Adventures in Eldoret by Emily Kovar

My daily life in Kenya was roughly split between working and activities with the array of people I lived with. If I was not working at Turbo Farm or Tumaini Day Center, planning logistics at AMPATH, or in town gathering supplies, then I was with groups of medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and psychology students or practicing surgeons and doctors. Living at the Indiana University House was an integral part of my success in Kenya. After a long day of working in the field and attempting to converse primarily in Swahili or traveling far outside of Eldoret on a makeshift road, it was this group of people that kept me level. They were crucial in making Eldoret more than just a quick summer project. This group of people enabled me to call this small town my home, no matter how short my time there was.

           

I also had the incredible opportunity to take several weekend trips with the students from the IU House. Although these were mini breaks from my daily work, it did not remove me from the realities of my surroundings. We quickly befriended our guides on these safaris, hikes, and excursions. They not only were very knowledgeable about the animals, flora, and fauna we were exposed to, but they also related to us what life was like for local Kenyans. This direct contact to locals outside of the work sphere was a piece of my experience that could not be fulfilled in any other capacity. Considering how early the sun went down and the security concerns that confined me to the IU House after working hours, I had little opportunity to talk with locals directly. These relationships were essential to make my experience more than a cliché summer trip for young privileged people. In essence, my small weekend breaks were intrinsic to my brief integration into Kenyan society.