There are a few things that I despise more but, they are few (i.e. snakes, Grolsch, people that end Wal-Mart with an 's'...). I am talking about a poorly laid out, disaster of a spread sheet. It's like poison, and well it turns out that just about everything in our 'lab interns' folder on the server is only hanging on by a thread. It looks like the reconstructive surgery will probably have to begin soon as I begin to learn my way around this organizational travesty. I am confident that it can be saved though.
Kahler, Moses, Oscar and I all took part in a GCLP conference call out of London this morning. Mmmk, so I am going to try and set it up for you because odds are this is a losing fight but, I am open to anyone with ideas on how I can approach this issue. How do you tell someone a second time to please speak English when they "claim" that is what they were speaking. Now so far I have been able to process just about all of the spin on English that I have heard here but, mix in an excited Indian (dots not feathers) and terrible reception and you have me looking at Kahler looking at me looking at Oscar looking at Moses asking what the eff just happen? The kicker is that at the end the proctor says, hmmm I don't know, let's ask the Lusaka team. I hate asking people to repeat themselves but, I felt quite justified this time. I think that Gwynn (London IAVI support) just had no idea either and kicked it to us because we are new, maybe it was just hazing. You win fate, I am humbled. There was a girl that was from Ohio that just joined the IAVI project. I just her to give us a summary from here on out. Her voice was like music compared to the rest, though otherwise not tremendously impressive.
I managed to take a little video at the end of the day today, I hope that you enjoy, it is not so enthusiastic but, it does show you a little of the main site compound.
Ok so, again, the video is not so impressive so I had put some tunes to it. But, when I did that they only played for a second and that song is way to good to be almost muted right away so I threw these other pictures in there to make some time. I mean nothing is going on and the pictures are kinda lame but, man you are pumped cause its really all about the music.
I found a cool new way to communicate with folks back home with Google SMS chat. Now I can send you messages in the morning when you are definitely asleep, victims so far are my Brother. The list is bound to grow though.
Going to try and stay up and listen to a bit of the Aggie game with Katy and Kahler this evening. It's a big game, I hope our guys are up for it.
Lets see other than lab meeting and getting an analytical plan to IAVI today it was pretty normal. There are so many good ideas and so little time. Allotting/reserving time for each individual task is necessary to see that all of the things on our ever growing list are seen to conclusion.
Oh, I made another trip to the Immigration office today to get another set of stamps to keep me legal. There was good news in that it looks like the legit work permits will be completed in about a week! It was a little different this time though because Mr. Theo (said Tayho) just park the car and said you guys should be fine this time... gut check time Pry, you can do this, just pretend that you know what you are doing and pray you don't get found out. It, of course, went smoothly and there was no trouble other than a short line for the stamp lady to contend with.
Mr. Theo has told Kahler and I that we are going to stay here for many years and be the lab directors and/or site directors just about every time we have been in the car with him. He said that if I was going to stay that I was going to need to find a wife otherwise it might get 'boring'. Zambians and relationships go hand-in-hand... really lame pun. He continued probing, so you have a fiancee in the states? ... yes... haha, no I told the truth but, I really thought hard about it. He probably has a daughter or something. If I ever get married I will have to send Mr. Theo an invitation, he will want to know that I am not bored any more.
Well you will never get that one and half minutes back that you spent watching my little movie, sorry about that. I hope that you all are very well. I miss you much and can't wait to see you all again and tell you about all of the things that I don't have time to type right now.
All is well
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
I live my life
Smack the alarm and roll over until it is twenty minutes until I am supposed to be at work.
Roll out of bed, take a shower, and find something comfortable to wear that might pass as semi-professional.
Crack a few eggs and attack them dark red between with tony's and cracked pepper.
Roll out the door saying hello to Harriet, the maid, as we pass one leaving the other arriving.
Pat Jimmy and Foxy on the head and always look up to the Northwest above our flat for some reason that I don't fully understand.
Pull the shades off my shirt and slide them on (thank you Brother and Jennah).
Begin toward the gate whistling Third Eye Blind Bonfire, probably because it is the song that woke me up this morning.
Mr. Beybe steps out of the guard house and opens the gate for me as we tell each other good morning and have a good day.
I walk along the side of the road and hear the little lizards scurrying along through the dry grass. Those things are every where!
I cross Vubu and walk along the compound just west of ZEHRP. The dust is getting kicked around by the traffic on the road as I make a left into the main clinic site.
I say hello to Norman, the guard that is just about the happiest person I have ever seen in my life.
I unpack my laptop and connect the network cable as I greet the lab staff and ask them about their weekend.
I open email, QC, write an agenda, and request quotes until lunch time.
I step out of the laboratory and walk about two hundred feet to Judy's and place my order for chicken and Nshima.
I start toward the warped tables under the tarp tent centrally positioned inside the walls of the 112 Vubu Road and sit with Katy and Kahler who just recently arrived from the flats and IAVI, respectively.
Enjoy my lunch talking with my fantastic friends and head back in to the lab.
Leave Main for IAVI around 3:00 (an hour after lunch) for a meeting with the repository managers.
Kahler and I go over our vision for the organization of the repository and they listen as if a burden was lifted though we were giving them a list of things to do. I think I get it.
Then time to suit up, lab coat, exam gloves, forceps, ice packs and a cooler. It's time to QC the shipment... again.
Locate errors and update database accordingly.
Lock up IAVI, set the alarm and head for the Esprite Trading Post for a Coke.
I stare at the monster tree that erupts from the earth at the west end of Mwembelelo Road.
The Morning glories that line the sides of the road are shut tight but, it's alright because I know they will be back at dawn.
A dusty walk, five and a half pen, a few more hello, how was your days, and waving at the starers ensued.
Hello Lucas (the night guard), how are you?
Throw pack on the ground and hit my bed, lay there thinking about what tomorrow holds and then shut work brain down.
Hop on the webs to say hello to Josh and my Brother, and finish my coke.
Cook some spring rolls and slice some cheese and dinner is served.
Mosy over to the porch next door where Katy is on her lappy and Kahler is strumming the guitar that Lyndie has gotten for him to play at Bible Study.
Talk about the day and play/sing a few favorite tunes and I head over to write this.
Going to put my nose in the GRE for a few minutes and then knock off, didn't get but about three hours last night. Not bad, just not great. Still can't get to sleep when I want.
Lots to think about and plenty to keep me busy, feeling a little numb actually.
That was my day.
All is taking it's own little slice of the day.
Roll out of bed, take a shower, and find something comfortable to wear that might pass as semi-professional.
Crack a few eggs and attack them dark red between with tony's and cracked pepper.
Roll out the door saying hello to Harriet, the maid, as we pass one leaving the other arriving.
Pat Jimmy and Foxy on the head and always look up to the Northwest above our flat for some reason that I don't fully understand.
Pull the shades off my shirt and slide them on (thank you Brother and Jennah).
Begin toward the gate whistling Third Eye Blind Bonfire, probably because it is the song that woke me up this morning.
Mr. Beybe steps out of the guard house and opens the gate for me as we tell each other good morning and have a good day.
I walk along the side of the road and hear the little lizards scurrying along through the dry grass. Those things are every where!
I cross Vubu and walk along the compound just west of ZEHRP. The dust is getting kicked around by the traffic on the road as I make a left into the main clinic site.
I say hello to Norman, the guard that is just about the happiest person I have ever seen in my life.
I unpack my laptop and connect the network cable as I greet the lab staff and ask them about their weekend.
I open email, QC, write an agenda, and request quotes until lunch time.
I step out of the laboratory and walk about two hundred feet to Judy's and place my order for chicken and Nshima.
I start toward the warped tables under the tarp tent centrally positioned inside the walls of the 112 Vubu Road and sit with Katy and Kahler who just recently arrived from the flats and IAVI, respectively.
Enjoy my lunch talking with my fantastic friends and head back in to the lab.
Leave Main for IAVI around 3:00 (an hour after lunch) for a meeting with the repository managers.
Kahler and I go over our vision for the organization of the repository and they listen as if a burden was lifted though we were giving them a list of things to do. I think I get it.
Then time to suit up, lab coat, exam gloves, forceps, ice packs and a cooler. It's time to QC the shipment... again.
Locate errors and update database accordingly.
Lock up IAVI, set the alarm and head for the Esprite Trading Post for a Coke.
I stare at the monster tree that erupts from the earth at the west end of Mwembelelo Road.
The Morning glories that line the sides of the road are shut tight but, it's alright because I know they will be back at dawn.
A dusty walk, five and a half pen, a few more hello, how was your days, and waving at the starers ensued.
Hello Lucas (the night guard), how are you?
Throw pack on the ground and hit my bed, lay there thinking about what tomorrow holds and then shut work brain down.
Hop on the webs to say hello to Josh and my Brother, and finish my coke.
Cook some spring rolls and slice some cheese and dinner is served.
Mosy over to the porch next door where Katy is on her lappy and Kahler is strumming the guitar that Lyndie has gotten for him to play at Bible Study.
Talk about the day and play/sing a few favorite tunes and I head over to write this.
Going to put my nose in the GRE for a few minutes and then knock off, didn't get but about three hours last night. Not bad, just not great. Still can't get to sleep when I want.
Lots to think about and plenty to keep me busy, feeling a little numb actually.
That was my day.
All is taking it's own little slice of the day.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Dirty soles
I hit the road after the practice GRE this morning, which did not go so well as I would have liked but, I am very glad that I have done it. I know better now where I need to focus my study. There is a package waiting at customs for me and today is really the only that I have a chance to get to it, so I am off!
I have shared before my adventures finding this mystical place in which packages from the U.S. disappear. I put on some Jimmy Eat World (kind of my parcel retrieval soundtrack) and started out at a pretty good clip toward the Great North Road. I did the calculation on Google Maps and it looks like the trip is about 5.6 miles or 9km each way. I am glad that I came from the monster A&M campus and that walking does not bother me so much.
From the eye of the observer.
I had lots of time to think and look around as I was making this little trek. Got to thinking about how much stuff I have seen while I have been here. I was trying to weigh what I am experiencing here versus what I might be looking at in the States. There is just no way around the fact that getting to be over here is an amazing ride. Even though there are lots of times I wish that I had someone to share all of this with I would not trade it. And I do get to share it all with you, my wonderful friends and family.
I looked down a side road and saw the sturdy jacaranda trees beginning to bloom with thousands of purple flowers. I get to smile and wave at the munchkins and they giggle and say as if it were one word, how are you? The people just stare at me as I walk down the dusty roads. A few get the boldness to say hello (likely drunk, haha) or wave. It feels so strange to be an attraction due only to the color of my skin... Usually I have to perform some impressive wit (extraordinarily rare) to get even twenty percent this response.
Somewhere above I veered hard from the conclusion of my parcel mission. I was able to hand the woman behind the counter a tracking number and she scooted toward the back and went out the door to return a few minutes later with nothing. I got a touch nervous but, it turns out that my box was just in the front area with a few others. Again, word that some Brad Pitt looking fella was heading toward the post office to pick something up, ha. I paid six and a half pen (a little over a buck) and left the building with my prize in my pack.
I do not have to open it in front of them unless it is an express package I guess as they did not require that I open it in front of them this time. It might also be that they remembered me well from last time. The lady behind the counter smiled and asked, you are here for another package? Yes, I am!
