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8/5/03: “Today was rather exhausting but informative.  We went to the refugees accom-modations of GOAL (an Irish NGO) called the transit center where refugees come before leaving for the US…The conditions there are rough by US standards but serve the needs of the refugees well.  Actually, the facilities do include a rec center with TV and a pool table. (I feel doubtful that a US government led camp would offer such ‘frills’) and even a small library/computer room staffed with a volunteer.”

“The best part of all, however, was of course interacting with the families themselves.  All of the people in the [pre-departure] class had different personalities—there was one nearly toothless old lady who had a mischievous grin and obviously a very spunky personality. There was also one twenty-year old kid who spoke English really well—he had been going to school in Kakuma.  He was full of questions about what to expect and, since he was to go to Houston, was proud to be going to the state the president is from.”

“Around the center were a lot of kids eager to be photographed — and a few men eager to have their pictures taken too.  Looking back on the day, it was quite exciting to have met so many of the Somali Bantu and seen a bit of their daily life.  It’s going to be even more exciting tomorrow as we head off to Kakuma [refugee camp]…I’m sure a view of things in Kakuma is going to be a real eye opener.”