July 06, 2003
Before the trip
Hello out there. I am Kateri, recent grad from MIT's department of mechanical engineering. I have been on the Kinkajou team since the fall of 2002 and worked on the project in the spring. I am thrilled at the opportunity to venture out to West Africa next week to test out our projector and to learn more about the people who will use it. As my father told me before I left, we will probably learn more from the Malians than they from us.
My expectations:
It will be an adventure worthy of a survivor episode...well maybe not. I hope that no one gets sick. Everyone I've talked to has linked Africa to AIDS and malaria. No one ever thinks of what the people are like and how they live their daily lives without the things that we take for granted. I think that the experience will be a humbling one that will make us all think more about where we come from and where we want to go in our lives.
I've never been to Africa before. In fact the first time I flew overseas was last week to visit my boyfriend, Jacob, in Japan. He is working for the summer at the University of Tokyo. Being outside the US for the first time allowed me to see what it is like to be a foreigner in an unfamiliar place surrounded by people who speak a completely different language than I'm used to.
I don't speak French much, the official language of Mali. I have some teach yourself books, but I haven't gotten very far. I hope that I will be able to communicate with people in Mali as well as with my friends and family back home in New Mexico and around the world.
Before I left home, my parents both expressed their concerns for my health and safety while on the trip. I know that there are risks, but I told them that I would rather die living than sit in front of the TV and waste my life wishing. I know...harsh words to tell parents, but it was the way I could see them connect with what I am feeling. No one is going to die. We may get a little sick, but in the end the trip will make us stronger and more knowledgable.
Posted by Kateri Garcia at July 6, 2003 08:07 PMHi Kateri,
I hope you have a great trip and please take care of yourself and everyone else. Don't listen to Tim, use the cancerous bug spray only when you're turning really red from bug bites. Remember not to eat with your left hand. Oh well, what am I saying? You know all this much better than I do.
It has been raining everyday since you left Tokyo, what's the weather like in Mali?
Good luck this summer, I know everything will work out and say hi to everyone from me.
Take care,
JW
Posted by: Jacob at July 9, 2003 08:21 PMHello Kateri and everyone else first of all I'd like to know if you all made it to Africa where are you all. I do hope everything is going well for you all have you adjusted to the heat I hate it here right now we have hit the hundreds so if Im not at work freezing I'm at home sweating its horrible so I can just imagine for you. anyway once again hello to everyone and I do hope and pray that everything is goin in your favor. Love always MOM
Posted by: kateri at July 10, 2003 08:24 PMGreeting from Tokyo!
Just checking in for the latest news. Nope..no updates, well gotta run.
Bye
Posted by: curious at July 11, 2003 04:02 AMWhat kind of journal is this!
Kateri, if you do get a chance to update this journal before you come back to Boston, everyone will be very happy and Tim will not be in so much trouble with your mom. He is going to get it.
My mom is also asking about you, she asked me if you had called ?!
Anyway, I hope that the trip is going really well for you. Take lots of pictures!