Thank you for all my neat stuff, Ma and Pa! In my package I got some hand sanitizer, jerky (delish), q-tips, a razor, the always great deodorant, and I neat clock/radio/alarm. There was however an unfortunate incident involving the radio. The problem with things from the states is that they are designed to function with a 120V source, the 240V and my super cool clock did not end up getting along so well. I was setting the time and a with a pretty good pop, flash and whiff of ozone my clock it is no more :(
After a few minutes laying on my bed pondering about the distance that I just hiked, I hopped back up and headed for Manda Hill. I cruised into Shoprite and picked up a few things. I got into a conversation with the ladies that were checking me out. They wanted to know where I was from and how they could get to the U.S. I joked with them for a bit, in the end they wanted my number and email address. What can I do? So I laughed and said that I would be here for a while and that I would see them again. I will probably get one of those ridiculous, do you remember my name questions next time I am in there but, a least I made it out mostly anonymous this time. I packed my items in my pack and made the short two block jaunt over to Mike and Lyndie's where I met Kahler and Katy.
There were several folks that I had not met before that joined us for dinner. Adrianna, Claire and Sarah joined us at the makeshift, elongated table. The boys (Mike, Dwayne, Kahler and myself) were at one end trading hunting stories. None of our stories can hold a candle to what these men have done. I mean they are really legit! From snakes that roll like wagon wheels, mambas and foot long scorpions to barehanded bear fighting and defending the camp from lions. I am probably going to claim some of their stories as my own when I get back. Remind me to tell you the one about when I got hit in the eye by a spitting cobra.
Looking forward to this next week. Going to be great setting things in place and beginning the lab efficiency and morale initiative. I am going to get some sleep, this week is going to be a long one working all day, meeting with lab staff, and much more studying for this looming exam.
On-call duties can suck it, I made it through! I hand that stupid phone and that ridiculous hunk of keys to Kahler in the morning, mhanamen.
All is up in the air
I have shared before my adventures finding this mystical place in which packages from the U.S. disappear. I put on some Jimmy Eat World (kind of my parcel retrieval soundtrack) and started out at a pretty good clip toward the Great North Road. I did the calculation on Google Maps and it looks like the trip is about 5.6 miles or 9km each way. I am glad that I came from the monster A&M campus and that walking does not bother me so much.
From the eye of the observer.
I had lots of time to think and look around as I was making this little trek. Got to thinking about how much stuff I have seen while I have been here. I was trying to weigh what I am experiencing here versus what I might be looking at in the States. There is just no way around the fact that getting to be over here is an amazing ride. Even though there are lots of times I wish that I had someone to share all of this with I would not trade it. And I do get to share it all with you, my wonderful friends and family.
I looked down a side road and saw the sturdy jacaranda trees beginning to bloom with thousands of purple flowers. I get to smile and wave at the munchkins and they giggle and say as if it were one word, how are you? The people just stare at me as I walk down the dusty roads. A few get the boldness to say hello (likely drunk, haha) or wave. It feels so strange to be an attraction due only to the color of my skin... Usually I have to perform some impressive wit (extraordinarily rare) to get even twenty percent this response.
Somewhere above I veered hard from the conclusion of my parcel mission. I was able to hand the woman behind the counter a tracking number and she scooted toward the back and went out the door to return a few minutes later with nothing. I got a touch nervous but, it turns out that my box was just in the front area with a few others. Again, word that some Brad Pitt looking fella was heading toward the post office to pick something up, ha. I paid six and a half pen (a little over a buck) and left the building with my prize in my pack.
I do not have to open it in front of them unless it is an express package I guess as they did not require that I open it in front of them this time. It might also be that they remembered me well from last time. The lady behind the counter smiled and asked, you are here for another package? Yes, I am!
Thank you for all my neat stuff, Ma and Pa! In my package I got some hand sanitizer, jerky (delish), q-tips, a razor, the always great deodorant, and I neat clock/radio/alarm. There was however an unfortunate incident involving the radio. The problem with things from the states is that they are designed to function with a 120V source, the 240V and my super cool clock did not end up getting along so well. I was setting the time and a with a pretty good pop, flash and whiff of ozone my clock it is no more :(
After a few minutes laying on my bed pondering about the distance that I just hiked, I hopped back up and headed for Manda Hill. I cruised into Shoprite and picked up a few things. I got into a conversation with the ladies that were checking me out. They wanted to know where I was from and how they could get to the U.S. I joked with them for a bit, in the end they wanted my number and email address. What can I do? So I laughed and said that I would be here for a while and that I would see them again. I will probably get one of those ridiculous, do you remember my name questions next time I am in there but, a least I made it out mostly anonymous this time. I packed my items in my pack and made the short two block jaunt over to Mike and Lyndie's where I met Kahler and Katy.
There were several folks that I had not met before that joined us for dinner. Adrianna, Claire and Sarah joined us at the makeshift, elongated table. The boys (Mike, Dwayne, Kahler and myself) were at one end trading hunting stories. None of our stories can hold a candle to what these men have done. I mean they are really legit! From snakes that roll like wagon wheels, mambas and foot long scorpions to barehanded bear fighting and defending the camp from lions. I am probably going to claim some of their stories as my own when I get back. Remind me to tell you the one about when I got hit in the eye by a spitting cobra.
Looking forward to this next week. Going to be great setting things in place and beginning the lab efficiency and morale initiative. I am going to get some sleep, this week is going to be a long one working all day, meeting with lab staff, and much more studying for this looming exam.
On-call duties can suck it, I made it through! I hand that stupid phone and that ridiculous hunk of keys to Kahler in the morning, mhanamen.
All is up in the air
Ding-dong the witch is dead
I wish to welcome you lab tech bliss. It’s going to be wonderful. I find myself excited for the staff more than myself. They have dealt with this for much longer than I have and though the release is sweet to me it must be nothing short of nirvana for them.
Kahler and I are going to take a practice GRE exam in the morning from the study books that we have gotten from Dr. Kilembe. I am a touch worried to be hit with the reality of where I am as far as being prepared for this test. At least I will know if I am on the right track or if I need to dial my studying up to super duper serious.
Work yesterday was very interesting and my days in the lab seem to be growing longer. It is not necessarily a bad thing but I do need more than one day a week in which I can find a moment to myself.
Church today was good. A few new things to note there, we decided to sit in the back where there were chairs rather than the back breaking wooden pews. Well in the back there seems to be a greater concentration of flies. You know those REAL annoying ones that you take a lazy slap at and they are long gone and are now some where around your ears doing a victory lap to rub in the fact that they are faster than you are.
They were really diggin me this morning, I was doing my darnest to pretend that it didn’t bother me but, I was going out of my head. About seventy-five percent through the sermon a monster bomber kamikaze collided into the back of my head. I probably freaked out a little but did what I could to keep my composure. Ok so this thing just hit me and I am think after I did my flick move to get it off that it might have fallen down my collar. I resituate to check… yep definitely there. So I lean forward to give this thing a clean window toward the light. It turns out that this fella is a vampire fly and hates the light and just take a trip south. By the time he is in the middle of my back I am start to worry a little bit. I don’t want to just slap this thing into my back, cause, well, that’s gross.
I tried to give the sucker another try for the light. Again, no luck, in fact, he is now buzzing around at the small of my back. I tried to isolate him and just maybe keep him still until I get the chance to rip my shirt off and squash this pest into oblivion. So now, what do you do in church with a fly exploring the waistline under your shirt? Well you do what any American Christian does and wait for the pray when you can exact your revenge.
Finally we bowed our heads and I ripped the tail of my shirt out and crushed the demon. I don’t know if anyone noticed the dead fly that fell through the cracks in the seat on the chair but I am really ok if they did. I felt quite justified in my extermination.
Oh, and big news in that there were four muzungus at Emmasdale Baptist this morning! A girl named Allison from Australia (sorry Reece and Chris, you know that Kiwis are still our favorite) was in Lusaka to work with a social project, I don’t recall exactly. It is fun actually knowing enough to tell someone else a few of the tricks. She seems very nice and will be fun to get to know Zambia with her.
Well I think that I am going to retire for the evening. Practice GRE exam, go pick up a package from my folks, maybe go and look at a car with Kahler, go and eat Mexican food at Mike and Lindy’s and then shopping for food for the week. I dang busy day off I would say. I will try and do better this week getting back to everyone. It has been incredibly busy and if I get a free moment I am usually eating or trying to sneak a nap in. Thank you all for your continued loyalty in communication, you know that it means a ton. Becca! It was great getting to talk to you! Welcome to wonderful Skype Land!
I would like to introduce you to Diego and Suki. I snapped these shots as I was waiting for the counselors to come in today form all of the field clinics (where all of out recruiting into the program takes place). I had to open the site and count receipts and reconcile all of the 17 cash boxes and check in all of the confirmatory draw EDTA tubes into the lab log. Only takes around three hours. Being on-call is a kick in the head. On-call examples of agony aside, these dogs are predy good, haha. They are big softies that scare the crap out of the Zambians. Suki really just wants attention (is it redundant now to say that Suki is a girl?) and Diego really just want you to throw a rock so he can bring it back to you, cool but, maybe a little dumb (I know I know... Diego is a boy, touche)
Suki
Diego
Taking a moment to be thankful that webs are working this weekend! Miss you all so much.
Trusting you all will make this week fabulous! All is pretty flippin sweet
Friday, September 24, 2010
The other party
Today was the last full day for our beloved laboratory director. Tomorrow she will be in only to get all of her crap out of my office. A party was thrown for Bob and Michelle by Bob and Michelle to say good bye to everyone. Even though I cannot stand this woman, she has been with the project for quite some time. I can't imagine why... it's as if she didn't have any where else to go, hmmm.
Everyone was invited to the main site for this braai, that marked Bob and Michelle's last day with ZEHRP. There was wine and samosas and as much under-cooked chicken as you could eat. Now wine is foul to me so I went with this red juice that took me straight back to camp. We took a big picture with everyone and then called it a party.
The other party is the one that started in my head as I walked away from the main site. I am psyched about starting this next week with the option to change things however Kahler and I deem fit. We really do have a great staff and I cannot wait to let them work in their strengths.
It was a good day at IAVI, pretty slow, which means that I have a prayer of keeping up with the paperwork. It is still a little strange to be called the boss, different in a good way. It is not implied or assumed but actually officially the organization of the project. I think that the transition will go / has gone well.
Something kind of hysterical happen during the 'party'. One of the general worker ladies began a traditional African celebration as she gave Bob and Michelle a card. All kinds of crazy yipping and hollering. I wish so much that I could have recorded just a piece of it for you all to enjoy. I mean it was nuts!
I took a little walk to the main site this morning as I was told by the guard that the main building was all locked up and, since I was on-call, I needed to go and unlock it for them. I got there and again, the place was wide open and they told me that someone had come right after I was called. Sweet. I did get to see the morning glories in full bloom, which is pretty spectacular. Unfortunately, my eyes were still a little teary from having just awakened.
I did get to drive the big Land Cruiser last night which was freakin awesome! That thing is a tank and you kind of can't help but feel invincible while you are in it. It was only a very short trip from IAVI to the flats but, I hit third and it was beautiful. I know that I missed driving but, that really brought it to the forefront. It was not so uncomfortable as I had expected it to be driving on the opposite side on the opposite side. It makes sense if you can just remember that you are seated on the inside on the road. The turns are out of this world difficult but, I think that I could get used to it with a little practice.
Well I am going to put a little time into studying for this GRE so that I have more options that QOD did at the end of the year. I hope that you all have a fabulous Friday and just have a stellar weekend! Maybe I will get to see some of you this weekend, I do hope so. Stay classy blog followers!
