Lena: Update from Kisumu

Posted 12:54 AM, November 11, 2007, by lenawine

So I’ve been in Kenya for a week now. I guess it’s time for an update. My first day in Kisumu, there was a team-building event for all of the FACES staff from Kisumu. I wasn’t really sure if I should attend or not, but for lack of anything else to do I decided to tag along. We all piled into a matatu (minibus/van made to seat fifteen people, but usually crammed with at least eighteen people) at the clinic and headed to a place slightly outside of town and upon arriving, we began playing all kinds of games and singing songs that I couldn’t even pretend to know. Many of them involved singling out a specific person to, for example, dance in the middle of the circle. Luckily, I hadn’t been there long enough that anyone knew my name. After several more matatus full of staff arrived, we began the planned activities (I hadn’t realized these weren’t the official team-building activities). We were divided into groups had to do a variety of classic team-building activities ranging from ‘crossing a river’ to a trust circle and untying a human knot. Our last activity of the day was a blindfolded relay race. The first step in the race was to go bobbing for apples and then completely eat the apple, skin and all. For those of you who have traveled abroad, I’m sure you know that this is a cardinal sin: you must drink bottled water and you must peel all fruit and vegetables. I attempted to explain my dilemma to the organizers, but no exemption was given. I didn’t want to let my team down on my first day during a team-building activity, no less. So I decided to take one for the team, literally. Overall, it was a great opportunity to get to know some of the many FACES employees. ...

That evening, Janet, my research advisor, arrived and loaned me some clothes, thank goodness. I had by this point been wearing the same clothing for the last 4 days. I bet none of you can say that you have borrowed a pair of underwear from your mentor. I mean I knew I would have a unique experience while here, I just hadn’t guessed how unique. Fortunately, after numerous phone calls, we were able to get in touch with someone in Nairobi who located my bags. We persuaded them to put them on an early afternoon flight and I got them very shortly before leaving for Migori. I can’t tell you how relieved I was.

I got some additional good news on Sunday that KEMRI, the institution we’re working with here in Kenya, finally approved our study, which was under ethical review. Still we don’t have final approval from the CDC, but apparently as long as we aren’t using a funding from the CDC, I can go forward with my research. Another sigh of relief.