Setting my alarm earlier on a Saturday than a work day is an unusual but not unknown occurrence. Usually it means I’m off a far-flung corner of the country to watch Millwall, but I was off to a far-flung part of the world to coach cricket and raise awareness of HIV an FGM!
Sat waiting outside for me to make my emotional goodbyes to Kate and Sophia (my other two children still being in bed!) was Shanksey, Sidcup CC’s finest (only?!) cabbie – a huge thanks to our promotion winning 4th XI skipper who donated the fare to the CWB cause…
At Heathrow the majority of the team met for what I gather is the traditional CWB bag weigh-in: Organised chaos. Between us we slung nearly a quarter-of-a-ton of kit into the hold of the Jumbo that would carry us south to Nairobi. The only two members not on the plane were Hannah, leader of our one-woman advance party having set off the previous Monday, and our erstwhile social media champion Luke, who had decided upon the scenic route from Durham to Nairobi… via Dubai.
Many emotions were flowing, but leading the way for me was excitement. Having built up to this for over a year, the moment was now here. Top of the list of thing I’m looking forward to is meeting the CWB Kenyan Ambassadors Nicholas and Matthias, George from Kenya Cricket & Masaai Cricket Warrior, Benjamin. Embarking on the trip I feel I have huge amounts to contribute but so much more to learn, which is a privileged position to be in.
Much Kudos to BA for delivering us to Nairobi on time, despite the ‘minor technical hitch’ (the most reassuring words you can hear before an 8hr flight) which left us rooted to the apron for about 15 minutes! Less kudos for the Immigration and bag collection, which took us another hour and a half but eventually we met the rest of the team, as well as George and driver Dave.
So to the hotel for a quick beer, masala chips and to bed on the hardest bed I’ve ever laid on!
Fun Fact #1 – Two thirds of the team have read/are reading Hans Rosling’s Factfulness, following the passionate recommendation from CBW Delivery Team member Lee during the training weekend. We have at least four copies of the book between us on the trip!
To continue the theme, my challenge to future blog contributors over the course of the week is to include a ‘fun fact’ in every blog…
Pure statistics suggests I have at least a 55.555% chance of having to contribute another blog during the trip, so I’ll be keeping a keen eye out for interesting facts. Until then, though, here’s to the first day….
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Great initiative guys. I am a former international volunteer from Australia who had an assignment with the Obuya Cricket Academy in Nairobi 2013 -14.
You should connect with former captain Collins Omondi (Facebook), they have a fantastic development happening for disadvantaged youth.