Vaccines!

In preparation for our new environment we have been vaccinated against the most common diseases that we might face in Kenya. We now have protection against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, and Meningitis. The boys love to say "meningococcal". Thank you to Stacey, Claire, Jayne, and Mary at the International Travel Clinic.

Because of the elevation of Nairobi (3000 m above sea level) we don't need to worry about mosquitoes carrying malaria. But if we venture outside the city on safari, we will take malaria pills.

Time Trivia

Today in Canada is the "longest" day of our year. Right now (at 4:30 in the morning) the dawn is starting to lighten the sky. Officially the sun rises today at 4:25 a.m. and sets at 8:05 p.m. -- 15.6 hours of illumination!
Because Nairobi is so close to the equator, the hours of daylight only vary 9 minutes from the shortest to the longest day of the year. Because Nairobi is on the other side of the equator the seasons are the opposite of ours in Canada; it is winter in Nairobi now. Today is Nairobi's shortest day of the year; the sun will rise at 6:33 a.m. and set at 6:39 p.m.(12 hours 3 minutes of illumination).
On December 21 Nairobi will be heading into summer with its longest day of the year 12 hours 12 minutes (sunrise at 6:24 a.m. and sunset at 6:36 p.m.). In Canada in December the shortest day of the year will be 8.7 hours (sunrise at 7:50 a.m. and sunset at 4:33 p.m.).

Canadian Rockies

Because of the flight schedule, we were "forced"to take a vacation following Tim's doctoral defense in Calgary.

On Saturday June 8 we traveled to Banff National Park and the Columbia Icefields. We had lunch at the Banff Springs Hotel ($20 for cheese and pate appetizer!) and then relaxed in the soothing, mineral-rich Banff Hot Springs. The hot springs are formed naturally when water deep underground is heated and pressurized and then forced back to the surface.

The view of the mountains on the Icefields Parkway was spectacular! We stayed one night in a hotel overlooking the Athabasca Glacier. The glaciers are formed by snow falling on the mountain tops, never melting, and pressing down on the old snow to form thick layers of ice. This goes on year after year and has formed one of Canada's largest Icefields. The ice appear blue because the weight of the snow pack pushes all of the air bubbles out. The Columbia Icefield and its glaciers are a "triple divide" -- the water flows into the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans. The glacier is retreating every year. We last visited the glacier in 1994 and now there is marker showing where the glacier was at that time.

We also had a chance to play with our friends Tracy and Chris Carter (Emily and Kate) from Prince George. We met at the Mount Robson National Park, stayed in a log cabin, and hiked 9 km on the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies (Robson).

How cold is glacial water? How big is a grizzly? We discovered the answers to both questions!






It was a refreshing time for us as a family. Now were ready for the final preparations to move....

Dr. Chute, I presume

On Thursday June 5, 2008 Tim successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at the University of Calgary. While there are revisions to be done before it is “signed off” by the 6 member Defense Committee, the bulk of the 4 years’ work is done. The convocation will be in November 2008 at U of C but Tim will not attend because of our move to Nairobi. However, he can begin using the title Dr. right away. Well done Tim!

Farewell to Nova

Lisa has worked at Nova Institution for 7 years. The Health Services Team has grown over the years. On Sunday May 25 all of the nurses gathered for dinner and Jazz music. Lisa's parting gift was a beautiful set of stained glass earrings and pendant made by "In My Element Designs".