All is well
Everyone was invited to the main site for this braai, that marked Bob and Michelle's last day with ZEHRP. There was wine and samosas and as much under-cooked chicken as you could eat. Now wine is foul to me so I went with this red juice that took me straight back to camp. We took a big picture with everyone and then called it a party.
The other party is the one that started in my head as I walked away from the main site. I am psyched about starting this next week with the option to change things however Kahler and I deem fit. We really do have a great staff and I cannot wait to let them work in their strengths.
It was a good day at IAVI, pretty slow, which means that I have a prayer of keeping up with the paperwork. It is still a little strange to be called the boss, different in a good way. It is not implied or assumed but actually officially the organization of the project. I think that the transition will go / has gone well.
Something kind of hysterical happen during the 'party'. One of the general worker ladies began a traditional African celebration as she gave Bob and Michelle a card. All kinds of crazy yipping and hollering. I wish so much that I could have recorded just a piece of it for you all to enjoy. I mean it was nuts!
I took a little walk to the main site this morning as I was told by the guard that the main building was all locked up and, since I was on-call, I needed to go and unlock it for them. I got there and again, the place was wide open and they told me that someone had come right after I was called. Sweet. I did get to see the morning glories in full bloom, which is pretty spectacular. Unfortunately, my eyes were still a little teary from having just awakened.
I did get to drive the big Land Cruiser last night which was freakin awesome! That thing is a tank and you kind of can't help but feel invincible while you are in it. It was only a very short trip from IAVI to the flats but, I hit third and it was beautiful. I know that I missed driving but, that really brought it to the forefront. It was not so uncomfortable as I had expected it to be driving on the opposite side on the opposite side. It makes sense if you can just remember that you are seated on the inside on the road. The turns are out of this world difficult but, I think that I could get used to it with a little practice.
Well I am going to put a little time into studying for this GRE so that I have more options that QOD did at the end of the year. I hope that you all have a fabulous Friday and just have a stellar weekend! Maybe I will get to see some of you this weekend, I do hope so. Stay classy blog followers!
All is well
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Ink
It felt as if I was getting a lot done today. I worked through many quality control procedures for some of our protocol C clients... still way behind though. Also, Kahler and I made it through the management meeting intact, I suppose that we are either getting the hang of it or, she just didn't have the energy to fight. Tomorrow is more of the same.
Tonight I received a shipment as part of my 'on call' duties and will take it to the lab tomorrow for processing.
I need to try and keep things moving and not forget all of the things that I have thought of that need to be done. I know that there is so much to be done but, really it is difficult to decide where to start. It is easy to get caught up with the managerial/paperwork requirements and wrap yourself in a cocoon that isolates you from the most important part of the job, managing staff members. Next weeks lab meeting will go much differently that tomorrow's will. I need to spend some time on that agenda and begin to slowly stimulate positive mutation of the lab. Kahler and I will be putting some serious thought into where to start.
Really, today seemed like a blur. I know that is REAL cliche but, really when you are able to get things done (after you have figured out how do to a few tasks well) time disappears and you never get all that you wanted to get done, completed. It is a welcome change though.
I have my fingers crossed that there will not be any issues with my leave request this Christmas. At the management meeting today, the hot topic was 'being on-call over the holidays'. It seems that they typically shaft the newbies with this noose. I think however, that I was able to dodge that bullet as I am not scheduled. Now I don't know if this will upset people or not but, regardless I am very relieved. The next obstacle is actually getting the time off. Apparently it is a big deal to get more than five days off. I made what I think is a great argument for my getting Dec. 15 to Jan. 7 off but, we will have to wait and see if the site director (who is actually a pretty cool cat) agrees with my logic.
You know that pen that you have that doesn't write but, you haven't thrown it away yet? Yeah, well I have had that one in my pocket for the last two days and just now tossed it. Pens are kinds like gold over here. That does not excuse the fact that about half way through every stroke I try to make with this thing it decides to quit. So the bad pen is gone now, it can't hurt anyone anymore. I replaced it with my dear ol friend, the Pilot V7. It is, without question, the pinnacle of ink distribution technology. That old G2 can suck it.
We all know that I am not a pen guy at all, I still wish that I could sign everything in pencil but, for some reason the project (and pretty much the rest of the world) has deemed that 'unofficial'. So yes, I have become a pen connoisseur of sorts. I still haven't figured out how to NOT smear everything that I have just written down with my ring finger knuckle. I just don't get it.
Well I will let you know if anything else exciting happens, I am afraid that is as exciting as I could make today here in Lusaka. I miss you all very much, have a fantastic day!
Katy just brought me some delicious french fries and All is well
Tonight I received a shipment as part of my 'on call' duties and will take it to the lab tomorrow for processing.
I need to try and keep things moving and not forget all of the things that I have thought of that need to be done. I know that there is so much to be done but, really it is difficult to decide where to start. It is easy to get caught up with the managerial/paperwork requirements and wrap yourself in a cocoon that isolates you from the most important part of the job, managing staff members. Next weeks lab meeting will go much differently that tomorrow's will. I need to spend some time on that agenda and begin to slowly stimulate positive mutation of the lab. Kahler and I will be putting some serious thought into where to start.
Really, today seemed like a blur. I know that is REAL cliche but, really when you are able to get things done (after you have figured out how do to a few tasks well) time disappears and you never get all that you wanted to get done, completed. It is a welcome change though.
I have my fingers crossed that there will not be any issues with my leave request this Christmas. At the management meeting today, the hot topic was 'being on-call over the holidays'. It seems that they typically shaft the newbies with this noose. I think however, that I was able to dodge that bullet as I am not scheduled. Now I don't know if this will upset people or not but, regardless I am very relieved. The next obstacle is actually getting the time off. Apparently it is a big deal to get more than five days off. I made what I think is a great argument for my getting Dec. 15 to Jan. 7 off but, we will have to wait and see if the site director (who is actually a pretty cool cat) agrees with my logic.
You know that pen that you have that doesn't write but, you haven't thrown it away yet? Yeah, well I have had that one in my pocket for the last two days and just now tossed it. Pens are kinds like gold over here. That does not excuse the fact that about half way through every stroke I try to make with this thing it decides to quit. So the bad pen is gone now, it can't hurt anyone anymore. I replaced it with my dear ol friend, the Pilot V7. It is, without question, the pinnacle of ink distribution technology. That old G2 can suck it.
We all know that I am not a pen guy at all, I still wish that I could sign everything in pencil but, for some reason the project (and pretty much the rest of the world) has deemed that 'unofficial'. So yes, I have become a pen connoisseur of sorts. I still haven't figured out how to NOT smear everything that I have just written down with my ring finger knuckle. I just don't get it.
Well I will let you know if anything else exciting happens, I am afraid that is as exciting as I could make today here in Lusaka. I miss you all very much, have a fantastic day!
Katy just brought me some delicious french fries and All is well
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
On call
It is my first day on call. Each intern is assigned a week to be "on call" which entitles that lucky individual the responsibility to taking care of anything that happens after hours. It started today with Nynke tossing me a janitorial sized mass of keys. I thought, no problem, I mean what could really go wrong right? That. was. dumb.
Today was a long one that spawned one thumper headache. I was psyched to get home and kick my shoes off and lay on my bed. I guess I had been laying there for about 14 minutes when my phone rang and Corinna (the admin intern) told me that she was locking up at main site and that I would need to be in contact with someone to do the 'walk around' if I can't. I thanked her for taking care of this for me and laid my head back down. About 45 seconds later the phone rings again with Corinna saying that there is a problem with the generator. Purfect. So I throw my shoes on and hike to main site. I got there with my clod of metal called a key ring and began toward the generator.
Corinna showed me what it was doing, trying to start but, not catching the juice to kick off. I thought right away that it was fuel starved and checked the fuel (diesel). All was well there, plenty to be had. So Corinna called the 'electrician' Douglas, I swear that I, a scientist, am more artistic than he is electrician. As far as I saw it this was way more auto mechanics than electric. Anyway, Douglas gets to the site and we open the puppy up. Cracked open the back hatch which revealed an oh so simple disconnect on the out side of the fuel filter.
It was one of those little pinchy type clamps that had slipped. No real surprise there. So Jeff, one of the drivers, brought a bundle of end wrenches and a pair of old, busted up pliers. We took the housing off to allow clean access to the fuel filter and began looking for a solution to keep that bad boy on there as this was the top side and gravity was working against it. I asked Douglas if he had any wire and he ran to the tool shed. He returned with piece of steel wire perfect for a make-shift clamp. Those crappy old pliers were more than enough to fix some tension around that tubing. We fired if up and all was well. Douglas loosened the fuel rail nuts to let any air out of the system and we buttoned everything back up.
There I was hands covered in diesel and grease and I have to tell you... It was GREAT! I miss that so much! This thing was not so much different from the the old Massey engine, Pop! Feels so good to fix things especially when you get to do it in Africa with nothing but the basics. I really really needed a win after this past week of having a clean sheet so far as victories/successes are concerned. So the generator is back online and I will not get a call this even (I hope) about the power shutting down and the back up power failing.
The procedure for taking care of the lab should the power go down for an extended period of time is reeeeheeeaallly ugly. All samples have to be moved form main site to the back up freezers at IAVI. The minus eighties, the minus twenties and the fridges. I am thankful that there are no cryo-freezers over there, those samples are kind of intimidating.
Speaking of, Kahler and I had to QC a box of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the minus one-ninety. LN2 is neat stuff, even if it is simultaneously terrifying. The repository manager handles it like it's nothing while I am useless as I watch the drops dance around on the floor boiling like mad. It's like mercury that will give you frost-bite in a heartbeat. So I got to pull samples out of the cryogenic bath and call IDs to Kahler. We have big gloves that keep us from any harm. Real fun!
So i have been home for a bit now and have eaten some of these little spring roll things that are super easy and taste delightful. My McD diet is suffering here though I do not think that my body is so sad, haha. Well I am going to let my body get some rest before I have to get up to unlock the main site building for everyone... Did I mention that I am on call?
I have a Mosi and some Third Eye Blind going, all is pretty great right now.
Today was a long one that spawned one thumper headache. I was psyched to get home and kick my shoes off and lay on my bed. I guess I had been laying there for about 14 minutes when my phone rang and Corinna (the admin intern) told me that she was locking up at main site and that I would need to be in contact with someone to do the 'walk around' if I can't. I thanked her for taking care of this for me and laid my head back down. About 45 seconds later the phone rings again with Corinna saying that there is a problem with the generator. Purfect. So I throw my shoes on and hike to main site. I got there with my clod of metal called a key ring and began toward the generator.
Corinna showed me what it was doing, trying to start but, not catching the juice to kick off. I thought right away that it was fuel starved and checked the fuel (diesel). All was well there, plenty to be had. So Corinna called the 'electrician' Douglas, I swear that I, a scientist, am more artistic than he is electrician. As far as I saw it this was way more auto mechanics than electric. Anyway, Douglas gets to the site and we open the puppy up. Cracked open the back hatch which revealed an oh so simple disconnect on the out side of the fuel filter.
It was one of those little pinchy type clamps that had slipped. No real surprise there. So Jeff, one of the drivers, brought a bundle of end wrenches and a pair of old, busted up pliers. We took the housing off to allow clean access to the fuel filter and began looking for a solution to keep that bad boy on there as this was the top side and gravity was working against it. I asked Douglas if he had any wire and he ran to the tool shed. He returned with piece of steel wire perfect for a make-shift clamp. Those crappy old pliers were more than enough to fix some tension around that tubing. We fired if up and all was well. Douglas loosened the fuel rail nuts to let any air out of the system and we buttoned everything back up.
