I know it's been a great while, but here's a new update from Leslie, that great Woman of the World, from her Kenyan Peace Corps Assignment:

"Yes I know it has been a long long time since I last wrote but you all know how it goes, you get a little side tacked, you write a mass email and just as you are about to send it (after hours of tying and waiting for your address book to open) the computer system crashes and what feels like your life's work is lost forever!! This happens a lot here and still I cry every time. so now that I have come to terms with the fact that the email i labored over a few weeks ago is gone. I have decided that its time to once again sit down and write to all you good folks out there who are dying to know what is gong on with little old me. So here you are:

"First of all part of my lengthy email procrastinating was due to the fact that I ventured back to the bay area for a whole 6 weeks!!! All those I missed seeing, pole sana "very sorry" but hey you could have trekked to see me being that I traveled halfway around the world, 24+hour on a plane is always fun.... So the purpose of my visit besides to shop, consumerism at its best was me at the Victoria Secret sale, I couldn't have picked a better shopping time to come home!! Seriously after living in a place with over priced foreign goods that really are not that well made it is amazing to shop for such a variety of things, colors, textures and prices!!! I have to say though it was overwhelming, though it was great to get some very necessary luxury items!! So besides my shopping extravaganza I was delighted to attend and be part of the wedding of Nadia and Zac!! I don't think I will ever attend another wedding like it. Who can beat a week long party in Hawaii! It was truly amazing to see everyone and celebrate such a special time with two great people. So after a week of fun in the sun I returned to the bay area to spend quality time with the fam, have a bit of wrist surgery and visit with everyone a little longer. Then it was back to Kenya and here I am in Mombasa trying again to adjust to life on the coast!! Really I am the luckiest Peace Corps Volunteer!!

"Ok so life back in Mombasa has been great!! For the last month I have been traveling all over visiting the community groups we work with in the south coast. I also traveled to Oloitoiktok, a town at the base of Kilimanjaro.(It i amazing to look up at such a beautiful mountain that seems to rise out of the flat plains) We brought the fisherman's group we work with in Diani to see the community based sanctuary and group ranches that are run by the Masai. The purpose of the visit was to have the fisherman see first hand how a community can organize itself and generating income for the community while conserving the environment. The Masai have created a sanctuary between Amboseli and Tsavo giving the parks a necessary corridor for wildlife to migrate through. The Masai in coordination with the African Safari Club have turned the sanctuary into an attractive safari destination generating income for the community. It has been great to be back at work, I am o back in the swing of things I sometimes feel that i never went away!

"Besides adjusting to being back at work, I have been readjusting to life in Mombasa. I can hardly believe how small the roads really are. After living here for a year the main drag seemed huge compared to the dirt side streets!! When i first returned I could hardly believe that I walked along such a narrow road with so many cars!! Now that i am use to the roads again they seem normal, I just keep reminding myself that things are bigger in the West. I think the best part of visiting the states was realizing that Mombasa is my home. I am glad to be back here for another year!! I hope you are all well!! I will try to write more often!!!

Take Care,
Leslie "