Been a while!
on Beatriz Pujol (Kenya), 17/Jun/2010 17:48, 34 days ago
Well, I have had lots of emails wondering what is happening in my life and I have been promising blog updates for months now! So, here is the first of a few (I hope!).All is well with me. My work is going well. The last couple of months I have been doing trainings for Special Needs Teachers, EARC coordinators and parents.I am almost done with VSO and the project I am working on. It has been a great experience and I am ready to move on! I have really gotten involved with the autism community here and have co-founded an new autism organization here. It is really exciting and rewarding. We were written up in the paper this week. I am trying to get it in soft copy to share! We have a Face Book page, check it out at Autism Awareness Kenya!I am planning to stay and go into private practice once I get a work permit. Sorry to those who keep hoping I will move back to the US any time soon! But, that means more time to come visit me, since I haven't had ANY visitors! :)Socially, my life is quite full. I am not a big fan of Nairobi, the city life is not my idea of good living, but I am enjoying the social life. Meeting lots of interesting people from all over the world. And great events to go to. Just lacking the funds to support it!!I am also traveling a lot, both for fun and work. Recently I spent two weeks in Western Kenya where I did two trainings for Special Needs Teachers and in between I visited Kakamega Forest, the last remaining part of a rain forest in East Africa that used to go all the way to the Congo and into West Africa. It was really nice and relaxing. I went on a lovely sunrise hike, we were hiking through the rain forest in the dark with our head torches. Really wonderful! Also visited Kisumu, the 3rd largest city in Kenya which is on Lake Victoria and I think one of the best kept secrets in Kenya! It is just the right size, the lake is beautiful and it is a laid back atmosphere!I also visited a 5 start Masai Lodge in Central Kenya that was HEAVENLY! I stayed in the room that Prince William stays in and slept under the stars on the balcony overlooking the bush and a watering hole. Really nice... All for $60 for the weekend including food, accommodation, transportation and game drives! We have two VSO's working with the community and got an amazing deal! The same weekend for a non-vso would have been about $1000! Check it out at: http://ilngwesi.com/I head back out to Western Kenya for another week and a half to do two more trainings for parents and in between a weekend in Kisumu!Then, in August I am off to Spain where I will meet my dad and step-mom for a month holiday. My sister and her boyfriend will meet us in Barcelona and we will all go on a week long cruise to Italy and France. It is my first cruise! I am really looking forward to the trip and spending time with my family!A note on security issues here in Kenya. Kenya made world news this week as I saw from some emails from concerned friends and relatives. Kenya is in the process of educating the public and raising awareness about the new constitution that will be voted on in August. The public is very split on voting YES vs. NO and this is causing some tension. Last Sunday there was a rally of the "NO" supporters that ended with 6 people dead and many injured. It is terrible what happened. However, this referendum on the constitution is a GOOD thing! The current constitution was the one put in place by the British at Independence. It is time for Kenyan's to decide what is best for themselves and update their constitution to reflect Kenyan ideas. I am sure the tension will remain until after the voting. I will be away all of August, so I will not be in any danger at that time. Please know that I am careful of where I go and what I do. I have no intentions of going near politics in Kenya, it is to sensitive a topic and as I am not a Kenyan, not really my business. I stay away from political events! So, please do NOT worry about me. Send your prayers and thoughts to Kenyans to help them make the best decision in August!I plan to be back in the States at the end of the year for Christmas and will try to visit Santa Fe as well.Overall, I am happy and enjoying my life. I hope all of you are healthy and happy!I promise another posting within the week about my autism event back in April! As well as some photos!