There I was hands covered in diesel and grease and I have to tell you... It was GREAT! I miss that so much! This thing was not so much different from the the old Massey engine, Pop! Feels so good to fix things especially when you get to do it in Africa with nothing but the basics. I really really needed a win after this past week of having a clean sheet so far as victories/successes are concerned. So the generator is back online and I will not get a call this even (I hope) about the power shutting down and the back up power failing.
The procedure for taking care of the lab should the power go down for an extended period of time is reeeeheeeaallly ugly. All samples have to be moved form main site to the back up freezers at IAVI. The minus eighties, the minus twenties and the fridges. I am thankful that there are no cryo-freezers over there, those samples are kind of intimidating.
Speaking of, Kahler and I had to QC a box of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the minus one-ninety. LN2 is neat stuff, even if it is simultaneously terrifying. The repository manager handles it like it's nothing while I am useless as I watch the drops dance around on the floor boiling like mad. It's like mercury that will give you frost-bite in a heartbeat. So I got to pull samples out of the cryogenic bath and call IDs to Kahler. We have big gloves that keep us from any harm. Real fun!
So i have been home for a bit now and have eaten some of these little spring roll things that are super easy and taste delightful. My McD diet is suffering here though I do not think that my body is so sad, haha. Well I am going to let my body get some rest before I have to get up to unlock the main site building for everyone... Did I mention that I am on call?
I have a Mosi and some Third Eye Blind going, all is pretty great right now.
Monday, September 20, 2010
55 days in
One more week. Going to make it.
Jennah and Chris sent confirmation of my flight back for Christmas! I am super excited! It's going to be glorious. I cannot wait to see everyone.
This week looks like SOPs hell mixed with a little meeting apprehension. I am trying to think of the most genial way to explain to some one that I can't stand that I do not want them to open their mouth in the next management meeting... I mean that is not so much to ask, right? It is obvious that the chances that my tactics will be successful are slim but, that has never stopped me before.
Note* I am going to learn how to play an instrument well when I get back. I have always wanted to learn to play the violin. I mean a PhD should leave plenty of time to learn right? If I always wait for the time that I have the time it will likely never be done, so here's to making time.
After 55 days this is what I know:
1. What the eff was I thinking?!
2. I am so thankful for opportunities that we have in the States
3. I miss driving SO much
4. I miss pouring into relationships that are long-term, it is hard to get excited about building great friendships with those that I know I will know only a year. Now that is not stopping me but, it is setting it up to be more sorrowful when I leave.
5. I know those that really care about me whether I am near or far through emails and skype
6. I can open a bottle with another bottle
7. Cream Soda over here is a lie
8. Everything is dusty in the dry season
9. Inconsistent power and Internet makes me want to scream
10. This place really is beautiful and I need to soak up every moment
I am going to get through this week and then Kahler and I will steer this ship down the path that rocks. I am off to read SOPs on diagnostic PCR and repository management software called LIMS, I know, it's ok to be jealous. Have a super week!
I have been confused before but, I think where I am now could not be any more fuzzy.
Jennah and Chris sent confirmation of my flight back for Christmas! I am super excited! It's going to be glorious. I cannot wait to see everyone.
This week looks like SOPs hell mixed with a little meeting apprehension. I am trying to think of the most genial way to explain to some one that I can't stand that I do not want them to open their mouth in the next management meeting... I mean that is not so much to ask, right? It is obvious that the chances that my tactics will be successful are slim but, that has never stopped me before.
Note* I am going to learn how to play an instrument well when I get back. I have always wanted to learn to play the violin. I mean a PhD should leave plenty of time to learn right? If I always wait for the time that I have the time it will likely never be done, so here's to making time.
After 55 days this is what I know:
1. What the eff was I thinking?!
2. I am so thankful for opportunities that we have in the States
3. I miss driving SO much
4. I miss pouring into relationships that are long-term, it is hard to get excited about building great friendships with those that I know I will know only a year. Now that is not stopping me but, it is setting it up to be more sorrowful when I leave.
5. I know those that really care about me whether I am near or far through emails and skype
6. I can open a bottle with another bottle
7. Cream Soda over here is a lie
8. Everything is dusty in the dry season
9. Inconsistent power and Internet makes me want to scream
10. This place really is beautiful and I need to soak up every moment
I am going to get through this week and then Kahler and I will steer this ship down the path that rocks. I am off to read SOPs on diagnostic PCR and repository management software called LIMS, I know, it's ok to be jealous. Have a super week!
I have been confused before but, I think where I am now could not be any more fuzzy.
Time & Pressure
It’s another ‘Saturday’ night and I ain’t got no webbies. I could sing that the real way too but, it’s too depressing. Sometime around 5:36AM the internet decided that it was too good for us. I am hopeful that they can get me back to you all tomorrow but I am not holding my breath. It may be that I have to hop back up in that spider sub ridden tomb that is the attic of flat 1. Why they put the router up there will remain a mystery. So the hole to get up in the attic is about 2’x2’ which means that my being built like a gymnast works against my opting out of the mission not really an option. I hope that I tell you all about it tomorrow.
This week really was a doozy. There was a lot going on and I really don’t know that I understand everything that happen yet but, I am hopeful. I find myself increasingly anxiousness for the director difficulty at work to end and also for the holidays! Jennah has kept me updated on what flights are available, what layovers, what timeline and that keeps my spirits up no matter what happens here. I know that there are wonderful, beautiful people back home that I will get to see again very soon.
As far as work goes… well, it’s the weekend and it might be better if we will just leave that out for now save to say that I feel a little like the guy from Shawshank Redemption. I am thinking about that rock hammer and what I need to start tunneling through. I am ready to work. How can I when the majority of the time is spent putting out fires caused by a system that is infective for one of two reasons. One, the staff does not follow the instructions or two, the design was flawed from the onset. Toss in the fact that management like myself has to sign every piece of paper in the lab or clinic. I don’t want to cheapen what my initials mean on a document so a great deal of time is expended reading documents that may or may not ever be seen again. Time and Pressure, right…
Today was a fairly typical Sunday, which is by no means a negative thing. I wake up at a quarter to seven just about every morning. This is magical. I get to see the clean morning light creeping through my open windows and hear the chorus of little birds. So I actually decided to climb out of my bed, now I don’t know if I have explained that this really takes some doing. I have a thick foam mattress (like the ones at camp, that were totally great when you are eight years old). I slide under my sheets to go to sleep and everything is fine and then sometime during the night teams of evil pixies (I mean I think they are pixies, I think I saw one once but, I can’t be sure exactly the race of the mythical creatures) steal in and take 98% of the support that this inherently sub-standard block might have to offer and so I wake up in a little cocoon of foam. I got up this morning and looked back down at my bed and observed the four-inch or so discrepancy between where my back was and the area immediately either side. I guess the alternative could be a thin foam mattress… yikes, don’t even want to imagine, I am done complaining.
Church was good. Pastor Isaac is still talking about what the Godly family and Godly relationships look like. I could help but feel little picked on when he was explaining that love is difficult/impossible to define and is more accurately described as it is in I Corinthians 13. He said that it should not be confused with mere infatuation as in falling for the sweet accent of one who has just come from Texas a week ago. Welp, I guess I will just have to be careful with my honey sweet Southern tongue, haha. Oh, and remember how I said that they do that neat thing when they leave so that everyone shakes hands. At least a dozen people asked where we were last week (Kafue Queen). This question was not rhetorical; they wanted an answer! I told them that we had gone to Kafue with some missionary friends and I think that mostly appeased them.
While Kahler and I were standing outside the church waiting for Katy to make her rounds as she has developed some really great relationships with some of the women in this little church a fella came and introduced himself to us. He said his name was Mr. Duck (or something like that) and that he was a civil engineer. We explained that we were working in the lab with a program called ZEHRP. But, when we told him that we were from Texas he called us cowboys and waved his hand like he was spinning a lasso. It was hysterical, all we could do is agree.
Some ladies stopped Katy to talk as we were leaving the church. Kahler and I wandered over to talk to these four munchkins playing in the back of Mr. Duck’s truck. They were Allysa, Moses, Joseph, and Mwamba. We talked to them a bit about what sports they like and they told us that we had good names. I needed to write their names down so that I can try and remember them next week.
Oh ya! And remember that girl that asked if I knew her name a couple weeks ago? Well this morning she shook my hand and said ‘hello, Jake’ and stared at me, you know that stare that pause that she thinks of as her courtesy to give me time to look under every rock in my mind for her name, well I remembered it and she smiled and that was that. So I guess the answer is just to remember everyone’s name? This will definitely take some focus.
I took a nice snooze between church and the cab picking us up for Bible study. I got back around 6:30 hoping that the connection would be restored. My luck there is evident as today will be yesterday when I am able to post this. I scrabbled up some eggs for dinner and just finished off a pack of gushers. I miss talking to you all very much though. I hope and pray that all is well with you and thank you for your comments and emails and prayers. I am going to get back into this GRE prep manual. The premonitory practice tests dictate my renewed allegiance to the elementary, scholarly pursuit… I like the words more than the numbers… I Miss you all very much.
Feeling a little like the little lion man but, All is much better than I thought
Thursday, September 16, 2010
And then again
There are days that seem to go on forever and then again there are those that seem to flare and die as a phosphorus flash (or a two and a half gallon glass jug filled with gasoline and Styrofoam, lit on fire, and thrown into a creek). Either case can be great or a drag depending on the day.
This shift in schedule from Saturday/Sunday to Sunday/Monday has got my habits all mixed up. I liked to think that I was flexible but, this simple shift has me turned around pretty well. I remember Thursday as that great day before Friday where everyone is getting excited about the weekend but, can't let themselves get too carried away just yet as there is more than a day of work left to be done. Someone would definitely be bringing in doughnuts tomorrow so I didn't have to worry about breakfast and lunch was definitely Freebirds or Fuego.
Now it does not seem so big a deal just moving my Thursday to Friday... but it is. Maybe I have not given it enough time yet. Then when I get back to the states it will be like the weekend is coming early! It's like daylight savings in the fall when you get that sweet sweet sweet extra hour of sleep. The thing there is that your body figures it out in a week of so and it is just as hard as ever to get out of bed again.
Today I was walking along the road to work thinking about how who I am in the broad scheme and what role I want to play in this wide world. I flipped through several options in my mind.
1. Get my PhD in the field of biosciences and begin teaching as an assistant professor at a university, though I have been around the unversity seen enough to know that this really isn't the best way to enter academia and if one has the option to work first and gain practical experience it is best.
2. Get my PhD and do the latter in the above.
3. Take the MCAT and see about M.D. it is a long shot and I would be an old doctor when I was done.
4. Keep seeking international work and float with my masters around to which ever lab needed me.
5. find a job back home and settle in for the career masters path.
Then with these beginning to clog the ol synapses I remembered that all I am supposed to do is use every breath that I have giving glory to the One that created me because this life is short. It does not mean that I have no dreams or that I am going to just resign as a carnie running a game that you CANNOT win... and even if you did that giant plush Nessie is filled with asbestos, just saying really I am doing you a favor, I mean at least it is fireproof. There is a balance between giving attention to the job at hand and looking out for what is next... and if we could throw on the z axis, a little time for fun. So now we have our three dimensional balance swinging all kinds of crazy.
