July 28th, 2009 - "Give a dam" - We took off from SLC laid over in Detroit where we met up Jesse Den Herder (The 3rd partner in ActionProfiles.com) his wife and son Jonah, it was good to finally meet him face to face for the first time. He is a great guy and incredible designer. We then headed to the Netherlands where we had a 2 hour layover. Holland airport was cool. Lots of mini VanGough museums and art. We walked the airport a few times and then hopped on our 2nd 8 hour flight to Nairobi. After 20 hours of travel we were there.
The Picture is of our decent to the Netherlands.
I arrived in Nairobi from the Netherlands at around 8pm. Walking out of the terminal was a little surreal. 30 Kenyans were grouped together holding signs with passengers last names scribbled on scrap pieces of paper, waiting for their passengers to de-plane. I wasn't expecting to see my name being held up, but there is it was. VIERRA - DRAPER. Draper is an engineer from St. George that is here helping us design the dams in drought areas of Kenya. My company (ActionProfiles.com) is raising money to capture rainfall and tap ground springs in drought areas of Kenya with the incredible assistance of InOurOwnQuietWay,com. Hence the campaign name "Give a Dam" and the trip to Africa in the first place. We were escorted through customs by a lady sent from Vice Presidents office to assist us in getting through all the red tape of international travel. She left us with her assistant at the baggage claim. She was not big or strong, but she handled our heavy bags like they were throw pillows and she wouldn't let us get touch our bags, out them on the cart, or even push cart to the van. Almost like it was rude of us to try.
After waiting for our luggage for 45 minutes, (we found out that they just throw your bags on the ground if you don't get them the first time they go around the carousel), we were escorted to met with Benson and they loaded our bags into the van. Nairobi city is a business and tourist destination and as I was expecting included crowded streets and crazy drivers. People walk up and down slowed traffic to sell anything from Teletubby blow up chairs, razor kits, and bananas, to knock off Puma hats and peanuts. THe drive was short and there wasn't much to see because of our late arrival.
We arrived at the Nairobi Serena Hotel (image at left) at around 10pm. Greeted in the lobby by Ron Hatfield the Founder and CEO of QuietWay & the film crew Ryan and Brad, and photographer Justin. The hotel is amazing, way nicer that what I had hoped for. We sat down in the African art clad reception area adorned with Tribal masks, spears, elephant carvings and incredible paintings and as a group talked about our agenda with Benson as the live African music poured from the nearby bar. Benson is a Kenyan Native, that now lives in Texas. He is a local celebrity for not abandoning Kenya after leaving to America, but rather bringing people like Ron from QuietWay who are interested in helping out those who need a hand up. Benson is somehow very influential and very well connected. Although, you cant tell by his constant joking and antics. I didn't realize how much of a help Benson would be in the coming days.
We decided that dinner would be a good place to have Ron catch me up on the groups doings, so we all headed to the Hotel Restaurant. They tried to explain the things that they had all experienced over our Seafood and steak dinners, but I don't think anything could have prepared me for what we were about to do the following day....
