Sweet Tee

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” -Neale Donald Walsch

“I believe that all wisdom consists in caring immensely for a few right things, and not caring a straw about the rest.” -John Buchan

“There is no right way to do the wrong thing.” -Unknown

“It is better to be alone than in bad company” – George Washington

“The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the…

I’ve made such good friends in Dakar. Friends I hope will be around for years to come. A couple weeks ago these friends and I made the trip to Gorée Island. The night before I began to prepare to feel a sadness similar to my previous visits to Robben Island or DC’s Holocaust Memorial Museum. I know visiting these places makes us all sad in remembrance of  irrational suffering but…I don’t know…I…

President of Liberia on Ebola

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia describes the severe impact Ebola is having on countries in West Africa. Sharing because I think it gives perspective.

Coursera: English Composition 1 – Achieving Expertise

I’m really enjoying my work in communications. I don’t consider myself a writer but an admirer of writers. I thought to continue in this field and hopefully move up I need a better writing foundation. My 1st step, Coursera‘s English Composition 1: Achieving Expertise course.  I first heard about Coursera from my current boss, about a year ago before he was my boss and I think it’s brilliant.

I’m…

Swahili Isn’t Helping Me Here

In the months since my last post I have completed my 2 year Peace Corps service in Kenya, went home for 6 weeks to visit friends and family in 4 states, and moved to Dakar, Senegal where I have lived for nearly 1 month in my Peace Corps Response position as the Communications and Media manager for the Stomp out Malaria Initiative.

What a whirlwind…huh?

I’m really excited about this new adventure.…

I am racist, and so are you.

Teespoon of Peace:

Fantastic read.

Originally posted on Being Shadoan:

And the sooner we both acknowledge this, the sooner we can begin to address the problem. So let’s talk.

“Wait just a minute here, Rachel. You’re like, the least racist person I know. You’re always sharing stuff about race and racism. You couldn’t possibly be racist.”

Here’s the deal. Racism isn’t just guys in white robes and…

OVPs: Khalil’s Siku ya Elimu kwa Jamii

Khalil coordinated a 3-day community health program called “Siku ya Elimu kwa Jamii” (Family Education Day). Each day we went to a different village and raised awareness on challenges facing the community such as: HIV/AIDS and VCT testing, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and Malaria. Of course I taught about malaria prevention, net care and repair and malaria treatment.

The event was a complete…

World Malaria Day Project Results

April 25th was World Malaria Day/WMD. March – May was our time to shine as the Stomp Out Malaria program coordinators in Kenya and shine we did through the incredible work of our volunteers. In celebration of WMD our volunteers completed 26 projects which reached over 52,000 community members and they are still working to reach even more.

Malaria in Kenya is daunting and a little bit mind…

What I Like Right Now: Stella Jean

For the past few years there has been an escalation of the use of Ankara fabric, Kitenge, mud cloth and other fabrics made in Africa or are considered a representation of traditional wear in Africa.

I love these bright prints so no complaints from me, I hope it never goes away.

Stella Jean continues to create my ABSOLUTE favorite fashion collections using these prints. It’s my favorite because…

Malaria Mural: Using Art to Teach Health

I rode passed a talented community artists painting a school sign and immediately asked the driver to make a U-Turn. Michael Juma is a brilliant artist and art teacher and was overjoyed at my proposed idea of working with some of my students to make a malaria mural.

The mural is located at Nangina Mixed Primary School, a name you should all be very familiar with, I’ve talked about this school and…

29th Birthday Celebration in Ethiopia

I’ve heard African Americans say they’ve come to this incredible continent, Africa, and have a feeling of being at home. I’ve visited several countries all of which I instantly loved and none of which I felt instantly at home.

It has sparked my curiosity of my ethnic background though.

This will not be a sad post, but I want to say this, if you are able to trace your ethnic background to your…

Camp GLOW: Girls Leading Our World…in Funyula

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud” -Coco Chanel

I coordinated a Camp GLOW: Girls Leading Our World, in my local community where we focused on character development, health/healthy living and professional development. Camp GLOW is a PEPFAR and Peace Corps initiative, they hold large regional camps annually in Kenya. I applied for a grant through World Connect to host…

Potential Career Path: Funeral Photographer

I’ve done some unexpected things as a Peace Corps Volunteer all of which pale in comparison to my day as a funeral photographer. I just wanted to help my family and they wanted pictures to remember this event.

I was hesitant to take pictures of people crying or saying their final goodbye. Grieving is such a personal experience. Also, I may have been grieving more for this woman who’s name I…

What I Like Right Now: Draped Up

It’s no secret that podcasts are my guilty pleasure; I learn from them and I’m entertained by them so scratch that they’re my pride pleasure. My latest find is NPR’s Microphone Check. I’m on a quest to fall in love with hip hop.

They did an interview with Bun B and there was a part where he defined some of the terms we hear in his music and many songs in the genre. I was introduced to “draped up”…

Mother Bear Project. Putting Smiles on my Kids Faces

Two titles are better than one.

“The Mother Bear Project is dedicated to providing comfort and hope…