Friday, January 20, 2012

Daily Budget:
Purpose Canadian Dollars Kenyan Shillings
Food per day $15 1,293.08KES

Hostel per night $ 10.16 700KES

Shopping per day $ 15 1,293.08KES

Getting around per day $ 3.48 300KES

Other attractions per day $30 2,600KES
Travel Motivators and Barriers:
There are many reasons that I would like to travel to Kenya. One of my top reasons is to see and experience Maasai life. The Maasai life interested me ever since I read a book about them and I would love to go visit them and experience life first hand. Another reason that I would like to go is because I like a warmer climate. The weather when I travel is warmer and I will enjoy this. The fact that the Maasai live and work in an outdoor environment is also a motivator. I enjoy spending time outside and would love to spend my day outside. A barrier for me is the safety. I feel that the terrorists and crime would scare me a little but I can overcome that fear with the amazing trip. Personally I think that some of the Maasai rituals might be a barrier for me. These rituals are personal to the Maasai and I would feel like an intruder if I participated or watched.

Some travel motivators for other might be animals. I feel that others would like to go on safaris and see the ‘big 5’. Another reason that people might go to Kenya is to help others. The volunteer aspect is a big reason that people go to places like Kenya. Some travel barriers for others might be living in the houses of the Maasai. I think that people might not enjoy staying in a house made of mud and dung. Similar to me a travel barrier might be the safety. As I mentioned above the terrorist and crime might scare people. Animals while in the motivator section can also be in the barriers because people may find animals dangerous or scary. One last reason that people may choose to avoid Kenya is because of sanitary problems. Kenya is not the cleanliest place to live because it is still developing and the unhygienic situations might be a barrier for others.
Health and Safety:
Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis):
This disease is spread by worms that are spread in
freshwater or slow running rivers. Swimming or paddling in these places should be avoided. This is needed in Africa because you can’t check the water.

Cholera: Mainly a concern when a natural disaster has struck. This virus is caused by bacteria in the drinking water. It is important for me to only drink clean water while I am in Africa.

Diphtheria: Caused by close respiratory contact. This disease is found in all of Africa. This vaccine is recommended for me because I will be staying with locals in close contact and they have the possibility of being infected. This vaccine can be taken with tetras.

Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a swelling of the liver. You can get this virus if you each or drink something that has the virus in it. Also occurs if you come in contact with the blood of the person who already has hepatitis A. This is recommended for all travelers because the virus is everywhere. I already have one because you have to get it in grade 8.

Hepatitis B: Similar to hepatitis A, hepatitis B is the swelling of the liver. You can get it through blood transfusions. As well you can get it through shared needles and personal items such as toothbrushes, razors and nail clippers. This vaccine is recommended for all travelers.

HIV: This is spread through blood to blood contact. There is no cure but I can be cautious by not using needles that others have used and not have sexual intercourse while in Africa.

Malaria: This is spread by a parasite which travels with female mosquito. There is no cure but you can get medicine to prevent it. This is more common in Kenya in the rainy season which I will be in part of the trip meaning that I have to be more careful about getting mosquito bites.

Meningococcal Meningitis: Contacted through close respiratory contact most likely in crowded
areas. The vaccine is recommended for long stays and I should get this because there are a lot of people in Kenya.

Poliomyelitis: This is spread by contaminated food and water products. I already have this because you get it when you are young. I might have to get it updated though.

Rabies: This disease is spread by the saliva of infected animals. This is mainly found in wild animals because house pets have their vaccines. If you are a traveller that will be spending a
lot of time outside then it is recommended that you take the vaccine before you go. Also it is recommended for travelling to Kenya because there are no house pets only wild animals.

Traveler’s Diarrhea: This is a health issue found when you travel anywhere not just Kenya. This can be triggered by diet changes. Make sure that the food that you eat is cooked right through and that the utensils and dishes that you eat off of/with are not dirty.

Tuberculosis(TB): Again this is spread through respiratory contact. I should get this vaccine because I will be travelling in close contact to the local people. The vaccine should be given to people traveling to developing countries.

Typhoid: Typhoid fever is an infection that causes diarrhea and rashes. This disease is spread through contaminated food and drink and is a form of bacteria.It is especially important for me to get this vaccination because typhoid is more common in developing countries.

Yellow Fever: Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. This vaccine is recommended for all travellers over nine months of age. I should take this vaccine because I have a higher risk of being bitten by a mosquito in Africa.

Insect’s bites and stings: I will bring insect repellent along with me to prevent bugs wanting to be near me.

Water: Make sure that all the water that I drink is clean and boiled. I won’t drink tap water and I will make sure that bottled water is resalable.
Culture Shock: The stages of culture shock that I am going to experience are:
Honeymoon phase: This is when everything looks nice and pretty. You are in awe of everything see and everything is new and exciting. I think I will enjoy the colour and culture in Kenya. The colours of the Maasai people are bright and welcoming and different then the colours that you see in Canada.

Negotiation Phase: A few weeks into your trip you will start to feel like you are missing your own lifestyle and food. I believe that I will miss foods like maple syrup and my milk. I know that I will miss my family and friends and being able to spend time with them. Things in Kenya that will seem different to me are collecting water and the houses. The Maasai women collect water each day and then carry it back to their houses. I think that I will find this task to be hard and frustrating and it might make me mad and feel like wanting to go home. I feel that the houses will become small and cramped and that there are too many people in one space when before I found that neat and something new.

Adjustment phase: In this phase things that used to seem weird and different from back home will become normal. This will happen to me on my trip because I will be in Kenya for so long. Things that I found different like collecting water are normal, fun and part of my everyday life. The house has become interesting and so much easier to clean then my house at home. I
now love to live here and experience all the things that they call normal.

Reverse Culture Shock: This occurs when you return home. You go through the steps above only in a place you have grown up with your whole life. The internet and seeing my friends will be fun but I will miss the Maasai family that I stayed with. I will also find it different that I can just turn on the tap and get drinkable water. When I come home my house will seem big and unnecessary after living in smaller courters for so long.
Climate during Visit:
The climate when I visit will be just after the coldest season that ends in August. September is the end of the dry season. Then in October it will be the start of the short rains. The time that I visit will be an average temperature with a little rain.