Life Roundup

My days have been mostly filled with diss writing, reading, and research, but I have other things on the brain too.

- We’re heading to Addis and I need to get USD to enter (how annoying) and updated passport photos.

- Millennium Investments and Santa Claus are headed our way in just a few days – WOOHOO! (not their real names, duh).

- I need to pick up another mosquito net for MI’s bed.

- We’re thinking of putting J in preschool when he turns 2 (with the caveat that if he gets sick like he did in daycare, we’ll pull him out.)  I’m conflicted because I think about how he’ll likely go to school so much of his life, that maybe we should prolong the freedom of staying at home since we can afford home helpers here.  But I also know how enriching, fun, social, and exhausting it will be for him.  Advice on this one would be greatly appreciated.

- I’m getting increasingly worried about our personal safety as the trial of Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, gets underway in the ICC in November.  I have been polling cab drivers and any other Kenyan I meet – most believe that he should stand trial.  Some say that it’s because he’s innocent and he should clear his name.  Others think the rule of law must be upheld.  While I totally agree with those sentiments in principle, I am genuinely afraid for what will happen here if he is convicted of crimes against humanity.  First, will he be deposed?  Who will be president in his stead, especially if his deputy, Ruto, is also convicted?  Then, how will the public react?  Will we have 2007-level of violence here?  I hope we see the writing on the wall before any kind of rioting or other mayhem occurs and we get out.  This isn’t my battle to fight and I only wish the best for the Kenyan people.

- The weather is starting to heat up and the short-rains that were supposed to start in October, have yet to fall.  I can’t decide if I should be grateful for the rain-reprieve or nervous for the coming drought if this continues. 

(There are lots of other things to tell you all about: our trip to Amboseli and all the ELEPHANTS that we saw, my new volunteer project with NHC, the things I’m planning to do in the U.S….. and more.)