Leslie, that great Woman of the World, sends us another report from her Kenya Peace Corps assignment. She actually sent this a month ago and I had forgotten about it in my email until today. So, now, without much further delay, here it is:

"Long time no email!!!! In case any of you are wondering what happened to me, not much.... I am still in Kenya serving as a Peace Corps volunteer! I am sorry I have not written in a while but life has taken on that air of a routine. I no longer feel that it is exotic. Though each day is still exciting in its own way, it just doesn't seem like there is always news to give to the rest of the world. I think I have just reached the part in living overseas when you no longer view your life abroad as separate from the life of all the other people you know living in the states. I guess it is called settling down. However, I realized the other day watching CNN that I do live abroad and in a different mentality than the states. People over here (Kenyans, ex-pats and travelers) really have a jaded opinion of the states. We are not so high on the list of friends and acquaintances theses days. Most people are wondering what happened to our statesmanship and diplomacy not to mention our foreign policy. It makes me sad to see our credibility diminish. I just hope that things turn around before it is to late. Ok i didn't mean to turn this into a political email but as usual I had to add my two cents. So back to me and my life in Kenya.

"I am still working in the south coast on various projects concerning natural resource management, conservation, capacity building and overall development. Next week we are setting up crab farms on Wasini Island to help the women's group I work with there expand their incomes. Following a training seminar on how to care for the crabs and the importance of conserving the forests and the reef, we will set up the pens and fattening cages so that the women can begin to farm the crabs. The crab farms help to alleviate pressure on the reef by reducing the demand for crabs that are caught on the reef and by supplementing household incomes reducing reliance on fishing. I am also nearly finished with the cookbook I have been composing to help market the womens group. It has been so much fun cooking with the women on Wasini and learning how to make their spicy Swahili dishes.

"In addition to working on Wasini, I have been doing research on HIV/Aids in an effort to help PACT expand its initiatives in the area of HIV/AIDS. I also have been working to update news articles for our gender news letter and have been working to help with our elephant sanctuary project in an effort to expand their honey programs. I guess you could say I have been working a lot. I now understand why Peace Corps requires a two year commitment. It really does take the first year to get use to life in another country and truly understand where and how you can work. The second year is all about the work!!!

"It has almost been two years!! It has really flown by!! I will be finishing up in September and then plan to head back to the states via Egypt to cheek out the pyramids and American University's Arabic program. I would like to start graduate school in January. I plan to continue my studies in International Politics, who knows where my two cents will take me :) I think I will focus on the Middle East and Conflict Resolution (I have been doing a bit of work with PACT and their Sudan Program focusing on CR and I really am intrigued by it). I may also through a bit of African studies in there to add variety. I am really looking forward to returning to the academic world and to the states.

"On the social front, my family came to visit and we had a great time seeing the animals and just hanging out on the coast of Kenya. It was great to see them and to have them see my life here in Kenya. I ventured to South Africa with my sister to get a feel for that part of the continent. South Africa is amazing!! It is like the west but with the feeling of Africa. I really enjoyed seeing the country and have a bit more faith in the continents ability to develop a decent infrastructure. If one country can do it surly others can follow. Kenya is trying but it has taken a year for them to do a small section of the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway (the main Highway for goods to get into the country), maybe in 5 years one will be able to drive up country with out having to maneuver around giant pot holes!!

"Ok thats quite long enough!

Take care,
Leslie"

And the best news is, she's coming back home soon! I can't wait to see her again. :-)