiday shop hop and it was the perfect setting for some pre-Kenya bonding. Kaitlan showed all of us (Dara, Tyler, Aubrie, and myself) to a hidden treasure in the Fulton Heights district: Little Africa.
We ordered the group platter, which at first sight seems manageable but fills you up sooner than you think. At only $9 a person you get every dish on the menu to share. Everything is ate with your hands and wrapped up in a (delicious) spongy bread/tortilla thing called anjera.
I am seriously stoked to spend a whole semester with this group of people (Our friend Max is also going but had to work on a documentary tonight so he came as a print out on a popsicle stick that I may have accidentally left at the restaurant). We shared stories, things we are worried about in Kenya, how stoked we are for Zanzibar, how many pairs of shoes we're packing, and our favorite reality tv shows.
During dinner we spotted Santa across the road at the pastry shop and hunted him down for a picture that led us into an antique store with a live jazz band.