ok, so Ethiopian Airlines is not in fact my favorite airline any longer. I wasn't going to mention it...but just woke up after vividly remembering the flight home...
so without graphic detail...how exactly do bugs, lots of bugs, ok...cockroaches (lots of them) get on a plane? (I know, luggage, but seriously?!) And how do I always (and yes I'm comfortable using the very overgeneralized always) end up next to the guy with raging TB? (just kidding Mom. It wasn't TB, and no I'm not coughing and my screen was negative...and the bugs weren't that bad. Actually Mom, forget everything you just read and remember I love what I do.) but really, bad cough...seemed really hot...thin...hello?!
So did I mention I was glad to be home, well at a minimum not on a plane on my way home?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Late breaker...
So Dr. Bola just sent me these pics of when he and Dr. Dotun (aka Dusty) came to visit me at my posters in Mexico. As soon as I get my new laptop I can return the favor and send them the pics of the two of them in front of their poster, yeah! So here are Bola and Dotun....and me in Mexico.
This is me and Bola
And this is Dotun and me (yes, he's tall).
So this is me with my suave Nigerian doctor buds. And no I didn't wear the same shirt all week Mom, this is all the same day when everyone had a chance to come by and visit.
Ok, back to Rwanda time and jet lag :).
This is me and Bola
And this is Dotun and me (yes, he's tall).
So this is me with my suave Nigerian doctor buds. And no I didn't wear the same shirt all week Mom, this is all the same day when everyone had a chance to come by and visit.
Ok, back to Rwanda time and jet lag :).
Welcome to the US...
Dear Luci and M,
So I actually made it all the way inside the Embassy today. Last time I was here we made it to the security gate and ended up going into town for our meeting. I was supposed to give a presentation so I brought my lap top and the necessary USB to be told we couldn't bring any of it in. This time, I knew enough to send things in advance, but apparently the USB rule has been laxed a bit so I didn't have to send everything in advance after all. They have consolidated the US Government agencies into the new Embassy building here, USAID, CDC, State...
All that to say, we made it fully inside the walls today. There is a first set of walls, then you enter another building and go through security again. As we cleared the second level and walked through the courtyard one of the guys we were meeting said "welcome to the US". It was shockingly accurate. It feels entirely separate from the place we are actually in. A piece of US soil in the middle of Kigali. It was all constructed by US contractors. I wouldn't be surprised if the materials were sourced from the US too. It's an impressive structure, and there is a nice atrium area and coffee shop and official looking Marines around. I would not have been the least surprised has I encountered a McDonald's or a Starbucks.
For obvious reasons, there are no pictures. But just wanted you to know I was stateside for about an hour and half today and I didn't even have to change planes!
Cheers,
Kik
So I actually made it all the way inside the Embassy today. Last time I was here we made it to the security gate and ended up going into town for our meeting. I was supposed to give a presentation so I brought my lap top and the necessary USB to be told we couldn't bring any of it in. This time, I knew enough to send things in advance, but apparently the USB rule has been laxed a bit so I didn't have to send everything in advance after all. They have consolidated the US Government agencies into the new Embassy building here, USAID, CDC, State...
All that to say, we made it fully inside the walls today. There is a first set of walls, then you enter another building and go through security again. As we cleared the second level and walked through the courtyard one of the guys we were meeting said "welcome to the US". It was shockingly accurate. It feels entirely separate from the place we are actually in. A piece of US soil in the middle of Kigali. It was all constructed by US contractors. I wouldn't be surprised if the materials were sourced from the US too. It's an impressive structure, and there is a nice atrium area and coffee shop and official looking Marines around. I would not have been the least surprised has I encountered a McDonald's or a Starbucks.
For obvious reasons, there are no pictures. But just wanted you to know I was stateside for about an hour and half today and I didn't even have to change planes!
Cheers,
Kik
A hot shower beats a bucket any day!
Dear Luci and M,
While I have remained in a perpetual state of jet lag for the past several years a few fundamental truths are beginning to emerge:
1) No matter what your watch says it is in fact morning when the sun comes up, get used to it.
2) Sleeping on the plane doesn't really help.
3) Coffee is good.
