Dec. 2011
on Beatriz Pujol (Kenya), 07/Dec/2011 01:25, 34 days ago
I know it has been ages since I have sent anupdate or touched my blog, though I keep meaning to and promising to. I writehalf blogs that I never finish. Thatwillbemy New Years Resolution!!Thisyear has been busy and fulfilling.After finishing with VSO in Sept 2010, I took a few months off to spend timewith friends and family in Florida. It was a nice break as I waited for a workpermit from Kenya. At the end of Jan. I came back to Kenya with the permit andtook off in my autism work. I spent the first two months quite busy with AutismAwareness Kenya as we planned for our April Autism events. I coordinated 100volunteers in 11 different shopping areas and also planned with the fun dayevent. We got lots of media time and I learned about writing Press Releases, anewly developing skill! The events were wonderful and we reached lots offamilies and connected them with support! We have a facebook page at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/128237587206355/and we are working on a website!In May, with the big events done, I could focus my energy on my privatepractice. It has probably been my hardest year thus far professionally, justtrying to get my business off the ground and I have TRULY worked my butt off!!!I have set big intentions and tried to stay positive. There have been manytimes when I have wanted to pack my bags and go back to my cozy work life inSanta Fe! Almost did more than once! With love and support from many of you andmy growing circle of friends, colleagues and informal business advisors inKenya, I have stuck it out!Finally I have started to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am surenext year will be see the fruit of my labor. I have recently been interviewedin the African Parents and will be on a call-in radio show tomorrow. I amgetting lots of referrals from doctors and have just gotten an "in"with the US embassy. I have plans to expand and take on staff that want totrain under me, much in the same way I was trained in the US.In July I attended and presented at a Conference of Psychologists and relatedfields in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a great experience and I met someamazing people in the field. I also was trained in a diagnostic tool for autismcalled the ADOS. It is the "gold standard" for assessing autism inthe world. It is what is used in the US and is the only standardized diagnostictool for autism. I am the only person trained in Kenya, though I hope to getother trained to form a diagnostic team, as that is best practice. In themeantime I am assessing and "diagnosing" many kids without using theADOS. Inorder to be considered for future research and to train other in thisdiagnostic tool I need to purchase the official kit of assessment toys andmaterials from ADOS. The kit includes acomprehensivebox of toys andassessmentmaterials to test the kids and isused for alldifferentages and functioning levels.The kit costs 1500 and shipping costs to mydad's will be about $150, so a total of $1650. I am hoping to try to raise the money to buy itoverthe holidays while I’m in the Statesand bring here. I am looking foranyone who would be interested in donating money to help me.No amount of money is too small, however, ifsomeonewere to donate $50 or more, you would a receive an apron or bag made in Kenya.The bag or apron wouldsend sent out from Kenya at the end of Jan (due to logistics).This page shows the bags/aprons:http://http://www.yellowhousechildrens.org/bags-aprons--more.html.They are being donated to me at cost from a friend’s organization that workswith kids with special needs. In return for helping me, I would give back tothe community here by offering one free ADOS assessment a month to a family whocould not afford to pay me.If you are interested in helping me, please letme know or send a check payable to Beatriz Pujol to 3000 S. Ocean Blvd. #502,Boca Raton, Fl. 33432. Any amount will help me and I am trying to get a doctorin Kenya to help out financially as we are working together quite a bit.On a personal front,socially, life in Kenya is never dull. Parties, music events, weekendtrips and more! I rang in my 40th birthday with a bang at a huge party withdancing that went on to the early hours of the morning! I had my first twovisitors from the US this year. Jen Dibella came through for a night on the wayto RwandaandJenAmbacher came for a month long visit and she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro while shewas here. We went on safari to the Masai Mara, visited Naivasha and Kitui (whereI used to live). She had a well-rounded visit and it was soo wonderful to havea lifetime friend witness my life in Kenya. I hope more visitors will follow next year!!(hint,hint,,,)Kenya continues to draw me in even though this year we have had terribleweather for the past 6 months. June-August is our "winter" and thisyear was extra gloomy, cold and a bit rainy (NOT supposed to be the rainyseason). The overcast weather continued into Sept and Oct, which are usuallyquite nice. Other than a week here or there of nice sunny days, it went rightinto one of the heaviest rainy season in YEARS! It has seriously POURED everyday for the last month and a half!! The roads that were never much to writehome about have completely deteriorated! There are HUGE potholes on every roadand the dirt road that I live on is a mud pit! That said, the sun has come outthe last two days, have worn skirts and there has been no rain. We go fromdrought to floods here within moments, it seems! The great news for me in allof this is that in August I bought a car! NO more public transport for me!!YEAH! Although driving is stressful, it provides freedom and saves sooo muchtime and frustration!I am heading to the US for a much needed holiday of R&R with family andfriends. I will mostly be in Florida, so will not see many of you on this trip!Hopefully next year I will have time to meet up with more friends from acrossthe country! Meanwhile, plan to come to Kenya for a lovely holiday!Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season and many warm blessings forthe New Year!