Head Songs at East Turkana

As I've been flipping through my journal, I came across notes about the various songs that kept running through my head during the Field School there were quite a few, and while some of them could be interpreted as songs about returning them, a lot of them were quite random. Just in case you're interested, I decided to make a Youtube playlist with all of the songs I can remember that ran through my head during my six weeks in Kenya. Songs were a huge part of the experience for me, thanks to not only the long rides in Land Rovers and singing companions, but also the hours of surveying in the quiet landscapes. When the chatting died down and the wind would fade, my brain would make some music.

I'll probably add to this playlist and make another one featuring a lot of the songs that were played during the road trips from the iPods of various friends.

Head Songs at East Turkana

Please enjoy, and hopefully I will be able to put up an interesting excerpt quite soon! Ta.

It Begins...

Hello, lovely people!

I have officially started actually typing the book! After I get a little bit further along (and edit A LOT) I'll post an excerpt or two!

I knew that travelling to such different places in such a short amount of time would change the way I think, but it has really changed the way I think. I'm considering options for my future I'd never thought to look into before, and the world is suddenly a lot larger on the mental horizon. Travel brings about such interesting possibilities...

Thanks for reading, and I will check in again soon! No more news on the status of my camera, but keep the faith!

Adieu!

Camera Found?

Greetings from St. Andrews in the Kingdom of Fife!

Term has begun, and I am more or less settled. The work load is large, but I have been able to continue working on the book. I should be able to begin the actual writing process in about two weeks. Meanwhile the memories are still fresh.

Also, I have received jumbled news about the location of my camera! It isn't back in my possession as of yet, but it is in the custody of the Kenyan police, and someone in power may be attempting to retrieve it for me! It's vague and incoherent news, but it is news. Keep your fingers crossed for an in-tact memory card!

Thank you once again for your support! The book is coming right along. :)

SHE LIVES!

About two weeks ago, I landed once again in the United States after spending six weeks in the savannah and desert of Kenya. To say the least, it was a change of scenery. Without a doubt, it was the most incredible and life-changing experience I have lived, and there is plenty to write about.

I have started outlining and sifting through what I recorded in my journal. Unfortunately, my camera was stolen (see future book for full explanation!), so I have no pictures of my own to share, but my fellow field school-mates are posting a steady stream of photography.

As some of you know, I am heading off to Scotland for my junior year abroad on September 4th (this will have its own stories, no doubt), so my progress over the next few weeks might be a little patchy with the rush to prepare. However, I will do my best to stay consistent and keep you in the loop! Keep checking back for more updates!

One Week

I am taking a short time away from studying for finals to post this... this post! It is officially one week until I board British Airways and begin my approximately 25 hour journey to Nairobi. I am incredibly nervous, but I am even more excited. This will definitely be quite the adventure. I have begun packing and soon enough I'll be ready to go! 

I still have yet to purchase the notebooks in which I will be recording the contents of my book... It is a big decision, you know.

I would like to briefly thank all of you who have pre-purchased my story, believe me, every contribution has made a difference. I am committed to providing you with a great story upon my return. When I get back, I will keep updating this blog to broadcast my progress in organizing this thing, and hopefully it will be available within a few months! 

Can you tell I'm excited?

The Bag

Hello there!

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, everybody. I have been incredibly busy this month finishing up the school year and preparing for Kenya! I'm almost ready. A good thing too, since there are less than three weeks until departure!

Here we go...

This is my new super-tough glorious duffel bag. While I'm in Kenya, I'll basically be living out of this guy, so we're bonding. 

Remember to buy a book and pitch in! Thank you to all of you who have. Keep visiting the web site to keep up with my preparations and watch the countdown!

And of course, I am always open to donations. :) 

Video Pitch!

Here's my wee pitch video! Enjoy! I am also setting up a page on Indiegogo, so keep your eyes peeled.

Vaccines! Vaccines!

Yesterday, I received my vaccines for typhoid and yellow fever!

The Happy Traveler clinic was very helpful. They're on Green Street in Pasadena if you're ever in need of a good travel medicine place. Along with my healthsome inoculations (no, that isn't a real word) I was given information on how to stay safe and comfortable in Kenya along with a country profile! No sleeveless shirts in Nairobi proper for me.

This is just me with my international yellow book! Disease eradication in action.

More news to come!

P.S. I also got my prescription for my malaria medication!

As always, please purchase a book. You know you want it! I am constructing an "About the Book" page to explain my sinister motives, so check that out if you're on the fence!

And if you are a saint, donations would help out a lot too! Thank you, everyone, for all of your help and support.

Booked Flight!

This Friday, I booked my flights to and from Nairobi!

I will be departing from LAX on June 14th at 8:04am, connecting in Newark, connecting in London, and then arriving in Nairobi at 9:00pm on June 15th.

My returning flight will leave Nairobi at 11:15pm, giving me an entire day to explore the city of Nairobi before returning to Los Angeles. I will return to LAX at 4:30pm on July 27th.

Thank you so much to everyone who has purchased a book or made a donation. You've made this possible! Please continue to tell your friends and relatives about me and what I'm trying to do; there is still quite a way to go.

Laikipia Photos

Here are some photographs from the Laikipia website. I will be staying at Laikipia for the first week of the field school learning about the ecology of the area and the environment in which the earliest hominids lived. 

Once again, if you would like to purchase a book, please click below!

And of course, donations of any amounts are welcome!

Thank you!

Get to Know Me and Tell Your Friends!

Hello everyone and thank you so much to all of you who have made a donation or purchased my book!

A non-monetary way to help is to spread the word. Tell your friends about my upcoming adventure, post this link to your social networking site! Right now, in order to entice a publisher, I am looking to find as many interested people as possible as soon as possible.

For those of you who don't know me that well, I am currently a sophomore studying anthropology at CSULA. I was accepted to the Early Entrance Program there in 2010 when I was fifteen-years-old. Now I am seventeen, and this summer I am going to Kenya with a program from Rutgers University called the Koobi Fora Field School. During the five weeks of the field school, I will study paleoanthropology with other undergraduates and some graduate students and learn field techniques as I participate in ongoing field projects. This is what I am doing this summer, and for me this is a dream.

Upon my return, I will write a book about my experience in Kenya. I need to generate as much interest in the book as possible, so please tell your friends, and pre-purchase a copy for yourself or a loved one by clicking the button below.

The true purpose of this blog is to raise funds for this adventure, and donations would be greatly appreciated! You can make a donation of any amount by clicking the button below.

If you would like to make a purchase or donation by cash or check, please contact me at susanna.sabin@gmail.com.

Once again, thank you so much!

Going to Kenya

Thank you for your support!

I am incredibly excited for my time in Kenya. There, I will learn about the ecology of the African savanna as it might have been up to two million years ago, and for four weeks out of five, I will be digging and learning along-side experts in the field, attempting to unearth the origins of humankind. Some Summer vacation! This is a dream experience for me, but I need help getting there. While I am in Kenya, I will be taking copious notes about my experience which I will turn into a book upon my return.

If you would like to pre-buy my book about my time in Kenya for $25, click the button below!

And of course, any extra contribution for my tuition, supplies, flight, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
If you'd like to donate any amount, click the button below.

This adventure would not be possible without your support. Thank you!