A Year In Africa

This is not a full circle.

It's life carrying on.

It's the next breath we all take.

It's the choice we make to get on with it.

--Alexander Fuller

It has been one year, to the day, since I left Nairobi. I last posted on this blog after my trip to Ethiopia in October 2007. I missed telling you about another trip to Cape Town to say good-bye (again) to the children of Bap, about time in Tsavo, the Aberdares and Mt Kenya, Lamu again, Christmas and New Years in Morocco with my family...before heading back to New York City in January 2008.

Each trip, each experience, topped the previous. It always just got better. Until I had to leave.

I did not know what to write. How to end this blog. How to end this experience. My 15 months in Africa. However, it has not ended.

I was in Morocco, watching the news daily about the post-election violence in Kenya starting December 27, 2007. I continued to watch, read, talk to friends, in stunned disbelief about what happened there during the Presidential elections. About what happened to Kisumu. What could I say about that, then?

But a coalition was formed and is still working to right what went wrong. I hope. Rebuilding has begun. Kenya seems back on track. I am told. I visited Kisumu in October 0f this year and, except for one or two burned buildings remaining on Oginga Odinga Street, I could hardly tell what had happened. They are hopeful. Yet cautious.

I have remained in touch, and feel as connected to my life and friends there as I did. Some have moved on as well. Some have received promotions. New ones have arrived. Some have experienced life-altering events. But they are still there, one way or the other.

I was in Kisumu during the US presidential elections. There is a renewed sense of optimism. Anything is possible they also believe. But there is a lot of work to do. 2009 is the start of many changes for the better. I think.

I last left off the posting of my blog in Ethiopia. 2009 will bring for me a child. Adopted from Ethiopia. I have been waiting, back in New York, since July 10, 2008.

2009 will also continue to bring Africa to me, in New York for now.

Many people said to me, you will leave Africa, but Africa will not leave you. Maybe cliche. But true.

So what can I really say to end "a year in Africa"?

Only that, for me, there is yet no end. And I am grateful.

AEH