Kahler and I talked some time ago about a book he was reading. It was describing the way the male brain thinks. The metaphor is this: the male brain brain acts like a Dos-based computing system where one application is open at a time and we work on it until it is done and then we move on to the next. I think that this explains a little bit of my frustration with trying to reconcile the scales. I want to finish one thing and move to the next however, it's turns out to be paramount that these things be done simultaneously. I understand that multi-tasking is nothing new and quite necessary to success in almost every field but, I think I need to reboot.
Tonight I am reading a journal article about PECAM31 cells and their ability to regrow inner arterial walls and filling out a PhD application (which involves updating the CV and personal statement) I think that I could write a new personal statement every night of the week... Maybe I will and try to synthesize it into something comprehensive yet precise.
Well in job news, we had a laboratory meeting this afternoon (every Thursday at 4:15). I have run out of patience with the lab director, if she was not leaving in a week I would have a little 'her or me' sit-down with the Site Director. Today was rough, she was talking to one of the lab staff and included Kahler and I on her continual reaming of this poor girl. She has zero skills as a director. I just about let a volcano of crazy erupt and spew molten verbal rage all over her today when she told me that I could not spin down a sample and that I should let a lab tech do it because it is his/her job. It would have started out something like, 'you should qualify your statement some how because I am physically capable of running this sample and the techs are busy so you can just go die' I mean it gets kind of personal there at the end but, you know something simple and to the point like that. Then again, only one more week, right, I can make it. I promise, I am not bitter, I will just be very thankful when that thorn is removed.
Looking at taking a trip to Livingstone to see Vic Falls here very soon. I am really excited about that! It is hard being so close yet having not been. Transportation is just exponentially more difficult here. No matter though, it's going to be awesome!
Sorry this is kind of a wandering, downer of a post... you just got trapped inside my head reviewing what was unfortunately not my best day. I hope that you have had a fabulous week and hey tomorrow is Friday!
All is fine
This shift in schedule from Saturday/Sunday to Sunday/Monday has got my habits all mixed up. I liked to think that I was flexible but, this simple shift has me turned around pretty well. I remember Thursday as that great day before Friday where everyone is getting excited about the weekend but, can't let themselves get too carried away just yet as there is more than a day of work left to be done. Someone would definitely be bringing in doughnuts tomorrow so I didn't have to worry about breakfast and lunch was definitely Freebirds or Fuego.
Now it does not seem so big a deal just moving my Thursday to Friday... but it is. Maybe I have not given it enough time yet. Then when I get back to the states it will be like the weekend is coming early! It's like daylight savings in the fall when you get that sweet sweet sweet extra hour of sleep. The thing there is that your body figures it out in a week of so and it is just as hard as ever to get out of bed again.
Today I was walking along the road to work thinking about how who I am in the broad scheme and what role I want to play in this wide world. I flipped through several options in my mind.
1. Get my PhD in the field of biosciences and begin teaching as an assistant professor at a university, though I have been around the unversity seen enough to know that this really isn't the best way to enter academia and if one has the option to work first and gain practical experience it is best.
2. Get my PhD and do the latter in the above.
3. Take the MCAT and see about M.D. it is a long shot and I would be an old doctor when I was done.
4. Keep seeking international work and float with my masters around to which ever lab needed me.
5. find a job back home and settle in for the career masters path.
Then with these beginning to clog the ol synapses I remembered that all I am supposed to do is use every breath that I have giving glory to the One that created me because this life is short. It does not mean that I have no dreams or that I am going to just resign as a carnie running a game that you CANNOT win... and even if you did that giant plush Nessie is filled with asbestos, just saying really I am doing you a favor, I mean at least it is fireproof. There is a balance between giving attention to the job at hand and looking out for what is next... and if we could throw on the z axis, a little time for fun. So now we have our three dimensional balance swinging all kinds of crazy.
Kahler and I talked some time ago about a book he was reading. It was describing the way the male brain thinks. The metaphor is this: the male brain brain acts like a Dos-based computing system where one application is open at a time and we work on it until it is done and then we move on to the next. I think that this explains a little bit of my frustration with trying to reconcile the scales. I want to finish one thing and move to the next however, it's turns out to be paramount that these things be done simultaneously. I understand that multi-tasking is nothing new and quite necessary to success in almost every field but, I think I need to reboot.
Tonight I am reading a journal article about PECAM31 cells and their ability to regrow inner arterial walls and filling out a PhD application (which involves updating the CV and personal statement) I think that I could write a new personal statement every night of the week... Maybe I will and try to synthesize it into something comprehensive yet precise.
Well in job news, we had a laboratory meeting this afternoon (every Thursday at 4:15). I have run out of patience with the lab director, if she was not leaving in a week I would have a little 'her or me' sit-down with the Site Director. Today was rough, she was talking to one of the lab staff and included Kahler and I on her continual reaming of this poor girl. She has zero skills as a director. I just about let a volcano of crazy erupt and spew molten verbal rage all over her today when she told me that I could not spin down a sample and that I should let a lab tech do it because it is his/her job. It would have started out something like, 'you should qualify your statement some how because I am physically capable of running this sample and the techs are busy so you can just go die' I mean it gets kind of personal there at the end but, you know something simple and to the point like that. Then again, only one more week, right, I can make it. I promise, I am not bitter, I will just be very thankful when that thorn is removed.
Looking at taking a trip to Livingstone to see Vic Falls here very soon. I am really excited about that! It is hard being so close yet having not been. Transportation is just exponentially more difficult here. No matter though, it's going to be awesome!
Sorry this is kind of a wandering, downer of a post... you just got trapped inside my head reviewing what was unfortunately not my best day. I hope that you have had a fabulous week and hey tomorrow is Friday!
All is fine
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Motivation & consequences
So there are two extremes concerning how people respond/react to a action/stimulus: There those that act quick and impulsively. Then those that think it through thoroughly and not until every detail is settled will they act or respond. This, in my mind is set up as a continuum where the most ideal point might be at the midpoint between the extremes.
And so it goes that each pole has it's consequences, positive and negative.
Those that are quick to act may be labeled as the type that 'fly off the handle'. Though this cliche has gained a somewhat negative connotation there are certain perks. When the time is nigh you say exactly what is on your mind. Now this can be fantastic! It has been said that timing is everything and there is no substitute for a well-timed response. Now the other side, because it can't be all good, is that you regret deeply what you have said or done and destroy something that could have been great.
Now, for the opposite. Think it out because 'slow and steady wins the race'. Do nothing until the facts and opinions have been sorted. It is sometimes best to hold back and let the other side defeat itself or gather your thoughts and post a precise rebuttal (whether it verbal or round-house style). Now the the balance is satisfied in the situation where the moment to speak comes and goes and you are left speechless. You waited too late and your indecisiveness has cost you the opportunity of a lifetime.
I find myself in the later camp the majority of the time. There are times I wish that I was more defensive and impulsive but, then I guess the 'grass is always greener'. I the trouble with waiting is that it takes so long and the issue with acting quickly is that there is no time to think. I find myself thinking through this yin yang when faced with a decision. Unfortunately, it usually only serves as an additional intermediary step before the choice is made.
In reality the reaction is dependent on the initial action.
I like finding the most simplistic version of a thing. I really dig those ancient philosophies like that of the pre-Socratic Heraclitus who recognized the most powerful thing as he saw it, fire, as the end all. All is fire, it's just that some matter/people/things have more than others. What is most astonishing to you? Would you be ok with that being responsible for your creation? Of course we have come a ways from his early thinking, to a mix a fire and water, to the four elements all the way through to the periodic table. I think that there are times when the fire guy kind of theory comes in handy.
Let me know what you think. It's just observation, certainly not fact and nothing that I will take offense to if you do not agree. So tear it apart :)
All is going to be ok
And so it goes that each pole has it's consequences, positive and negative.
Those that are quick to act may be labeled as the type that 'fly off the handle'. Though this cliche has gained a somewhat negative connotation there are certain perks. When the time is nigh you say exactly what is on your mind. Now this can be fantastic! It has been said that timing is everything and there is no substitute for a well-timed response. Now the other side, because it can't be all good, is that you regret deeply what you have said or done and destroy something that could have been great.
Now, for the opposite. Think it out because 'slow and steady wins the race'. Do nothing until the facts and opinions have been sorted. It is sometimes best to hold back and let the other side defeat itself or gather your thoughts and post a precise rebuttal (whether it verbal or round-house style). Now the the balance is satisfied in the situation where the moment to speak comes and goes and you are left speechless. You waited too late and your indecisiveness has cost you the opportunity of a lifetime.
I find myself in the later camp the majority of the time. There are times I wish that I was more defensive and impulsive but, then I guess the 'grass is always greener'. I the trouble with waiting is that it takes so long and the issue with acting quickly is that there is no time to think. I find myself thinking through this yin yang when faced with a decision. Unfortunately, it usually only serves as an additional intermediary step before the choice is made.
In reality the reaction is dependent on the initial action.
I like finding the most simplistic version of a thing. I really dig those ancient philosophies like that of the pre-Socratic Heraclitus who recognized the most powerful thing as he saw it, fire, as the end all. All is fire, it's just that some matter/people/things have more than others. What is most astonishing to you? Would you be ok with that being responsible for your creation? Of course we have come a ways from his early thinking, to a mix a fire and water, to the four elements all the way through to the periodic table. I think that there are times when the fire guy kind of theory comes in handy.
Let me know what you think. It's just observation, certainly not fact and nothing that I will take offense to if you do not agree. So tear it apart :)
All is going to be ok
Monday, September 13, 2010
Introducing the Kafue Queen
Sunday September 12, 2010
A good day. We (Kahler, Katy, and I) were invited to accompany Theresa, Jeff, and Jeannie on a trip to Kafue (We passed through Kafue, heading South to Siavonga). We had arranged that fateful Saturday night with Ernest to pick us up Sunday morning at 10:00 and take us to the meeting point at the Downtown Center Spar. We met Jeff's uncle and aunt and hit the road.
We arrived about forty-five minutes later and unloaded to board the 'Kafue Queen'! It was not the most impressive boat I have ever seen but, it was more than enough to reinforce the excitement I had mounted in anticipation for the cruise. Jeff and Jeannie came prepared! They had drinks, snacks, tea, coffee, etc. it was already obvious that this was going to be a great little river ride.
Our party arrived about a half an hour before the boat was scheduled to shove off (this is of course about an hour before the time that is actually left land, TIA). As we were really the only ones on the boat, aside from one other couple we claimed the top deck as ours. The wind was absolutely ferocious, causing little white caps to form on the wider parts of the river. We battened down the hatches, payed our dues and prepared for launch.
The Kafue Queen took the head wind going upstream much more effectively than I had imagined it would. The majority of the trip was scanning the shores hoping to catch a glance of a hippo. We talked and and just enjoyed the relaxing ride through the beautiful landscape. Jeff was telling stories about his childhood fishing the along this river. He had his binoculars out and was pointing out all kinds of things, we saw a Fisher Eagle and lots of Hippo paths through the thick vegetation that lined the river's edge.
I was talking with Theresa on the plank that extended from the port side of the boat (the only place to catch some sun as the top was covered and the breeze put some nip in the air). She mentioned something that I had not yet put together so well. The Africans do not think ahead or make plans in the event that something fails. When something important fails/breaks/changes God help you because, you are out of luck until someone is available to fix it. On the other hand it does sort of encourage the rebirth of the Renaissance Man though it also may be responsible for the abundance of half-sufficient fixes.
