Almost Done

Well, DR is coming to a close. It's been a long and grueling process of data collection, analysis, and write-up. I lied about the paper being 60 pages in the last post. Mine was 28 pages. 50 including appendices. Still, it felt good. And now I can tell you anything you want to know about pastoralism in Loitokitok District. Today is designated to prepare for our groups' presentations to community members tomorrow. This is the final result of our projects: being able to explain our findings to the people of this area so that they can learn about the issues and improve their lives. It's very exciting. And then it will basically be winter break. We'll have debrief, grade consultation, and packing. Saturday we go to the site near Nairobi to stay the night before going to the airport on Sunday. For many, this is just a transition to another part of the journey. Some are going to Mombasa, some to London or Greece, some having family coming to Kenya, and some (including me) are going to climb the tallest mountain in Africa. We'll take a bus from Nairobi to Arusha, Tanzania on Sunday, where we will stay at a hotel overnight. Then we'll get picked up by the climbing company and head to start the climb on Monday. It's very exciting. Then I believe we finish climbing the 18th, we stay overnight in Arusha, then bus to Nairobi the 19th and our flights leave the 20th. I'll get back to Minnesota the 21st.
So we were just planning our presentation in the TV lounge (which pretty much only the staff uses) and then we got trapped in it because it was pouring outside, and it's set away from the rest of camp. So then I turned on the TV and I realized that it's been three months since I've watched TV. It's so weird. I sat mesmerized by the professional wrestling on the screen until I decided to leave. So many things like this will happen when I come back to America. But I'm excited for each one.