Kenya: My Frameshift Mutation

I had been struggling to write this blog, hence the massive delay in actually posting the "Kwaheri Kenya!" entry that had been writing itself during my five weeks away. This trip was akin to finally "speaking" fluent public health in the way that people studying, for instance Chinese, finally feel about their own Chinese skills when they go to China.

People have been asking for the big takeaway lessons from the trip. They are many and still in the process of revealing themselves now, as the time between the present and Kenya increases. At this point, aside from all of the public health lessons, which we can discuss at length in many other a blog entry, I am thinking about Kenya as my frameshift mutation.

For those not surrounded by DNA and genomic research all the time, there are several types of DNA mutation that can lead to all sorts of illnesses, birth defects, etc. Frameshift mutations are when nucelotides (the "building blocks" of DNA, to bring you back to high school science class) are either inserted into or deleted from the DNA strand. The insertion/deletion effectively changes all of the DNA after that spot, and whenever it replicates, the new DNA reflects that mutation.

We all have "frameshift mutations" in our lives - taking a new job, moving to a new city, dating someone who becomes the last person you go on a first date with, getting a pet, having children, the list goes on. Similarly, going to Kenya for research/education/community interaction was the first time I have gone somewhere for non-vacation purposes, and I feel a deeper bond there than any of the places I have been to simply sight-see or soak up some sun. Going there to work in the community and talk to the people, to understand their culture (or at least try), see how they live, and understand the causes of their health issues has, for better or worse, cause an irreversible shift, or mutation if you will (and you will) in my perspective.

Bugs are no longer "big" that used to be; "problems" like traffic are trivial; what I find interesting to talk or read about, what I think of as "gross" and lots of other things have changed. I will probably still be startled by big spiders and be annoyed when there's a traffic jam and I'm already late (no smoooooking sign, on your cigarette break... okay, I'll stop).

But. I will always be grateful for this experience in Kenya for frameshifting me to this place of a slightly broader understanding of how my tiny world fits into the rest of the world.

Asante sana, Kenya.