We also got to talking about how sad it is to see Africa want to be Western so badly. I want Africa to remain Africa! I do appreciate very much my wifi internet and mostly constant electricity but, I can't stand the thought of Africa losing it's 'ness' wanting to be the U.S. or Europe. It is so hard to hear of the corruption in the government, it is tearing this country apart. The Chinese are exploiting the resources and keep the Africans poor (i.e. the Copper Belt mines).
Even though there were zero hippo sightings this time it was a fantastic trip!
This morning I took a little walk to the Emmasdale Market for a doughnut but, go figure, not a one to be had. Made it to the Melisa market and picked up a few things for the week and kicked the soccer ball around with Kahler and the guard for a bit. Trying to keep up communication with everyone and learn more about the science that is going on in the labs. We are t-minus two weeks before this is completly on mine and Kahler's shoulders. I can't wait, bring it ON!
I was talking to Heather last night and got to thinking about being in a new place (again) and my email conversations with Uncle Bill about being effective where you are with what you have. Finding new ways for things to be done. Not just for the sake of achieving a goal from a different angle but, so that when you are gone you leave with your stamp on it. One that will hopefully survive the test of time. Or that your idea will give the next one up a fighting chance at piecing together the progressive step/s.
About to plunge into the week with eyes set on finishing the shipment. Then there is the brain storm that must happen to see that these 2am QC checks are a thing of the past.
Thank you all for the emails and the letters and the Skype conversations. They really do more than I can say to keep my spirits up and restore my sanity, so thanks.
All is ok
A good day. We (Kahler, Katy, and I) were invited to accompany Theresa, Jeff, and Jeannie on a trip to Kafue (We passed through Kafue, heading South to Siavonga). We had arranged that fateful Saturday night with Ernest to pick us up Sunday morning at 10:00 and take us to the meeting point at the Downtown Center Spar. We met Jeff's uncle and aunt and hit the road.
We arrived about forty-five minutes later and unloaded to board the 'Kafue Queen'! It was not the most impressive boat I have ever seen but, it was more than enough to reinforce the excitement I had mounted in anticipation for the cruise. Jeff and Jeannie came prepared! They had drinks, snacks, tea, coffee, etc. it was already obvious that this was going to be a great little river ride.
Our party arrived about a half an hour before the boat was scheduled to shove off (this is of course about an hour before the time that is actually left land, TIA). As we were really the only ones on the boat, aside from one other couple we claimed the top deck as ours. The wind was absolutely ferocious, causing little white caps to form on the wider parts of the river. We battened down the hatches, payed our dues and prepared for launch.
The Kafue Queen took the head wind going upstream much more effectively than I had imagined it would. The majority of the trip was scanning the shores hoping to catch a glance of a hippo. We talked and and just enjoyed the relaxing ride through the beautiful landscape. Jeff was telling stories about his childhood fishing the along this river. He had his binoculars out and was pointing out all kinds of things, we saw a Fisher Eagle and lots of Hippo paths through the thick vegetation that lined the river's edge.
I was talking with Theresa on the plank that extended from the port side of the boat (the only place to catch some sun as the top was covered and the breeze put some nip in the air). She mentioned something that I had not yet put together so well. The Africans do not think ahead or make plans in the event that something fails. When something important fails/breaks/changes God help you because, you are out of luck until someone is available to fix it. On the other hand it does sort of encourage the rebirth of the Renaissance Man though it also may be responsible for the abundance of half-sufficient fixes.
We also got to talking about how sad it is to see Africa want to be Western so badly. I want Africa to remain Africa! I do appreciate very much my wifi internet and mostly constant electricity but, I can't stand the thought of Africa losing it's 'ness' wanting to be the U.S. or Europe. It is so hard to hear of the corruption in the government, it is tearing this country apart. The Chinese are exploiting the resources and keep the Africans poor (i.e. the Copper Belt mines).
Even though there were zero hippo sightings this time it was a fantastic trip!
This morning I took a little walk to the Emmasdale Market for a doughnut but, go figure, not a one to be had. Made it to the Melisa market and picked up a few things for the week and kicked the soccer ball around with Kahler and the guard for a bit. Trying to keep up communication with everyone and learn more about the science that is going on in the labs. We are t-minus two weeks before this is completly on mine and Kahler's shoulders. I can't wait, bring it ON!
I was talking to Heather last night and got to thinking about being in a new place (again) and my email conversations with Uncle Bill about being effective where you are with what you have. Finding new ways for things to be done. Not just for the sake of achieving a goal from a different angle but, so that when you are gone you leave with your stamp on it. One that will hopefully survive the test of time. Or that your idea will give the next one up a fighting chance at piecing together the progressive step/s.
About to plunge into the week with eyes set on finishing the shipment. Then there is the brain storm that must happen to see that these 2am QC checks are a thing of the past.
Thank you all for the emails and the letters and the Skype conversations. They really do more than I can say to keep my spirits up and restore my sanity, so thanks.
All is ok
A little taste of the river, again, sorry for the shakiness... It's great though how, good music makes even crappy video look ok. Enjoy and have a fabulous day!
The long way home
It was a long week. Kahler and I were up til two or so Friday night doing a physical inspection of all the specimens in the repository boxes set to be shipped the beginning of next week. Then worked all morning to ensure that there was time enough for a database transformation to be made prior to shipping. Given this brief history, we decided to reward our endurance through such a week with a trip to the Mexican Food, Revolucion.
Dinner was fabulous! I think that I have blogged about this place before. It was absolutely delightful, they had the little chimmineas (big cloy fire pot, awesome) fired up and the atmosphere is lovely with a huge tree in the middle of the seating area wrapped with little white Christmas lights. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We (especially Katy) found something beautiful called drunken ice cream. Little scoops of a really light vanilla ice cream with a shot (or two) of Kahlua or Amaretto. Might be Katy's most favorite thing in the world.
So we had getting to the restaurant figured out but, back home was sort of up in the air. We had called a cabby named Ernest that lives in the Emmasdale area. He is a grade school teacher (in civics) and makes money as a driver on the weekend, which works out very well for us.
Now, to the nitty gritty of our evening. For our ride home we walked out to Zambezi Road and hailed a taxi with the Revolucion guard's help. We quickly negotiated the price to get us to Emmasdale and jumped in. I do not think that I have ever been in vehicle less road worthy... At least not off the top of my head ( I am going to use that cliche even though, taken literally, it is exceedingly strange to me). This thing was beat... I mean tired and done with it's job of transporting people. I dare say that it made ol Sparky (a beautiful '88 Honda Civic hatchback that was just too legit to quit) look like a Beamer.
1. Apparently one or two of the tires were coming apart, might have had something to do with the wheels being bent and the alignment that was shot to hades.
2. Smell... thats all
3. What's a cooling system do?
4. 'Short cut' through the worst part I have seen thus far
These are just a few of the fun things that turned this eight minute car ride into a forty-five minute battle.
Maybe you are familiar with the internal battle that is between calm and alarm. It's different from fight or flight. What I am referring is that balance between 'we could probably take those guys staring at us' and 'there's nothing to worry about, we are just muzungus, thats all' You try hard to prepare for the worst without showing that you are feeling any insecurity at all. So when the "car" overheats in what the driver admits to be a terrible part of town given by the comment 'roll up your window and lock the door, I will be back soon'. When his lanky figure disappeared into the night it was time to really assess the situation.
I was in the passenger seat, left front, Katy was right behind me with Kahler on the rear right behind the driver's seat.
- Check that he took the keys, yep
- Scope the surrounding, group of five guys off the back left corner of the car
- Faith that my door lock actually works, none
- Check the rear view for visible worry, clean
- Side to side, shantys and complete darkness
- Start some casual conversation to distract Katy from the situation
- Make gestures to Kahler on where possible danger may be hanging out
- Plan: phone out with a Zambian buddy's number ready to hit send, make call, find weapon and defend self until one of us loses.
So what actually happen is much less dramatic. The fellas wandered off and the driver returned with water to put in the radiator. He put enough in to cool the engine sufficiently to get the beater to crank and we headed for the nearest filling station where we pulled off and waited while he was topping the radiator and putting pressure in the front, left tire. All this while we were stuck in the car listening to Lady Gaga's, Love Game. THAT, in retrospect, was probably the worst part, haha!
We rolled along the Great North Road at a speed that kept the vibration from the wheel just beyond tolerable and eventually reached the big red gate of our Flat. We thanked Paul (the driver) and said good-bye. So happy to have reached home none the worse for wear, though Katy's nerves probably suffered irreversible damage.
All in all it was a delicious adventure specked with enough suspense to keep it exciting. We went to Kafue yesterday and had a blast, I will be posting about these great times here shortly.
I hope that you all had a fabulous Saturday/weekend! Call meh, haha
All is Well!
Dinner was fabulous! I think that I have blogged about this place before. It was absolutely delightful, they had the little chimmineas (big cloy fire pot, awesome) fired up and the atmosphere is lovely with a huge tree in the middle of the seating area wrapped with little white Christmas lights. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We (especially Katy) found something beautiful called drunken ice cream. Little scoops of a really light vanilla ice cream with a shot (or two) of Kahlua or Amaretto. Might be Katy's most favorite thing in the world.
So we had getting to the restaurant figured out but, back home was sort of up in the air. We had called a cabby named Ernest that lives in the Emmasdale area. He is a grade school teacher (in civics) and makes money as a driver on the weekend, which works out very well for us.
Now, to the nitty gritty of our evening. For our ride home we walked out to Zambezi Road and hailed a taxi with the Revolucion guard's help. We quickly negotiated the price to get us to Emmasdale and jumped in. I do not think that I have ever been in vehicle less road worthy... At least not off the top of my head ( I am going to use that cliche even though, taken literally, it is exceedingly strange to me). This thing was beat... I mean tired and done with it's job of transporting people. I dare say that it made ol Sparky (a beautiful '88 Honda Civic hatchback that was just too legit to quit) look like a Beamer.
1. Apparently one or two of the tires were coming apart, might have had something to do with the wheels being bent and the alignment that was shot to hades.
2. Smell... thats all
3. What's a cooling system do?
4. 'Short cut' through the worst part I have seen thus far
These are just a few of the fun things that turned this eight minute car ride into a forty-five minute battle.
Maybe you are familiar with the internal battle that is between calm and alarm. It's different from fight or flight. What I am referring is that balance between 'we could probably take those guys staring at us' and 'there's nothing to worry about, we are just muzungus, thats all' You try hard to prepare for the worst without showing that you are feeling any insecurity at all. So when the "car" overheats in what the driver admits to be a terrible part of town given by the comment 'roll up your window and lock the door, I will be back soon'. When his lanky figure disappeared into the night it was time to really assess the situation.
I was in the passenger seat, left front, Katy was right behind me with Kahler on the rear right behind the driver's seat.
- Check that he took the keys, yep
- Scope the surrounding, group of five guys off the back left corner of the car
- Faith that my door lock actually works, none
- Check the rear view for visible worry, clean
- Side to side, shantys and complete darkness
- Start some casual conversation to distract Katy from the situation
- Make gestures to Kahler on where possible danger may be hanging out
- Plan: phone out with a Zambian buddy's number ready to hit send, make call, find weapon and defend self until one of us loses.
