So it Begins...

I have a bit of catching up to do because the last week has truly been a whirlwind of packing, shopping, getting shots, getting VISAs, getting passports, etc.  Myself and my colleague Derek Julin have been granted the opportunity to travel to Kenya on behalf of CARE to help capture the images we'll need for a variety of print and OOH ads we/Brunner are developing for them for the relauch of their brand.  Most people have heard the term "Care Package".  To me, it was really most relevant in my summer camp days when I'd get a package or two over the course of the summer filled with candy, snacks, notes, books, etc. If you Google "care package" and hit up Wikipedia, you'll see this:

"The CARE Package was the original unit of aid distributed by the humanitarian organization CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere). Although "CARE Package" is a registered trademark,^[1] the term has since^[2] been widely adopted as a generic term for a parcel of food or supplies sent for relief or comfort purposes."

CARE's mission is really about so much more than that - what CARE delivers, doesn't expire. In an effort to drive awareness of CARE's mission, the relaunch of the campaign will allow us the opportunity to redefine the CARE Package. Now the icon will stand for donations that extend far beyond the confines of a box. It will stand for the sustainable change that CARE affects every day all over the world. People will know when they make a donation to CARE, it has no expiration date. They will know their CARE Package can enable women to help their families escape poverty. They will know the CARE Package enables change, progress, hope for the future. They will know this is a reflection of CARE's mission.

Derek and I (and the rest of the Brunner team) get to work closely with the CARE team to help bring this campaign to life via visuals captured both in India and here in Kenya. Derek and I have been given the opportunity to be on the ground here in Kenya and thus far, it's been an amazing trip.

This trip is a special one for me as I have (until these last few days) never been out of the US.  We left on Friday, early evening - flew to Paris - and then here to Nairobi.  It was night time when we got here so there was wasn't much to see on the ride to the hotel from the airport, aside from several billboards which I actually enjoyed seeing.  .  

We got to the hotel and had a quick dinner and, of course, a Tusker or two because that's what we were told to drink, when in Kenya.  A nice way to end a very long day of travel.  

Today we're doing some pre-production as we're waiting for the photographer's arrival and, there's rumor of a giraffe sanctuary that we may check out.  Pictures to follow, I promise.