A Special Case: Rural Africa

[dgposey]

To preface: I'm a US Peace Corps Volunteer serving in rural Kenya. The only feasible Internet connection here is GPRS/EDGE running over a few of the cell phone networks. (There's 3G only in Nairobi and Mombasa.) I own a Huawei E160, which works like a charm -- when I'm outside. There is no signal inside whatsoever.

As a PCV (who gets only a small monthly allowance), I'm trying to find the cheapest solution that is effective to be able to connect while inside my home or school.

First, why wouldn't I be able to just stick a wire in the antenna socket of the modem, and run the wire outside through the window?

Assuming the just-stated solution wouldn't work, which solution should I use? (The signal outside is just fine, but there's none inside.) I believe that the antenna must be able to go outside, and reach to my computer in the center of the room in order to be effective -- in other words, it would probably need a cable of 10 -25 meters.

A few more concerns:
- Lightning -- Can the antenna be grounded in the off-chance that lightning strikes it? (I'd rather not fry my laptop.)
- Rain -- If the antenna is outside, is there a possibility of rain droplets running along the wire back inside to my laptop?
- Cost -- What would cost look like, especially considering shipping to East Africa? What about bulk orders?