The Orange Hat

I just want to write about my life, so this isn’t a directed post at a specific topic, though I’ll have one of those later this weekend (probably on management, IS and exchange of ideas)

Three very important things happen today. First off I looked at my budget, and realized there was a major flaw which contributed to a 100,000 ksh + surplus last year for no real reason other than an Excel blip. This gave me bargain room to deal with my trainees food budget, and negotiate for a laptop for our session.

This lead me to have a meeting with the LCP Danny, who is a great guy and I wish I had this meeting about two months ago, because it would have saved me much time and effort. We talked about how the project is going, how to sort out a few issues I’m having with my teams, then started to talk about our structure for communication.

If there’s one thing the University of Nairobi does well it’s projects, and the US can learn so much about it from them. If there’s one thing the Nairobi area (Kenyan LC’s) do badly it’s Information systems. They are bogged down by people who check their emails once a week, a international system which doesn’t support their needs, and no database to speak of – everything is in paper format- contacts are not to be found other than by someone’s email lists, and inter LC communication is only though the MC – another level of bureaucracy (even if I love them)

Because of this lack of communication, I along with a few other TN’s have begun to create TN local community, which is mostly based in the IS stage right now. I talked to Arcadiy Kantor the king of information systems in the US (previous liger) and a good friend of mine who is currently in Kiev- so we are on similar time schedules, and based my IS system over my old LC’s system, and what he told me. So far it’s working great, and to be honest it’s evolving into a reception tool, a guide to Nairobi, a communication network, and a comical venue for relief (quotes). ] aieseckenyatn.pbwiki.com ]. I created it to be just for TN’s at first, but realized that was an unneeded exclusion, and very selfish, so I opened it to who ever wanted to come, then realized it could be used as a tool for incoming TN’s and anybody who was interested in a traineeship in Kenya- so I’m beginning to work with other LCP’s and getting them to use it, and making life easier for everyone… and I enjoy doing it.

This allow me to interact with LC’s on a whole new level, and is a reason to be in contact with the LC’s .. it’s a way to help all of the TN’s who are coming in, and a way for the LC’s to communicate more, and write about their city. I have no clue what it will be come next, but it’s amazing so far, and I’ve received mostly positive responses. There are a few … hurdles which I know about, but because I’ve gotten together with the new IS VP here at the University of Nairobi and begun to work on their system. I made mine out of Necessity to build a TN community, now we’re upgrading theirs out of need for efficiency.

Danny (the LCP of University of Nairobi) we very thrilled about everything I was working on, he then even asked me about how out GPM’s worked, and I brought up the idea for the Leadership team (more than just the EB), to help plan their GPM (MSS), and the idea of MSS, and how it’s not a constructive way to create ideas. I then wrote an outline of everything @GT does at the GPM and LTM, which he told me to send to him.

I look forward to perusing this, and changing UoN, I only wish I hadn’t wated three months to do it.


I also realized I had an Eye infection today, which I am treating, and I believe it comes from me having problems with my contacts, unclean water, and lots of finger food (Florent- one of my roommates and fellow workers eat Ethiopian at least twice a week at a restaurant called Habesha, it’s wonderful ☺ ) But my eyes were blood shit and I’ll up load a picture if you really want to see it, but I’ll warn you it’s creepy as all get out. This lead me to look at thinking about taking care of myself a little more carefully – physically and psychology- ( btw I met the worst drunk I’ve ever seen [ his name is Sean… and he’s Irish- for real] a few days ago, it was scary and I was worried for his life). While physically is actually easier, because psychologically is more of focused on what I do in life. I though about what I’d been doing daily here, and what I wanted to do, and they are not always the same. I don’t care if I drink all that much (which I’m really not over doing, but I have found I like red wine and Guinness... interesting combination I known [not together])

So, somethings aren’t worth chasing, because they aren’t ever going to chase back, and life’s to short ( can’t believe I’ve been here three months) to worry about people who don’t worry about you. I have to many friends at home who care about me, people here who are interested in what I say and do, and I don’t need to spend time with people who don’t. I would love to build a relationship with many people, but a relationship is a two-way item, not just my efforts. And that’s all I have to say about that.

The third thing I realized today, which adds into my plans of future life, which my parents don’t know about, but probably guessed, and I’ll have to figure out this money thing…too. I checked AIESEC GT’s blog and realized three of my friends are going to be abroad this summer, three I didn’t know (I knew about many others). I think started planning my Travels after my time in Kenya. It looks like I’m going to be knocking on Maddie in Cairo’s door, Mr Chambers in Valencia abode, and Miss Pechars’s in Paris. I also plan on seeing a few other people ion the way. But I would love to go to – Cairo, Jerusalem, Athens, Across the Med to Valencia (by boat? I don’t know ☺ ) then Paris, and end in London- to fly back to NY- then down to ATL by thanksgiving.

Those are my idealist plans. And I hope I’ll keep them. That’s what dreams are for. ☺

Tonight I needed to rest, so I came back to the house, made pasta with olive oil, some roasted garlic, finely powdered Parmesan cheese which I made myself, cut carrots, and a splash of balsamic vinaigrette with a Chilean Cabernet. – Very happy that I did.

Heres to Joanna, Micheal, and Anna to taking the step and going to a far off place as a non-tourist. Live the dream (whatever you might dream of), best of luck to you.

Enjoying the path
-Sean