So what actually happen is much less dramatic. The fellas wandered off and the driver returned with water to put in the radiator. He put enough in to cool the engine sufficiently to get the beater to crank and we headed for the nearest filling station where we pulled off and waited while he was topping the radiator and putting pressure in the front, left tire. All this while we were stuck in the car listening to Lady Gaga's, Love Game. THAT, in retrospect, was probably the worst part, haha!
We rolled along the Great North Road at a speed that kept the vibration from the wheel just beyond tolerable and eventually reached the big red gate of our Flat. We thanked Paul (the driver) and said good-bye. So happy to have reached home none the worse for wear, though Katy's nerves probably suffered irreversible damage.
All in all it was a delicious adventure specked with enough suspense to keep it exciting. We went to Kafue yesterday and had a blast, I will be posting about these great times here shortly.
I hope that you all had a fabulous Saturday/weekend! Call meh, haha
All is Well!
Friday, September 10, 2010
On to the next
My legs are still a little tight from my trek a couple of days ago and my mild burn has turned into a sweet tan. I will be making the trip again before long as mom and pa have sent me something that should be arriving soon. I hope to make the second run a little less dramatic, haha.
We had a little false alarm today about the internet being fixed. A message was emailed around 3:30 this afternoon about the connection being restored. It was however in error as my return to the flat found that my little laptop is still without that most important bit of world –wideness. Its absence has grown a kind a thankfulness that we have the web at all.
I have been working on new ways to open glass bottles as just about all, other than water, beverages require a bottle opener. I have nearly perfected the method of using a second glass bottle to open the first. Depending on the contents of the bottle you probably want to try it with the first rather than the third or fourth… just a suggestion. I can also use a plastic bottle or a butter knife. If all else fails I do have my handy dandy little keychain bottle opener.
I am moving to the next ‘I am living in Africa’ phase here very soon. To recap, I have figured out how to find food (the spear is sharp), I have explored my surroundings and found my limits on foot. I have traveled to Siavonga and battled the prehistoric dread-doom-leviathan-lizard-demon. Next, on the list is to figure out the mini-bus system and be able to use it well. What I know about them is as follows:
1. They are a gamble as far as how quickly they can get you where you need to be
2. It is not terribly uncommon for the drivers to be quite intoxicated
3. The smell is something I cannot adequately put into words. I walked by at least a dozen bus stops on my way into town and was nearly knocked over by the stink coming out of there.
4. They are nearly always packed beyond capacity (cap. 8 while 14+ are on board)
Despite those fairly negative reports and observations I still have to say that I have done it. I need to check it off the list and let it be forever. Much like those awful little fish (Kapinta).
There is a drink over here called Shake Shake that is made up of fermented mealy meal (the same stuff that is used to make Nshima). It has an alcohol content that is through the roof and smells (and must taste) just like vomit. Word is that you take a drink and wake up in a ditch. I think I may just be able to pass that one up without any regrets at all. The legal drinking age over here is eighteen, not that it matters, there is no enforcement and if you have money you can get whatever you want. It’s actually really sad I think., drunkenness is a huge problem here.
I really do like the walk that I have to take to work every morning. The road that connects our little Mwembelelo Road (ZAHRP flats) to Vubu Road (ZEHRP main clinic) might be really pretty if it were not absolutely littered with rubbish of every kind. I noticed the other day that despite the immense quantity of refuse lining the street the flowers still bloom. There is a crawling plant called a Morning Glory that does it’s very best to disguise the irresponsibility of the populous. I have talked with Kahler about buying a dozen cokes, finding a group of munchkins, and bribing them to clean the garbage. It is still a possibility. I will definitely capture some video if I do!
We have a soccer game this Sunday! I am super stoked, I will let you know how it goes
P.S. Blueberry Pop-Tarts taste a thousand times better in Zambia
All is very well!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A thousand miles
I would walk five hundred miles and I would walk five hundred more just to be the man that walked a thousand miles to fall down at your door. Ok, it wasn’t quite a thousand miles but man it was a pretty decent distance. Today was my comp day for the GCLP training a couple weeks ago. I used it to find out where on earth the package that Jennah and Brother sent me a month ago now.
It does not look so far on the map. I hit the road a little after ten after a hearty breakfast of cereal (corn flakes) and scrabbled eggs. A little past the Toyota Zambia roundabout I asked an innocent bystander where the post office was. They gave me direction that I could not really understand however, they did point and that’s what I went off of trusting that they could understand my question better than I could understand the response. Once in this building a asked about where I could receive a parcel? They answered that I should go to room 219 on the second floor. I thanked them for their help and proceeded to the second floor (or so I thought). I went up the stairs and was searching for 219 when a lady stopped me and asked if she could help I told her what I was looking for and she said go up to the next floor. Now, apparently in Zambia the ground floor is equivalent to floor zero… ok cool. So to the second/third level and found 219 tried the knob only to find the door locked, pretty neat right? I went to the next open door room 215 and asked the woman behind a big cluttered desk if she knew when the ‘reclamations’ (219, now among my least favorite numbers ever). She assumed the manner of being quite put out and told me I should check again as there should be someone on the way.
I stood in the hall across from the door that I wanted in so fervently listening to Jimmy’s ‘Get it Faster’ for several minutes until someone else who needed to retrieve a package too arrived. I explained the situation that I had encountered as clearly as possible and they disappeared down the hall. Shortly after they had gone they returned escorted by the fella I hoped held the keys to this mystery room. I was very grateful to find my hopes realized as he produced a stubby little key and fit it in the lock. I had hoped that this room might be filled with parcels and that all I would need to do is find the box with my name on it. What I found instead was another big desk without a box in sight. Ok well that’s ok maybe he is just keeping mine behind the desk where I can’t see as because the word on the street is that Tom Cruise is on his way to collect some mail, haha… spot on.
I waited for the man that did fetching of the 219 man to be helped and then seated myself across from the man at the massive desk and asked about my package. He looked at the tracking number and said that I must go to another office to find this box as it was sent express. He very courteously walked me to the stairwell and pointed out to me the building down the street that I must go to. I thanked him and went on my way following carefully the directions that I was given by the kindly Mr. Reclamations Office. I wandered through the busy streets to the third left in the building just to the South. The Express Mail Service was a small front and I ducked in to be immediately helped. A man offered me a seat as I told him that I was here to make a pick up. He typed the tracking number into his 2001 HP and waited for the query to run. There was a good bit of hustle and bustle in the little shop with many sending packages here and there. The man helping me pulled a fresh sheet off a nearby printer and explained to me that my parcel was still at customs. I needed to go to the ‘Freedom Road Post Office’. He asked if I was on foot or in a car. I quickly tried to think of a reason that this might change the location of the Freedom Road Post Office but, decided that asking for clarification to his inquiry would only increase the confusion and humored his curiosity with a reply that I was on foot. So, after he attempted some rough directions and I was off.
Again, making my way through the masses I found freedom road where I asked a man on a bench where I might find the post office. He was happy to help and I felt renewed motivation as he hinted that it was very near. I kept the line two blocks south and came to a long single story building. I cruised in with a grin and asked handed the young lady across the slip that had been printed by the previous office. She motioned me to a little deck and brought my package. I touched it! It was right there! I was overjoyed. She then asked for identification… my heart broke. I had nothing, no license, no passport, no credit card, nothing. She would snatched the box back and very rudely informed me that I must have proper ID to claim to package. I left the building disappointed yet excited that I knew where my box was. There was nothing now that could keep me from it! I started on the long walk home where I decided that I would eat some lunch and set back out.
Got back, threw some of these frozen spring roll things that I found at Spar in the oven and went to see if the internet was back up. No luck, I guess they are still breaking it? I walked over to Main site with Katy, talked with she and Kahler for a bit and then struck out.
Spoiler alert, I just planted some jalapeno seeds from the package that I got from my awesome brother and sis! It’s so awesome! I have about a million Clif bars and Pop-Tarts and they got me a Nalgene bottle, which I am in desperate need of and sunglasses, that would have been really handy for all the miles I put in today and an alarm clock, some Gushers (they are slightly post gush though I think as the altitude beat my teeth to the punch (still delicious though), all kinds of gum, some benchmark setting jerky, and wall adapters that transform the 220V to 110V. My one thousand miles was very worth it to claim all my goodies.
Oh ya, and next time I should think about cabbing it back, that box got heavy after the third mile or so.
Note: On the way back I saw a tow truck that read ‘Big Papa Z’ across it. I nearly died laughing.
Tomorrow is going to be my first day solo at IAVI. I have been warned that it is much more intense than the main site and though business does not worry me I hope that I can keep up after having been spoiled with the more desirable of the two sites at the onset. I will certainly let you know.
Hope your first day was stellar ;)
All is super duper
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The system is down
Sunday After Church
I am sitting on the steps of the IAVI clinic. This is the only place that maintains an internet connection after the wifi that was working perfectly at the flats was fixed. Hopefully they will have it back up by Tuesday (TIA, not holding my breath).
I am sitting on the steps of the IAVI clinic. This is the only place that maintains an internet connection after the wifi that was working perfectly at the flats was fixed. Hopefully they will have it back up by Tuesday (TIA, not holding my breath).
The normal pastor was away at a conference in Zimbabwe today so the associate pastor gave the sermon in his stead. It was one of the most wandering messages I have heard in quite some time (It might be more accurately relayed to some who understand when I say that the Monte principle applied… in spades). We made it through and chatted for a while to some folks outside the church after our reception line was completed.
Peev: Why do people ask you if you remember their name? I wish they could just skip the drama and introduce themselves again because if you are asking if they remember the answer is usually (always in my case) no. So if you are one of those people that does that… cut it out! Makes people like me dance and make up absurd stories (oh, maybe that’s why they do it).
It feels terrible to be separated from everyone with the interwebs acting up. I miss talking to you very much and can’t wait to see, hear, or read you again. For now I am making little trips to IAVI for short doses of those sweet, sweet webs. Hoping that you have a fabulous Sunday!
All is well!
Friday Evening 7:30
It’s been a while since I have been without an Internet connection, and now that I am, I am faced with the challenging task of finding something to do with my time while it is away. So I am writing this blog entry in Word and will post it when it has returned. Apparently someone has taken the wireless router to have it ‘harmonized’? Instead of talking with friends and reading journal articles I have passed the time with a hacky sack, eating, and settling into my new room. It has not been so terrible but, I am now exceptionally aware of how much those little interwebs mean, even if they are a little sluggish.
It’s been a while since I have been without an Internet connection, and now that I am, I am faced with the challenging task of finding something to do with my time while it is away. So I am writing this blog entry in Word and will post it when it has returned. Apparently someone has taken the wireless router to have it ‘harmonized’? Instead of talking with friends and reading journal articles I have passed the time with a hacky sack, eating, and settling into my new room. It has not been so terrible but, I am now exceptionally aware of how much those little interwebs mean, even if they are a little sluggish.
This morning started out with following up on a possible sero-conversion (the negative partner in a discordant relationship has been found positive for HIV antigens or antibodies) that was discovered yesterday afternoon on one of the ELISA tests. These sero-conversions are quite precious to the project and the standard operating procedures outlined for this event is thorough and tedious. I held up the laboratory’s responsibilities but, the community worker that was sent out to bring the client back in reported that the individual had ‘shifted’ or moved. Made the am hours somewhat anti-climactic. It was good to go through the process and get some experience on how the whole project changes gears to respond to the lab findings. Honestly, it is neat to be the first line in detecting the most important result the project ever encounters.