4) A hot shower beats a bucket any day!!!!!
xo,
kik
While I have remained in a perpetual state of jet lag for the past several years a few fundamental truths are beginning to emerge:
1) No matter what your watch says it is in fact morning when the sun comes up, get used to it.
2) Sleeping on the plane doesn't really help.
3) Coffee is good.
4) A hot shower beats a bucket any day!!!!!
xo,
kik
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
For once my bag got here before I did!
Dear Luci and M,
Hello from Rwanda...again. Made it safe and sound. Ethiopian Airlines may be my new favorite carrier. The plane was old and I skipped the meals because they looked pretty, ummmmm, not pretty (but it's airplane food which is a lot like hospital food without the added bonus of a hospital stay). The upside? The plane was only about half full so I got an entire row to myself which means I got some sleep! And even though I had to transfer in Addis Ababa and in Entebbe (which made little sense since there is a direct flight from Addis to Kigali but I'm not complaining as all flights took off and most importantly landed!) my bag arrived. Ahead of me in fact. Apparently my bag was smarter than my itinerary and hopped the direct flight instead of the detour through Uganda. I might want to think about that next time.
Off to a running start, the work is going well and so far no goat on a stick! No pictures yet but will try and get some shots of the blooming jacaranda trees since it is coming into springtime here.
Hope all is well in B'more and NYC! Miss you both.
Kik
Hello from Rwanda...again. Made it safe and sound. Ethiopian Airlines may be my new favorite carrier. The plane was old and I skipped the meals because they looked pretty, ummmmm, not pretty (but it's airplane food which is a lot like hospital food without the added bonus of a hospital stay). The upside? The plane was only about half full so I got an entire row to myself which means I got some sleep! And even though I had to transfer in Addis Ababa and in Entebbe (which made little sense since there is a direct flight from Addis to Kigali but I'm not complaining as all flights took off and most importantly landed!) my bag arrived. Ahead of me in fact. Apparently my bag was smarter than my itinerary and hopped the direct flight instead of the detour through Uganda. I might want to think about that next time.
Off to a running start, the work is going well and so far no goat on a stick! No pictures yet but will try and get some shots of the blooming jacaranda trees since it is coming into springtime here.
Hope all is well in B'more and NYC! Miss you both.
Kik
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Cultural research is part of being here too!
Dear Luci and M,
Went to a great market this morning and took in the sights including this adorable little girl!
And of course no trip would be complete without...
...potentially dangerous food from a roadside stand.
Don't worry it wasn't all fun and games, there was work too!
And my favorite quote of the day...
Went to a great market this morning and took in the sights including this adorable little girl!
And of course no trip would be complete without...
...potentially dangerous food from a roadside stand.
Don't worry it wasn't all fun and games, there was work too!
And my favorite quote of the day...
No, seriously this is work!
But where else can you get your picture taken with life size rainbow condoms that randomly get up and walk around...really. Can you think of another place?
There are these great displays all over the place, including a recreated shanty shack with pictures and stories.
ok, so back to work. This is a very serious shot of me making a really profound and important point.
Did I mention there were a lot of people here?
That's pretty much how it feels in the middle of these rows of posters. No, they were not all there looking at mine, but some did glance as they went by! Seriously it was really good. I feel lucky to have been able to participate.
I'll try and photo more tomorrow to post before heading back to the US.
See you soon!
Love,
Kik
There are these great displays all over the place, including a recreated shanty shack with pictures and stories.
ok, so back to work. This is a very serious shot of me making a really profound and important point.
Did I mention there were a lot of people here?
That's pretty much how it feels in the middle of these rows of posters. No, they were not all there looking at mine, but some did glance as they went by! Seriously it was really good. I feel lucky to have been able to participate.
I'll try and photo more tomorrow to post before heading back to the US.
See you soon!
Love,
Kik
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Really, I am working
Dear Luci and M,
The opening plenary session was great. There was a 22 year old young woman who spoke in front of this crowd passionately and articulately about HIV and youth. The courage and poise she showed was amazing. Imagine these chairs full...it's a lot of people!!!
So two posters Monday and two today. Kimberly is here from Zambia and has been a great help with getting the posters up, minding one or two while I run back and forth. She even got pictures of people actually asking me questions about them!!! (here you go Mom, see I really am working :)
And here I am with Kimberly in front of today's posters.
More later, off to dinner with some colleagues.
