Cora is inducted into the National Honour Society

On Tuesday, October 9th, Cora and six other ISK students were inducted into the Simba chapter of the National Honour Society. This is a very prestigious appointment, reserved for students who have exceptional performance with academics, service and leadership. This year, Cora is co-chairing the Photography Club, Artsco (ISK's arts & service group) and her grade 11 class (which means she sits on the student government, the All Student Body). She is also co-chairing a committee for the upcoming Global Issues Service Summit and is part of the student leadership team for this massive event. She's a busy, busy leader at our school, and still manages to keep her grades at an exceptional level. We are so proud of her. Today was a lovely and special day.

Finally... a giraffe kiss

Well, it only took me 2.3 years to work up the nerve to let a Rothschild's giraffe from the AFEW Giraffe Centre in Nairobi kiss me! I have watched all of my family members stick a pellet in their mouths at the feeding platform and let a giraffe release its big tongue to retrieve it. It all just seemed a bit slobbery to me, even though I have heard a lot about the antiseptic nature of the giraffes' tongues. Somehow that has always seemed dubious to me. Yet, last weekend, with a visit from Aunt Kathy and Uncle Gary from Winnipeg (along with friends Lorne and Judy), it just seemed like the right time to try it. You know what I discovered? It wasn't slobbery at all! I don't know what I was worried about.    :)

Getting ready for GISS 2013!

On the weekend of September 22 and 23, Cora and I (plus another teacher and 23 additional students) spent the weekend with 3 facilitators from the Jump! Foundation. We engaged in two very full, fun and intense days of leadership training, and the kids came away equipped with many skills to lead small and large groups of peers. The 24 students who participated in the training have been chosen to lead the Global Issues Service Summit that ISK will host in February, 2013. I have been passionate about GIN for so long and it is so exciting to be involved with planning a summit. These kids are fantastic leaders, and I was so proud of Cora's role as a leader all weekend.

Only in Kenya...

Anyone who has driven on the Mombasa highway knows how terrifying driving can really be. As we were driving back from Amboseli on Sunday, we realized a truck ahead of us was missing its cab, and that the driver was strapped into his seat, wearing a helmet, and driving along as if everything was normal. As we passed him, I had to snap a photo. You definitely wouldn't see this in Ontario! Also of note on the drive: a giraffe crossed the highway between rapidly moving vehicles, and 18-wheelers did some serious off-roading to avoid an accident that had jammed part of the highway. Thankfully we made it back in one piece!

Delivering chalkboards to 2 Masai schools in Amboseli...

Our first Freedom Through Learning project of the year was to deliver 3 large chalkboards and 20 small ones (for individual use), as well as lots of chalks and erasers, to the Ilkengarre and Inchurra Masai community schools in Amboseli National Park. We went down for the weekend with our friends Stacey and Scott, and spent the better part of Saturday installing the chalkboards with our Masai friends. It was a day filled with a lot of fun and laughter, topped off with some fantastic elephant sightings (right beside our car). Lovely weekend!

Back to school...

Here it is, Labour Day weekend, and we've finished four weeks of classes at ISK already! The time is flying. In this first month back to school, we have spent a lot of time preparing lessons and grading papers, getting to know new students and watching Cora start her junior year as a full IB student. Brian went off to Brussels for four days to attend a leadership conference (as well as haunt some Belgian beer halls), and I went with the grade 9 class for two days of teambuilding and outdoor adventure at Sagana (photos featured in this post), about 2 hours north of Nairobi. It's been a busy month, but a wonderful one, and we were just contemplating today that the school year is 1/10 over already! We are planning to cherish each week of 2012/13.

Meandering through Ontario...

Our time in Ontario involves a 2-week romp through the province (Peterborough, Toronto, Kincardine, Haliburton and Sudbury) before we land in Ottawa and Kingston for the month of July. It's been so nice to connect with family and friends so far.   :)

Naples, Pompeii, Capri and Ischia...

After our wonderful time in Rome and Orvietto, we spent four fabulous days in the southern port of Naples. The city itself was gritty and urban (but oh so historic), the pizza was out-of-this-world, and the neighbouring islands of Capri and Ischia were enchanting. The ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum were unbelievable. What a wonderful holiday.