As Bushie's World Turns (The Update Thread)

[BushKenya]

You know it's very hot in Kenya?

Yep

[King]

http://youtu.be/GfTlyuZphf8

[Sibboleth]

You know it's very hot in Kenya?

Yep

Ah, good. That's something. You also know that, for the most part, they don't actually have air conditioning?

[bullmoose88]

You know it's very hot in Kenya?

Yep

Ah, good. That's something. You also know that, for the most part, they don't actually have air conditioning?

What about fast food restaurants?

[King]

inb4 its not his church but a church that emailed him

[BushKenya]

You know it's very hot in Kenya?

Yep

Ah, good. That's something. You also know that, for the most part, they don't actually have air conditioning?

I'm prepared for whatever weather conditions. From what I gather it will be like a June day in Oklahoma City with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s, lows in the mid 60s to low 70s and 90%+ humidity.

[Gravis Marketing]

inb4 its not his church but a church that emailed him

This sounds completely legitimate.

[shua]

Like I said before, make sure you're up on all your shots.

I will be getting a TB shot, yellow fever shot, a typhoid shot, and a Tetanus shot.  I will also be purchasing Malaria tablets when I get to Nairobi.

I now have some more information, just some general notes and also a checklist of what to pack.

You don't need to start taking the Malaria medicine beforehand?

[BushKenya]

Like I said before, make sure you're up on all your shots.

I will be getting a TB shot, yellow fever shot, a typhoid shot, and a Tetanus shot.  I will also be purchasing Malaria tablets when I get to Nairobi.

I now have some more information, just some general notes and also a checklist of what to pack.

You don't need to start taking the Malaria medicine beforehand?

Apparently not, they recommend purchasing it in Kenya rather than in the States as it is a lot cheaper in Kenya.

[Bacon King]

Like I said before, make sure you're up on all your shots.

I will be getting a TB shot, yellow fever shot, a typhoid shot, and a Tetanus shot.  I will also be purchasing Malaria tablets when I get to Nairobi.

I now have some more information, just some general notes and also a checklist of what to pack.

You don't need to start taking the Malaria medicine beforehand?

Apparently not, they recommend purchasing it in Kenya rather than in the States as it is a lot cheaper in Kenya.

Is it safe to buy my malaria drugs in the country where I will be traveling?

Buying medications abroad has its risks. The drugs could be of poor quality because of the way they are produced. The drugs could contain contaminants or they could be counterfeit drugs and therefore may not provide you the protection you need against malaria. In addition, some medications that are sold overseas are not used anymore in the United States or were never sold here. These drugs may not be safe or their safety has never been evaluated.

It would be best to purchase all the medications that you need before you leave the United States. As a precaution, note the name of the medication(s) and the name of the manufacturer(s). That way, in case of accidental loss, you can replace the drug(s) abroad at a reliable vendor.

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/faqs.html

[BushKenya]

Like I said before, make sure you're up on all your shots.

I will be getting a TB shot, yellow fever shot, a typhoid shot, and a Tetanus shot.  I will also be purchasing Malaria tablets when I get to Nairobi.

I now have some more information, just some general notes and also a checklist of what to pack.

You don't need to start taking the Malaria medicine beforehand?

Apparently not, they recommend purchasing it in Kenya rather than in the States as it is a lot cheaper in Kenya.

Is it safe to buy my malaria drugs in the country where I will be traveling?

Buying medications abroad has its risks. The drugs could be of poor quality because of the way they are produced. The drugs could contain contaminants or they could be counterfeit drugs and therefore may not provide you the protection you need against malaria. In addition, some medications that are sold overseas are not used anymore in the United States or were never sold here. These drugs may not be safe or their safety has never been evaluated.

It would be best to purchase all the medications that you need before you leave the United States. As a precaution, note the name of the medication(s) and the name of the manufacturer(s). That way, in case of accidental loss, you can replace the drug(s) abroad at a reliable vendor.

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/faqs.html

That's a good article.  When I see my doctor to get the vaccinations, I'll ask him what he recommends.  But, I may buy it in Oklahoma before i go based on the CDC report.

[BushKenya]

I've got some notes from my cousin who invited me to go to Kenya.  She also gave me a personal packing list that she received at the first Kenya meeting.

Some of the notes include applying for the passport first thing.  So, after I put down my deposit, I will probably get that started.  My facebook said I hope to apply for the passport by December 7, but I may move that up to November 30 or December 1 to give them an extra week with the Christmas and New Years Holidays and vacations and time off with the workers, and the federal holidays in January and February (MLK and Prez Day).

