After passing out on the flight from Dubai to Nairobi, I awoke to find myself in another world entirely. Gone was the marble, steel and glass of the monolithic Dubai International, exchanged for an exposed ceiling, make-shift signs and queues as far as the eye could see. The air was thick and sweaty. I had arrived in Kenya.

Home to 45 million people, Kenya, relatively speaking, is a stable and resilient country. While still developing economically, it has a stable government, adequate infrastructure and a lively business and start-up community.

I would be staying in Nairobi for only one night…

First stop. An opulent, hedonistic oasis in the middle of the middle eastern desert. Its a rather interesting mix of dry baron desert, dazzling architecture, royal sheiks, luxury sports cars and boozed up Europeans. I was keen to stop over here, mainly to escape the never-ending Seattle drizzle, but there is a lot more here than just blue skies.

I visited the observation deck of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. I don’t know if the reward at the top is worth the effort in getting there. I went at dusk, so yes, probably the most popular…

A little over three months ago I was selected to participate in the Microsoft program, MySkills4Afrika. The programs involves Microsoft employees volunteering their time and skills to assist individuals and organizations all across Africa. I was ecstatic. This has been a long time coming. I had applied a few times in 2014 but no dice. It never seemed to work out.

Using the skills that I have been fortunate enough to have developed over my career as a designer, and using them to help equip and help others in a different cultural context was an opportunity like none other and…