Friday, May 21, 2010

Stuck in Indy...destination: Africa

Thought I'd take this time to update a bit. I'm currently sitting in Indy airport, waiting for our delayed flight to arrive. The word is our plane won't take off until about 5 p.m. We were supposed to leave at 3:40...but eh, things happen.

So why am I randomly sitting at the Indy airport? Well...it's actually not so random after all. After our plane eventually arrives in Chicago, we will be heading to London. Then to Nairobi, Kenya. And then to our final destination: Eldoret, Kenya.

Yes, I said Kenya.

It's actually for a reporting class offered in IU's journalism school, and I can say I've been fortunate enough to get picked to have this amazing opportunity! The class is officially called "reporting on HIV/AIDS in Africa," and I can't even begin to describe how excited I am. I've never reported far from home, much less been out of the country!

We are basically going to work with Moi University students to report on and uncover just how this disease affects Sub-Saharan Africa; specifically, Eldoret, Kenya. This means interviewing counselors, officials, maybe even children, and yes, actual HIV/AIDS patients.

But I don't think it will quite hit me until..well, until we get there. Which by the way, won't be until 7 or 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. Yes, Eldoret is about seven hours ahead of us. Great!

Anyways, just wanted to update everyone on what was going on now that it's the summer school schedule! After I return, I'll be finishing up my Master's at IU by interning at The Herald-Times, Bloomington's local newspaper. What a summer so far, and it is yet to even begin!!

Oh, and be sure to follow our class blog, updated daily: http://journalism.indiana.edu/programs/kenya/


Keeping on the Trail

A young, aspiring journalist looking to make some footprints in the world.