From First Steps to Lifelong Roots: My African Journey

My first short trip to Africa was in 1975 to Kenya, at the tender age of six months. It is rumored that I even took my first steps at the Boulevard Hotel! Little did I know at that time, but Africa eventually became my home later on, importantly influencing my formation.

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At the age of 5, our family moved from New Orleans to Yaoundé, Cameroon where my father was carrying out a USAID project with the Ministry of Planning and also taught Peace Corp volunteers. Although still very young, I have very vivid memories of this time in my life.

After one year in Cameroon, we moved back to New Orleans (NORTH AMERICA), where I finished my elementary school.  At this time, my father had established himself as an international health specialist so he was given the opportunity to work with the Ministry of Health in Nairobi, Kenya.  It was only supposed to be a 2-year contract there, but we loved it so much that I ended up graduating from high school at the International School of Kenya.

Kenya was a key influence in my formation as a young adult. It is my belief that, as a young child, it is your parents that instill in you your morals and ethics. But, as a young adult, it is from your peers and your environment that you get influenced – and that is what happened. Kenya will always hold a special place in my heart.