Introduction

Lame title, I know. But that is what this is. A statement, a long statement, as to why I am beginning this blog, and what it is going to be about.

Adult life begins somewhere. By adult, I mean graduated high school. My life is taking off in a slightly different direction than most. Most of my friends are beginning college, going out of state or down the road, but moving in. I am going out of the country. Across the ocean and to Kenya. This is not some rarity, I am not actually enrolling there for four years, but will be there for a semester. A semester abroad, a lot of college students do it. The difference is this seems like my freshman year and I'm going so far so soon. Technically it isn't. I have completed a year at Bethel already and decided I was going to go abroad now.

Why Kenya? I have been asked this question countless times and didn't know how to answer people. This is my best explanation.
A poster led me there. The poster led me to a meeting about going to school there and in short it sounded interesting and like something I may want to do. I love planning ahead I was checking out my options for studying abroad in 2010. An e-mail gave me a nudge. The study abroad office continually told me about the trip and encouraged me to go. An incentive helped. Because no one was really jumping on studying abroad in Kenya they offered about 3-4000 off the price to go now. Still, this didn't fit my plan but it just sounded so cool. I decided I would do something on a whim. Yes, a whim, and for me that doesn't happen much. I figured nothing was ever lost trying. I applied and told myself that the rest was up to God. I would fill out the papers and complete the interview. If accepted I would go, if not, it just wasn't the right time. All in all I was accepted but was still hesitant about going so soon. The final nudge came one day in Chapel. I don't remember as much as I would like but a speaker said something about change and just going for what you can and something along the lines of "Alyssa, just go," at least that is how it sounded to me. So I'm going.

It sounded interesting? you may ask. Yes. It was hard to even convince myself first, I mean my living style and bug and water precautions are going to be much different, but it was the chance of a life time. I have figured it out. Simply traveling to Kenya isn't that easy, whereas going to Europe or going to Australia would be an awesome place just to go. So I might as well go for a while, really get a feel for the place, learn more than simply what a Safari has to offer.

That may not have convinced you, but it worked for me.

I am still clueless for the most part. I am truly going into a lot of this blind, which is very unlike me. But there is so much to worry about going to Kenya and I have spent much of my life worrying. I have narrowed it down to this, worry about what you can take precautions for. If nothing can be done about it, don't even waste your time. Too bad this hasn't flowed into the rest of my life yet. Maybe some day.

Well there you have it, my introduction. My trip truly begins August 9th and the "body" of this blog will begin. This won't be a simple five paragraph essay, I have already passed that.