Milestones

This weekend, we had a teeny celebration...

I just passed the four-month mark here in Kitongo, and Kayci celebrated ONE YEAR IN TANZANIA this Friday. Of course, chocolate was in order on such a momentous occasion. We enjoyed this decadent treat on Friday afternoon, though the real treat was a (mostly) quiet hour to relax on the back porch after an incredibly hectic week.

Kayci has been in seven countries since I began work at JBFC, never home in Kitongo for more than a week and a half. She’s put the jet-setting on hold for the next few months, and I am really enjoying our growing friendship now that she h. Kayci definitely makes life in Kitongo a lot more fun!

For those of you who don’t know JBFC’s assistant director personally, here are a few fun facts about Kayci...

1. She is really cool. And tough. My first impression of Kayci was, “wow, no wonder she lives in Africa! This girl can handle anything!"
2. She can make cheese from goat’s milk! This is further evidence of fun fact #1.
3. She has lived in three countries on three different continents – Saudi Arabia, USA, and Tanzania!
4. In an act of extreme bravery, she allowed the girls to plait her hair. AND, she left it in for two whole days! CHAMP.
5. She and I are the same height, eye and hair color. This combined with the fact that we are both muzungu in Africa means we could probably use each other’s passports if needed. Not that we would...but...it’s just nice to know you have the option, right?

In addition to all these things (and about 4,187 more I didn’t mention), Kayci is one of the most compassionate people I know. While we tease her for having never yelled at anyone in her life, the truth is I really admire how much she cares about others. It’s this huge capacity to love people that makes her so great at what she does—which is anything and everything to help JBFC be a better place. Kayci maintains financial records, coordinates guests’ visits, teaches seminars, paints classrooms, plants trees, goes on endless shopping trips in the city for campus supplies...the list is endless. Her business card should just read “Kayci Hebard, JBFC Rockstar.”

I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful colleague and friend. Happy one year anniversary, Kayci!