I will also have to purchase a $50 Visa at the Nairobi Airport so I can get into the country.

I will also need crisp, fresh dollar bills (2006 or newer) as they have a better exchange rate.

I've already mentioned the vaccinations, (TB, yellow fever, typhoid, and tetanus) and the malaria tablets.

$200 spending money, so i can eat on the planes and/or airports

Total cost with the airfare, lodging, passport, spending money, vaccinations, etc, could run between $2,500 and $3,000.

[Lief]

I will also need crisp, fresh dollar bills (2006 or newer) as they have a better exchange rate.

I... don't think that's how money works?

[BushKenya]

I will also need crisp, fresh dollar bills (2006 or newer) as they have a better exchange rate.

I... don't think that's how money works?

Maybe not, but I'm going to trust Choctaw Road Baptist Church as they have been going to Kenya for several years now, so they are not new at this and they know what they're doing.  I'm going to go by their recommendations even if it seems a little weird as they know more than I do.  I will do my own studying on wikipedia and other websites on Kenya.

[King]

Nah, Bushie's right.  The US dollar starts depreciating as soon as you take it off the lot.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Yea, people in them loser countries will indeed pay more (more than the real exchange rate infact) for crisp bills.

[BushKenya]

Here is the website of the organization that is sponsoring all this for your review and information.

www.maishainternational.org

I think I also found the application on that website, as well.  It has the same format and the same personal packing list and notes page that my cousin gave me last night.  I'm going to verify with her tonight at Bible Study to make sure it's the same as what she filled out.  If it is, I will fill it out and turn it in with my deposit this coming Wednesday, November 23.

[BushKenya]

An interesting side note - in Swahili, which is the official language of Kenya, The words of the 1994 Disney Classic The Lion King of "hakuna matata" means "no problems".  The movie says it means "no worries", so it's pretty much spot on.  So, not only are they real words, but the definition the movie gives is correct.

[Chareth Cutestory]

I will also need crisp, fresh dollar bills (2006 or newer) as they have a better exchange rate.

oh my god...

[patrick1]

I will also need crisp, fresh dollar bills (2006 or newer) as they have a better exchange rate.

oh my god...

No, that is good policy and it really has nothing to do with exchange rates.  I had to pay about $130 bucks for my entry Visa into Chile. If the bill had the slightest imperfection, they kicked it back to you. I had about 300 bucks in my pocket and barely had enough acceptable cash.  Many money exchanges would work on the same principal and only accept newer, clean bills.  They are a bit scared of accepting phoney money. 

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Depending on your bank (and I really have no clue if any banks normally exchange to Kenyan currency), but perhaps exchanging here would be best.

[BushKenya]

Depending on your bank (and I really have no clue if any banks normally exchange to Kenyan currency), but perhaps exchanging here would be best.

I've heard I can get better exchange rates in Kenya than I can in America.  I don't know if that's true or not, but it's worth investigating.

[Gravis Marketing]

Depending on your bank (and I really have no clue if any banks normally exchange to Kenyan currency), but perhaps exchanging here would be best.

I've heard I can get better exchange rates in Kenya than I can in America.  I don't know if that's true or not, but it's worth investigating.

It's not going to be worth the hassle to try to find the places offering good exchange rates. In practice, you will get to the airport and find you need money right away and get robbed at the airport exchange desk. But on the other hand I don't know where you'll have to go in OKC to get Kenyan currency.

[BushKenya]

Depending on your bank (and I really have no clue if any banks normally exchange to Kenyan currency), but perhaps exchanging here would be best.

I've heard I can get better exchange rates in Kenya than I can in America.  I don't know if that's true or not, but it's worth investigating.

It's not going to be worth the hassle to try to find the places offering good exchange rates. In practice, you will get to the airport and find you need money right away and get robbed at the airport exchange desk. But on the other hand I don't know where you'll have to go in OKC to get Kenyan currency.

Exactly

[memphis]

First off this thread is miles better than any Comedy Goldmine/Institute. Ever.
Bushie, I did 5 minutes of legwork for you, and googled Christian Kenya charity. I didn't have time to make sure this charity is 100% legit (and the internet is certainly full of scams), but if you sincerely want to make sure that $2,000 best helps the people of Kenya with Christian intent, here's one:
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo/africa/kenya.aspx And you can't go wrong with the Red Cross either. If you want to go to Africa for some sort of personal growth experience for yourself (or just to see the world), that's great and there's nothing wrong with that. But there's no way going in person is the most effective way to spend your scarce (no offense, mine are scarce too) resources. In short, this trip is about you, not about Kenya. Consider that for a moment.