Harnish and I are hanging

Harnish came over for supper because she volunteered to drive me to the airport at 3 a.m. We had grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. We've been catching up on all the news while I finished the last bits of packing and cleaned up the kitchen. I think I'm good to go. If I don't have it now, I won't need it. Jutta mailed yesterday and said to make sure I bring a flashlight. Checked in online this morning but have to get my boarding passes at the airport. And wouldn't you know it, it started snowing and blowing like crazy this afternoon. I just want to get to JFK on time to make my overseas connection. No more snow tonight, please. I'm getting excited. I have to make sure I don't fall asleep at the airports and miss any connections. If I sleep on the flight to Dubai, I figure I can beat the jet lag. And I've got to remember to take my malaria pills. And turn my mobile data off. And use airplane mode in the plane. And I'll probably thing of a million other things. I hope I get a little sleep tonight.

Suitcases are packed.

I spent the morning spraying my clothing with insect repellent so that bugs won't bite through. One suitcase is full of kids' books which they needed at the orphanage and the other is half as heavy and filled with my clothes. I skyped with Jutta today. She says the hotel is fine and is 7 km from the orphanage. Peter and Dorothy, the couple who run the orphanage will pick us up at the hotel everyday and drive us back to the orphanage. I was wondering if we could walk or bike there but Jutta said we are not to go out by ourselves. She also said no shorts, which is fine, and pants made out of light, airy material. And, of course, I should only drink bottled water. I've gotten orders for other mementoes now. Let's see how many wishes I can fulfill. I'm really getting psyched. Harnish will stay overnight Tuesday and drive me to the airport at 3:30 a.m. Oh Lordy, it's going to be a long trip. I will have to make sure I don't fall asleep in any airports and miss a flight. I am excited to see what Kenya and the people are like. This will be a great experience.

On to Kenya

I'm off to a new adventure next week. When I was in Germany this summer, my friend Jutta Wies asked me told me she was going to visit her foster child at the Josephine Wambui Orphanage & Rehabilitation Centre in Embu, Kenya and asked if I wanted to come along. How could I say no to this opportunity? Jutta has already arrived. I leave early next Wednesday and my friend Harnish will drive me to the airport at an ungodly hour. It will take me more than 24 hours to get there because I'm flying with Emirates and have to land in Dubai. It is going to be tiring but worth it. I have lots of reading for the plane and plan to sleep as much as possible. At the orphanage I'll be teaching English and making repairs, painting and any other handiwork that has to be done. I hope I can make time to climb up Mt. Kenya at least part way. I will have 3 weeks to fit in everything. I want to take lots of pictures and gather lots of impressions. And I want to find a souvenir shot glass for Leslie. I promise to do my best on that one. I will be online occasionally and blog as often as possible. I'm not a big friend of desert climates so I'm hoping I will adjust quickly to the climate. Wish me luck.