Leah’s Travel Page

Yesterday we stayed on the ICIPE site all day, which I predicted might be outrageously dull, but actually turned out to be a really interesting demonstration of all the ways people are using insect research. In one centre their studying malaria and mosquitos. In another, they’re doing research on locust pheromones, because locusts are generally solitary but then something triggers pheromones which causes them to communicate and then swarm…if scientists can understand how to release similar pheromones, then they can control the swarming and subsequent crop devastation. On site, there is also bee keeping for honey and bee venom, silkworm production to make silk to sell to the global market, etc. And a lot of this knowledge can be transmitted to small communities so that they can create sustainable income-generation projects.

After that, we got into groups for our major research project for the semester. We’ve gotten into groups of about 7 and will work in conjunction with scientists/social scientists throughout the next few months and present our findings at the end. For example, my group will focus on rural urban migration. From the rural side, we will interview people in the communities we travel to about their livelihoods, what drives them to migrate to the cities, the kinds of infrastructure in the rural areas, what makes it possible for them to stay in rural areas and the challenges that poses, etc. From the urban side, we can look at the informal sector and how that absorbs the inflow of migrants, or even look at places like Kibera, where most of the people living there have come to the city from their rural homes for better economic opportunities. For that, we’ll be in touch with some of the people from UN-HABITAT again. It should be a great incentive to really communicate with some of the people we meet over the next few months. Some of the other groups will cover subjects like malaria diagnosis and treatment, vector control used by farmers, and some other public health issues.

Other than that, the day was pretty relaxing. I’ve been kind of sick since I got here, Wednesday I had a fever of 101…only I would be sick the first week in Kenya! But yesterday and today I’ve felt better and my fever is gone, so all that remains is congestion and a really gross cough that I’m sure means no one will want to be my friend. Just kidding, who wouldn’t want to be MY friend?

We’re going into Nairobi today, so it’ll be nice to get off the compound. We’re going to the big Maasai market that’s here every Friday. I’m sure it’ll be ridiculously touristy, a bit unnecessary since we’ll actually be LIVING in a Maasai village in a few weeks, but I’m looking forward to it as it will be my first exposure to African market haggling.

We’re leaving ICIPE Sunday morning for Uganda, and then I’ll be completely out of touch for about 2 weeks. We’re staying at a really remote field research station in Kibale Rainforest National Park…apparently they don’t even have a phone, only a satellite one for emergency purposes. So if there’s anything any of you need to tell me, let me know in the next two days! i’m also going to try to upload some of my pictures tonight, so you can all get some giraffe inspiration.