Preparing my toilet paper for my suitcase. Gaye taught me how to take out the center roll to make it more pliable for packing. If you look closely, you can see the toilet paper is smiling...ha ha ha! I am (physically) prepared for the Kenyan bathrooms (not sure about mentally)!
I am not sure what to expect, so I am not sure how to feel. It's funny how you can prepare for all these other aspects- if you get sick, cold weather, warm weather, staying in touch, eating- but it's impossible to prepare your emotions. Even when you do prepare your emotions, it doesn't work. You never know what your heart is going to do, so maybe trying to prepare my emotions is a waste of time. (And trust me, I am a melting pot of emotions! I've been unable to sleep because I am too excited or worried. I've been scared too the point that I can't think about Kenya. I've been upset to the point where I've cried. I've been hopeful, overwhelmed, disappointed, angry (yes, angry), shocked, elated, confused... ALL OF 'EM!) I think I am just going to go with an open heart and let it do as it may. So, that's my preparation for my heart while I am there- to have no preparation.
Another aspect I can prepare for- packing my suitcase! This was the beginning of that "journey."
Another moment I wasn't prepared for- my students teaching me a lesson before I left! As we were rounding out the end of the school year (believe it or not, one of the most difficult times for teachers) and stress levels were running high, I had a moment that immediately put me in my place and reminded me that we are all innately good people. As we were cleaning out lockers, one student turned and said, "Ms. Bachler, do they need paper in Kenya?" I said, "Well, if you were just going to throw it out, then you can donate it. As long as it was going to be trash." There was a flock of paper emptied from lockers and stacked on desks...yes DESKS! Then, the students, being the thinkers that they are, starting looking at all of their supplies in their lockers- scissors, markers, pencils, colored pencils, etc. and were asking, "Do kids in Kenya need ______?" And again, desks were filled with supplies. One of my favorite times in life is when people teach you a lesson when you least expect it but most need it. Believe me, children do that a lot. I am thankful for the gentle nudges and reminders that children provide adults with or else many of us would be so aloof in our "adult world" where we often overlook the simplest, yet most worthy, moments.
Below are pictures of me packing my bags (I LOVE my space saver bags!), the Chicago gear I intend on giving my host family (notice how the Sox shirt almost dominates), and what 'Africa for Month' looks like when it is all packed up and ready to go!
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