Corwin Hiebert Managing Creative People + Creative Projects

Climbing out of the window was just easier. The move is now called "A Corwin"

Today is my last day in Kenya. I’m shaking out all the dust and relaxing at the beautiful Fairview Hotel in Nairobi. Along with the comforts of a real bed, a porcelain toilet, and fine dinning comes an Internet connection that quickly delivered a mountain of emails which I’m slowing digging myself out from. No complaints though – it feels good to be back on-the-grid.

With this trip being my first to Africa I knew going in that it would be an adventure of a lifetime – and boy was I right. This experience has been absolutely amazing… but now that I look back, it was amazing for reasons I did not expect:

(After getting through customs, collecting my bags, and meeting my driver) I did not expect my first coherent thought in Africa to be: What’s the deal with that camp song “We’re from Nairobi” – I don’t get it, what a freakin’ stupid song:

Oh, we’re from Nairobi and we’re on the best team
We do the Watusi we’re seven feet tall
Cannibals might eat us cause we’re from Nairobi
And we’re on the ball.
Sing along, sing along, sing along, sing along.

Chorus:
Ung gowah, ung gowah, ung gowah
Ung gowah, ung gowah, ung gowah
Ung gowah gow.

I did not expect to see two very different Kenya’s. The North is a very inhospitable place and is nearly uncharted territory (the unmarked roads are simply desert tracks and many of the settled villages can not be found on any maps). From what I heard, most Kenyans have no idea what the conditions are like in the North. It is very very very dry and the region is experiencing yet another drought. I didn’t realize that the pastoral nomads we visited are considered the worlds first refuges of climate change.

I did not expect nearly every bush/plant to be covered in wildly sharp thorns. Aaaarrrg.

I did not expect to be able to manage the heat. With the help of a well-planned itinerary, re-hydration fluids, 4-6 litres of water per day, and a lot of rest I was able to cope with 45+degree (Celsius) temperatures. Phew.

I did not expect to be able to talk to Eileen for as many as 12 days. Technology saved the day. I ended up being able to use a satellite phone three times to check-in with her. Brilliant.

I did not expect to see much wildlife as I knew we’d be in the desert. To my surprise I saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, monkeys, lizards, camels, and even a leopard. I saw enough goats to last a lifetime.

I did not expect to eat goat and camel meat. Don’t ask.

I did not expect squat toilets. Don’t ask.

I did not expect to do the “funky white boy” with Rendille dancers. I couldn’t help myself.

I did not expect to be in the passenger seat while David drove the Defender through the Kaisut Desert. Two flat tires slowed him down in a hurry.

I did not expect I’d fire an AK-47. My pacifist roots were tickled pink.

I did not expect to witness history in the making. We were there on assignment with the BOMA Project – David photographed his brains out (I was his field assistant). The work that BOMA is doing is truly inspiring. If you’ve read “Three Cups of Tea” you can imagine the type of hard work it takes to empower people to solve their own problems amongst physical, environmental and political hardship. Kathleen Colson and Ahmed Kura are a dynamic duo and are true trailblazers – it was an honour to be a part of their team these past couple weeks and I cherish their friendship. Learn more about their work here: http://bomaproject.org/blog/

I did not expect I’d have new friends from Vermont. Chip and Kit Chamberlain are two passionate BOMA supporters who traveled with us for a few days. They are remarkable people.

I did not expect to gain  inspiration and new ideas for my work back home. I learned invaluable lessons about entrepreneurship, business development, and community. More on that later.

In the end, what’s stuck in my head are the faces and stories of the people I met. In one of the poorest places on earth, the pastoral nomads of northern Kenya struggle to survive but in many ways you’d never know it. They are strong, proud, beautiful, and resilient people. In an area that repels most people I found beauty and joy.

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