How about another update from our good friend Leslie, that great Woman of the World, reporting from her new Peace Corps assignment in Kenya. It looks as if she's disappointed she's living in a modern home with amenities rather than in the hut she hoped for:

"Well I am finally settling down to a normal, what ever that may be, life in Mombassa. After a month long homeless, traveling safari experience I finally have a house and have unpacked my things. First of all I suggest to all of you to pack up a bag of special items and hide it away for a few months so that when you stumble upon it and open it up you are excited by all the things you once had, forgot about and are now overjoyed to find again. It is an instant Christmas. If you try this little experiment you will understand what unpacking my bags felt like after four months! Needless to say I am now unpacked and living the most exceptional PC experience.

"Ok I began my trek back to Kenya thinking living in a mud hut again would be great!! Yes I really was looking forward to living in a village hanging out at the local duca (shop that sells the minimum of necessities and the most random maybe at some point useful items) and hanging out drinking chi with the local momas. Not once did it ever cross my mind that I would be living where I am now.

"Ok brace yourselves.... I am living in an apartment at an international secondary school in the rich neighborhood of Mombassa. Ok I wanted to live in old town,(the historical cultured part of the island, a good variety of ethnicities, a strong muslim influence and lots of Swahiliilli food!), but alas PC wouldn't allow me to live on the island. So I am living in Nali, a suburb north of the Island. I have access to a pool and tennis courts, maybe even a round of golf is in nearable future. Yes I ask myself where am I everyday. My house has a fridge, electricity, running water, a stove, fans and all the comforts of home. All my neighbors are English. I am a bit confused to say the least. It is definitly a different life style than I expected.

"Thank goodness for my job which lets me work up and down the coast with local people to use natural resources sustainable through eco tourism practices. I'm focusing right now on two projects. The first is in the south on Wasini Island/Shimoni. Here I am helping KWS and the womens group on the Island with marketing expansiontion of there coral gardens. It is beautifull there. It is located near the Pemba channel where some of the best deep sea fishing is, I have to say the fish I have had is superb. I am also helping with the crocodile problem they have in the river, issulicencesates to cull them and then helping to create revenue from the skins or meet. There are so many that in rainey season they threaten the local population. Lets hope I don't get eaten!!!

"My second project is up north near Malindi at a place called Watamu. I will be working at the butterfly farm there to help the current NGO turn over businesses to the local people. Thus I will be teaching basic business skills and marketing. I will also help the locals to initiate income generating projects to sustain businesses.

"So I guess you could say that I am settled here... I am very happy to be living on the Coast, though it is so hot, yes Sarah I have a great tan!! Definatly nice, though for some reason I feel like I should be suffering a little more that I am. I just keep telling my self that its a new experience and that I am pretty lucky. Well gota go get some provisions!! I miss ya all. Take care."