moja mwezi

moja mwezi means "one month" in swahili (i think). it is just about one month until i ship off to kenya, and i have decided to start my east africa trip blog now, mostly so that i can send everyone the link now instead of waiting until i get to nairobi. i am currently in the process of requesting my kenya visa (i'm technically late in applying for it... but don't tell my professor) and finding gear. i wish i could pack for this trip like any other trip i go on-- wait until the night before, find an old duffel bag in my closet, stuff a couple days worth of clothes and toiletries in it, maybe buy some sugarfree gum and a book of sudoku for the plane ride, and voila! ready to travel. but, i can't do that this time, and the whole process seems so weird to me. i have to buy all these new things that i'll never need again, which kind of goes against my instincts. for example, i am currently looking at buying a pair of chaco sandals, which, in case you aren't familiar with them, cost about a leg and an arm. they will be really useful and important for three and a half months, and then i don't know what i will do with them. same goes for mosquito spray with a really high DEET concentration, a "crushable hat", water purification supplies, 50 feet of rope, oral rehydration salts, iodine, etc. etc. oh well. maybe being required to buy a bunch of weird stuff is indicative of big adventures and good times ahead. let's hope so.