After work (6:00, lame) I made my Coke run to Esprite. Slung my bag over my shoulder, popped my ipod in (a little Jimmy Eat World) and made my way down the dusty road. On the way back there was a women walking toward me on the road staring at me… Now I am the only muzungu around so this is not so strange. I called hello, and she returned the greeting and proceeded to ask me if she could have my phone number. All I could do is laugh and keep walking. That is certainly a first for that! She followed me for a bit, I guess it just took her a little longer than I hoped it would to figure out what my laugh meant. I guess I will have to talk to a friend back home about how to let them down with a little more class. The next thing is to learn how to elicit this sort of response from some amazing chick back in America, haha.
Food for Thought: How bad would it be to begin introducing myself as Tom Cruise?
Tomorrow is the Friday of a three-day weekend! I have not yet taken my comp day from the GCLP training a couple of weeks ago.
I am trying hard to remember to soak in the fact that I am in Africa. I found myself today looking around in amazement of where I physically am on the globe. I am so many miles from all that I have known in my life thus far. I want to do my job well but I do not want to forget where I am. After lunch this afternoon on the short walk from the medical building to the lab I saw a tiny bird standing on one of the shards of glass that tops the brick wall around the main clinic compound. It was brilliantly colored blue and grey with a bright orange beak and feet. It was like nothing that I have seen in Texas and I was reminded then and there where I am. I hope that little thing like this will continue to jog my mind, even when things get hectic and I am apt to put the blinders on and become callus to the beauty that is all around me. Now this goes for the states as well. Be observant even on the path that you have walked a million times. I guarantee that there are things that you have yet to really take in. And to those of you in new places, try to appreciate the differences in your fresh surrounding (from Cub Food to Rainbow). Routines are not bad however, they tend to foster the idea that one has seen all there is to see and that’s just not true. As I was just arriving back to the lab the yodel-man came over the loud speaker with his prayer. It was my reminder to thank the Lord for all that He has blessed me with, from amazing family and phenomenal friends to the vision that allowed me to see that little bird and even the huge legged-snake at Lake Kariba.
I hope that all is fantastic in your life and that you make a new observation about the same ol things sometime this weekend. Have a wonderful weekend! I miss you all very much! All is pretty good
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Nerd
The second day of the audit went very smoothly. Part of this is due to the great staff that we have in the lab and the remaining may be attributed to the fantastic personality and attitude of the auditor. She was excellent! She made it clear that she was there to help, not to appoint blame. Very refreshing and certainly not the norm. Still, I wish that this was not so stellar. I want all of the dirty laundry that I don't know about out in the open because other auditors will dig much deeper (because they will have the time to, Charlotte was only here for a day and a half). For now the chaos is over and we will tell ourselves again that we should just keep the house clean this time so next time company comes over it is not so difficult to prepare (fingers crossed Kahler and I can do this).
This audit made it seem as if I really am just filling a position that they say they have and that I really do not have so much to contribute to the project. The staff did a wonderful job of responding to the inquiries of the auditor. I have much to learn from all of them. It is strange to be in this position of ignorance and authority. For me, it is pointless to try and hide the naivety as it will surely be found out. I ask questions about what the staff do yet, I some how have the final say and they come to me for permission to run a given test.
This brings me to the blog title. This realization that i am not well learned in the specifics of the testing that is going on all around me everyday drives a desire to learn everything about all of the processes that I might have something valuable to bring to the table in the way of advice or setting guidelines. I want to know everything about what others are doing and do all that I can to learn from the experiences of those that have gone before. I want to contribute to the body of knowledge dedicated to this virus and disease.
A killer bonus to this endeavor is the possibility of being granted a scholarship to present my findings at conferences in new and exciting places (Vienna, Geneva, New Delhi...). I know that probably sounds crazy as I am currently in a new and exciting place... but here is the thing (it is not only because I am afraid of commitment). I am in a very new and different place however, it seems only to whet the appetite for travel. getting excused leave from the project for a week and being put up in a five star hotel to present my ideas among the subject's best and most influential is exciting no matter where you are. I am going to be working on that. If anyone has any big ideas please shoot them to me.
I have begun to recognize the objective of the project is to build laboratory technicians (by this I mean that we provide excellent training and crap for salaries) and prestige for the professor/s at Emory that procure the grant funding for the project. It is a pretty legit notch in the belt to say that you head an HIV project in Lusaka, Zambia working with clinical vaccine trials and preventative counseling. Some where along the line the original outset is found; that is to limit the impact of this infection among Zambians and ultimately the the rest of the world. From where I am I do not see the latter so clearly. It could be that I have not yet gathered information from enough angles or that the lab is just too disconnecting from the client-counselor interface to see the effect.
I have officially moved into flat four and am enjoying the luxuries of a closet and my own bathroom thoroughly. It is exciting to change perspective if only by a hundred feet or so.
I am going to finish the evening learning about p24 & Viron ELISA, hematology, blood chemistry, and PCR as it pertains to human immunodeficiency viral load replication. So here's to a sweet abstract and a trip spectacular new place! All is very well.
This audit made it seem as if I really am just filling a position that they say they have and that I really do not have so much to contribute to the project. The staff did a wonderful job of responding to the inquiries of the auditor. I have much to learn from all of them. It is strange to be in this position of ignorance and authority. For me, it is pointless to try and hide the naivety as it will surely be found out. I ask questions about what the staff do yet, I some how have the final say and they come to me for permission to run a given test.
This brings me to the blog title. This realization that i am not well learned in the specifics of the testing that is going on all around me everyday drives a desire to learn everything about all of the processes that I might have something valuable to bring to the table in the way of advice or setting guidelines. I want to know everything about what others are doing and do all that I can to learn from the experiences of those that have gone before. I want to contribute to the body of knowledge dedicated to this virus and disease.
A killer bonus to this endeavor is the possibility of being granted a scholarship to present my findings at conferences in new and exciting places (Vienna, Geneva, New Delhi...). I know that probably sounds crazy as I am currently in a new and exciting place... but here is the thing (it is not only because I am afraid of commitment). I am in a very new and different place however, it seems only to whet the appetite for travel. getting excused leave from the project for a week and being put up in a five star hotel to present my ideas among the subject's best and most influential is exciting no matter where you are. I am going to be working on that. If anyone has any big ideas please shoot them to me.
I have begun to recognize the objective of the project is to build laboratory technicians (by this I mean that we provide excellent training and crap for salaries) and prestige for the professor/s at Emory that procure the grant funding for the project. It is a pretty legit notch in the belt to say that you head an HIV project in Lusaka, Zambia working with clinical vaccine trials and preventative counseling. Some where along the line the original outset is found; that is to limit the impact of this infection among Zambians and ultimately the the rest of the world. From where I am I do not see the latter so clearly. It could be that I have not yet gathered information from enough angles or that the lab is just too disconnecting from the client-counselor interface to see the effect.
I have officially moved into flat four and am enjoying the luxuries of a closet and my own bathroom thoroughly. It is exciting to change perspective if only by a hundred feet or so.
A little peak at the view from one of the little stone paths at Lake Kariba Inn
This is the very same path that I saw the death dragon on... I am driving this point because there have been several to express doubt about the abundant ferocity of that behemoth (ahem, Heather!) My life actually flashed before my eyes.
I am going to finish the evening learning about p24 & Viron ELISA, hematology, blood chemistry, and PCR as it pertains to human immunodeficiency viral load replication. So here's to a sweet abstract and a trip spectacular new place! All is very well.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Audit
I can liken an audit to cleaning a house for company. The metaphor here is not too difficult to imagine. The kicker in this case is that it is not your house.
Today was the first day of our two day audit on the ZEHRP laboratories. The staff showed up in spades! They did a phenomenal job handling the 'on-the-spot' questions of the auditor. The auditor was surprisingly social and had a sense of humor (about one hundred percent opposite of what I had expected). Kahler and I spent some time watching her look through some of the personnel files so we could get a better understanding of what an audit looks like and what the checklists that the auditors tote looks like. Fortunately she found it just as boring as we did and we got to talk to her about things other than the lab for bit as well.
So even though I don't walk out to my car, crank some tunes, and drive home (or to McD's), I have found the equivalent for me here. I walk down to the little Emmasdale Market or the Esprite store and get a coke. It has become a sort of habit now. I look at all the people walking from where ever they work and I get to reflect on the day or forget the day completely and let my mind wander. Today I saw a couple a kids playing on a skateboard, I thought for a second 'man, if I didn't have dress clothes on I could totally show them how it is done'. There has been a truck full of laborers that has driven by the last couple days that all yell at me and I raise a thumbs up and they all erupt in laughter and do the same. I don't fit in and really that ok with me. I get a kick out if and I don't suspect that will change anytime soon.
It looks like I am going to be moving to a new flat. It is in the same compound just two doors down. I am pretty stoked about having a closet though. I will also get my own bathroom! Don't know if you guys knew this but, girls have about a thousand bottles and cream and goo and stuff. I do not understand it... and maybe i am not meant to. I am probably glad that they have all those things however, I am not a fan of fighting for floor space in the shower with a gang of rowdy young oddly shaped bottles.
Bucket List Item 01: Watch a drunk monkey dance. Apparently there are monkeys at Vic Falls that steal the beverages of those that have likely already had plenty, become intoxicated, and begin to stumble around in a sort of dancing. Can't wait to take that video.
Get through the audit tomorrow and move to the new flat. My next post will be from there. All is well
Today was the first day of our two day audit on the ZEHRP laboratories. The staff showed up in spades! They did a phenomenal job handling the 'on-the-spot' questions of the auditor. The auditor was surprisingly social and had a sense of humor (about one hundred percent opposite of what I had expected). Kahler and I spent some time watching her look through some of the personnel files so we could get a better understanding of what an audit looks like and what the checklists that the auditors tote looks like. Fortunately she found it just as boring as we did and we got to talk to her about things other than the lab for bit as well.
So even though I don't walk out to my car, crank some tunes, and drive home (or to McD's), I have found the equivalent for me here. I walk down to the little Emmasdale Market or the Esprite store and get a coke. It has become a sort of habit now. I look at all the people walking from where ever they work and I get to reflect on the day or forget the day completely and let my mind wander. Today I saw a couple a kids playing on a skateboard, I thought for a second 'man, if I didn't have dress clothes on I could totally show them how it is done'. There has been a truck full of laborers that has driven by the last couple days that all yell at me and I raise a thumbs up and they all erupt in laughter and do the same. I don't fit in and really that ok with me. I get a kick out if and I don't suspect that will change anytime soon.
It looks like I am going to be moving to a new flat. It is in the same compound just two doors down. I am pretty stoked about having a closet though. I will also get my own bathroom! Don't know if you guys knew this but, girls have about a thousand bottles and cream and goo and stuff. I do not understand it... and maybe i am not meant to. I am probably glad that they have all those things however, I am not a fan of fighting for floor space in the shower with a gang of rowdy young oddly shaped bottles.
Bucket List Item 01: Watch a drunk monkey dance. Apparently there are monkeys at Vic Falls that steal the beverages of those that have likely already had plenty, become intoxicated, and begin to stumble around in a sort of dancing. Can't wait to take that video.
Oh ya, here is a picture of the little fish. Katy has a shot that is much better.
They were terrible, Heather! Specifically, they were very salty with a prickly texture which mounts considerable opposition to the act of swallowing... but, I tried them, win
Get through the audit tomorrow and move to the new flat. My next post will be from there. All is well
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