Click image to go to movie website!

Please go watch Galana Bridge Project documentary film, Bridging The Gap, in HD at the film’s website: http://BridgingTheGapMovie.com!

As you can see, the bridge movie is slowly but surely coming together. Be aware the above is just raw footage organized into sequences – there is no color correction, no sound editing, no music, and no narration!

So happy Kumi Na Tano! This day is all about my wonderful WSO supporters! I take the 15th of every month to be especially thankful. I have only been able to adventure this past year because I have such wonderful people behind me! Thank you!

Please let this be a reminder to you monthly supporter types that if you haven’t sent in your July support, now is the time to get on that!

As always, you can use the big DONATE button over there on the right, or send your checks to the WSO office:

World Story Organization
1156 Dakota Court
Bowling Green, OH 43402

Thanks a lot! Stay tuned as the bridge film continues to make progress.

Check it out!

Kalasha Awards Website

Some stowaways

Half of June complete! It’s been a great month home, wishing my brother and new sister-in-law the best at their wedding, and meeting my new nephew, Sebastian! I’ve also been importing hours and hours of Kenya video for the bridge film that’s coming together slowly but surely.

But it’s Kumi Na Tano, so this entry is all about my wonderful WSO supporters! I take the 15th of every month to be especially thankful. I have only been able to adventure this past year because I have such wonderful people behind me! Thank you!

Please let this be a reminder to you monthly supporter types that if you haven’t sent in your June support, now is the time to get on that!

As always, you can use the big DONATE button over there on the right, or send your checks to the WSO office:

World Story Organization
1156 Dakota Court
Bowling Green, OH 43402

Thanks a lot! Stay tuned for some of the dailies from the bridge movie.

Just happy to see the wire rope in place. Let’s get those steel panels going now and finish this bad boy! A couple other pics available at the Galana Project Blog!

My farewell to the bridge from a couple weeks ago

It’s May’s Kumi Na Tano, and I’m back in Ohio! I’ve been home for about 12 days so far, and am still plugging away at getting somewhat comfortable here in America. Baseball, friends, and family certainly helps. Soon the film editing work begins, and then I will have more to share here.

But it’s Kumi Na Tano, so this entry is all about my wonderful WSO supporters! I take the 15th of every month to be especially thankful. I have only been able to adventure this past year because I have such wonderful people behind me! Thank you!

Please let this be a reminder to you monthly supporter types that if you haven’t sent in your May support, now is the time to get on that!

As always, you can use the big DONATE button over there on the right, or send your checks to the WSO office:

World Story Organization
1156 Dakota Court
Bowling Green, OH 43402

Thanks a lot!

Running errands with Ouko in Malindi, Kenya!

So it’s been 4 days back in the United States. I don’t have much to say on the matter. What could I say? I made a home for myself in another country, one that for most people might as well have been another planet. Not many can relate.

I have flashes of Kenya everywhere I go. Anytime a song comes on that was part of my Kenya soundtrack (since I listened to pretty much the same 20gb of music for a year), I fade into a trance, remembering the horizons, the people, the places, and the smells that once accompanied the song.

I feel out of place, sluggish, sometimes fumbling mentally to feel at peace, to feel like I belong here, whatever that even means. I know it’s only a 4 day sample, but I asked my parents about their experience “coming back home” after spending their year in Kenya in 1999. Their response?

You never “feel normal” again.

And I knew that. I sensed it when I was home briefly for Christmas. And I guess I want to say that I’m okay with it.

In the meantime, I haven’t even really unpacked. Haven’t touched my photos or video. Haven’t done anything besides hang out with my cats, family, some friends, and brainstorm a web TV series with my film buddies. I’ve also watched a lot of baseball and gotten my new netbook (Samsung N120!) set up.

I’ve heard from my Kenyan friends and they wish me well. I also sent off a WSO logo to be used in the Kalasha Film Awards that are supposedly taking place in June now. We’ll see!

Okay, if you were wondering how I’ve been, there it is! Be well!

In no particular order.

1. Sylvester Ouko’s laugh
2. Katana’s morning scrambled eggs
3. Cookout nights at the Parkers
4. Listening to Rob Bell every morning on the way to bridge work
5. Kibera kids asking me, “How are you?” repeatedly
6. Practicing my Swahili on people who understand what I’m saying
7. Strumming my classical Yamaha acoustic in the fan at the cottage in Malindi
8. Getting bread, eggs, juice, etc. at Slaughterhouse
9. Bar Bar, when it was good
10. Hailing a tuk-tuk for a ride home
11. Walking the white sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean
12. Going to the cinema and always being the only one in the theater
13. Running away from Mila b/c she will eat my head off
14. Watching where I walk or pee so as not to upset a snake
15. “Watching” baseball box scores update every 60 seconds
16. The new Dr. Dog and Jenny Lewis and how they became my Galana soundtrack
17. Seeing it’s mystery meat day at Flora again and going to Java instead
18. Overcoming fear of matatus and coming to love the 20 bob rides
19. Uploading movies at Yaya Centre
20. Listening to the ocean as I drift off to sleep in the Roulston’s beach house
21. Sprinting away from beach boys
22. Filming Helter Skelter for a week alone in the cottage
23. The fantasy dream night when Columbia said they wanted to interview me
24. Hearing Harmon’s life story
25. Getting Jacker crisps at Cheese Shoppe because it’s cheaper than Slaughterhouse
26. Getting chips and a coke baridi at Chariba’s for 90 bob while reading the paper
27. Writing hit screenplays all over Nairobi
28. Meeting crazy people who have ended up living and loving here too
29. The monopoly money that is the Kenyan currency
30. Being inspired by the youth of Kenya who want to overcome corruption
31. The animals posing for me in the Masai Mara
32. Kalu taking us across the river in the boat
33. Makame’s quiet diligence
34. Getting water with Reuben that one day and finding out about his watoto watatu
35. Finding the best chicken wings/pizza/burger/etc. in Kenya
36. Calamari at the Old Man & The Sea
37. Reading about Characters & Viewpoints while amongst Sicilian mobsters in Malindi
38. The first trip up country with Piehead and Pops
39. Always having interesting things to photograph
40. Watching the Olympics and working on my novel at Bar Bar
41. Chatting up taxi drivers with them unaware I use the same 10 ?s for all of them
42. The always promising, never quite delivering Kenya Film Commission
43. Nightly television sharing with Teri, often over brilliant desserts
44. Renting latest films from China Garden video for only 160
45. Finding yet another thing I “can’t wait to write on JustInKenya.com” about
46. Having my heart broken by the many things I’ve seen
47. Being inspired and surprised by joy every new morning in the African sun
48. Purity’s tenderheartedness towards the Edwards
49. Sylvester Ouko not hesitating to become my brother, friend, roommate
50. The Parkers opening their home and hearts to me

There is plenty more than this.

With commentary by yours truly, too!