Love,
Kik
The opening plenary session was great. There was a 22 year old young woman who spoke in front of this crowd passionately and articulately about HIV and youth. The courage and poise she showed was amazing. Imagine these chairs full...it's a lot of people!!!
So two posters Monday and two today. Kimberly is here from Zambia and has been a great help with getting the posters up, minding one or two while I run back and forth. She even got pictures of people actually asking me questions about them!!! (here you go Mom, see I really am working :)
And here I am with Kimberly in front of today's posters.
More later, off to dinner with some colleagues.
Love,
Kik
Greetings from someplace other than Africa...or Haiti
Dear Luci and M,
Hola from Mexico. The word of the week is overwhelming. Flying in was just the beginning. For about a full half hour we were over Mexico City (just a small part of it). Shimmering copper and sliver lights spread out forever looking like a carpet of jewels on the ground only broken by dark patches. Little mountains with these lights wrapped around them in all directions. With visibility of about 5 miles, you can still see the glow going on past the horizon. I have never seen anything so vast that was man made from the air. Such a different feeling than flying over the Sahara. It's quite beautiful from the air. The city itself is actually quite lovely, the parts I have seen. There are little parks and gardens dappling the downtown, which you have plenty of time to see on the way to the conference venue and back due to the wonderfully congested traffic. One of the conference goers traveling with us actually got off the bus last evening, did a little shopping and got back on with plenty of time to spare before we started moving again. It was great.
It is easy to see how this is the largest city in the world. 20 million people is really hard to fathom in one area actually. There are about 1 million in Kabera slums in Kenya and I was awestruck by the expanse of tin roofs woven together there for days as well.
There are an additional 22,000 people here just for the International AIDS Conference. Part two of overwhelming. Really just an ice cube melting in an ocean, but in the venue itself, holy cow. There are people from everywhere doing amazing things. It's humbling to say the least, and encouraging to see so many people dedicated to this effort. It's really part scientific conference part Mardi Gras! There have been a number of "spontaneous" demonstrations for lots of things, housing for people living with AIDS, changes in guidelines, and simply celebrations of life.
There is great coverage on the web from lots of organizations, pod casts of great talks, pictures. Check it out from the main conference page http://www.aids2008.org/
Wish you could see this. The global village is full of activist organizations from all over the world. Some of the bravest people I've seen around. The talks have been great and I've gotten to see some folks I hadn't seen in quite some time.
Really a motivational week!
All for now. Love, Kik
Hola from Mexico. The word of the week is overwhelming. Flying in was just the beginning. For about a full half hour we were over Mexico City (just a small part of it). Shimmering copper and sliver lights spread out forever looking like a carpet of jewels on the ground only broken by dark patches. Little mountains with these lights wrapped around them in all directions. With visibility of about 5 miles, you can still see the glow going on past the horizon. I have never seen anything so vast that was man made from the air. Such a different feeling than flying over the Sahara. It's quite beautiful from the air. The city itself is actually quite lovely, the parts I have seen. There are little parks and gardens dappling the downtown, which you have plenty of time to see on the way to the conference venue and back due to the wonderfully congested traffic. One of the conference goers traveling with us actually got off the bus last evening, did a little shopping and got back on with plenty of time to spare before we started moving again. It was great.
It is easy to see how this is the largest city in the world. 20 million people is really hard to fathom in one area actually. There are about 1 million in Kabera slums in Kenya and I was awestruck by the expanse of tin roofs woven together there for days as well.
There are an additional 22,000 people here just for the International AIDS Conference. Part two of overwhelming. Really just an ice cube melting in an ocean, but in the venue itself, holy cow. There are people from everywhere doing amazing things. It's humbling to say the least, and encouraging to see so many people dedicated to this effort. It's really part scientific conference part Mardi Gras! There have been a number of "spontaneous" demonstrations for lots of things, housing for people living with AIDS, changes in guidelines, and simply celebrations of life.
There is great coverage on the web from lots of organizations, pod casts of great talks, pictures. Check it out from the main conference page http://www.aids2008.org/
Wish you could see this. The global village is full of activist organizations from all over the world. Some of the bravest people I've seen around. The talks have been great and I've gotten to see some folks I hadn't seen in quite some time.
Really a motivational week!
All for now. Love, Kik
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