Hopes
I’m sitting on a Virgin Atlantic plane, still six or so hours from Nairobi, and I figure, while I have the time, I’ll jot a few thoughts down.
I’ve learned from past experience that setting expectations before a trip like this is largely counterproductive. There’s just really no way for anyone to know how events will unfold, and how those events will affect me. However, I do have some hopes for this new adventure. These are in no particular order.
First, I hope that this trip will be well documented. My big Nikon DSLR stayed at home for this one (partly because it’s big and heavy and expensive, and partly because I forgot to get it out of my car), so I’ll be using a much smaller (and somewhat less sophisticated) Canon S95. Something I really loved doing during my first trip to East Africa two years ago was posting pictures, video, and blog posts to keep my friends and family updated on my life. I’d like to do that even more this semester, and hopefully a smaller camera will enable some of that (though we’ll see how consistent my internet access).
Second, I hope this experience will give me a little direction as to what I’d like to with a degree in International Studies from Middlebury. I love studying the politics, culture, and development of African nations, but the career path with that major is a little less in focus than, say, that of a econ major. So, I hope that, after these few short months, I might have a clearer understanding of how I’d like to use my education.
Third, and finally, I hope to fall a little more in love with East African culture. While I’m fascinated by the political situation in this part of the world, I’ve always felt myself hold the people who drive that situation somewhat at arms length. Maybe I’m too accustomed to American life, or maybe I’m just too white, but I hope to reach a place where I want to study this region not only because of an academic interest, but also because of a personal, human connection that I hold.
So, there are three hopes. We’ll see how I do.
(Note: I am posting this in Nairobi, after I got off of the plane)
