Work and the like

These last few days have been unlike any days i have had here at ZEHRP to date. There is work, there is hard work, challenging work, an then there are days like these. You know those days where you look up and are genuinely shocked at the clock? It is great in a way and then it is difficult because there is still much to complete.

We had been working with, Paramesh, an extremely knowledgeable guy with some wit to keep bordem. He made me laugh when he asked if Kahler and I drank and when we responded that we do he was disappointed that we did not let him know that sooner so he could have gotten us something from the airport (the good stuff is much cheaper there).

Today was the second day of the 'site initiation visit' (SIV) where representatives (including Parry) from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. There is so much to to remember and so much protocol to see to. The difficulty is exacerbated by the fact that we are in Zambia and what you can expect some to understand or figure out it mortally wounded. I have said before that there is just a very different way of thinking allowed to run rampant (I am striving to keep from conveying the negative connotation though I don't think that you can appreciate the cultural inequalities without a bit of hyperbole tossed in the dialogue).

I am honestly slightly nervous about the site hand-off. When Kahler and I check out, the places to look for direction will be almost strictly paperwork. They are intelligent but, without having looked at the stacks or protocol it could get hairy. I would like to pretend that I don't care but, this clinical vaccine trial is a really neat thing and I have learned very much.

The 'and the like' in the title comes in here. I got to talking to Parry about how he got to where he is. Kahler and I had already agreed to probe him about what it is like to work for IAVI in an effort to plant some seeds that might bear some useful building blocks in the future. Having first-hand experience with a trial initiation can't hurt my chances.

Parry has done a little of everything it turns out. He ran into the same issues that I have in looking for decent jobs, chiefly being that just about every organization is interested only in senior management and/or there is a strict requirement on five years of experience. I cannot, for the life of me, decode the mystery of finding these early career experience positions. Someone please let me know if you figure it out.

At the end of today I was glad that the day was over but, for the first time in quite some time was also satisfied with the amount of work that I was able to accomplish. There is always more but, with Parry around there is little to do other than work.

I am looking forward to tomorrow a little more than I have in the past. It does not hurt a thing that I am going to get to eat a great meal at the Howard's with my favorite Ameri-Zams, Claire, Ellen, Truitt, Cindy, and of course my un-equalled in fabulousness, flat mates.

Well I submitted my request to leave in mid-May and it has been met with... nothing, nothing at all. I talked to one of the girls that works for Dr. Allen in Atlanta (who just turned in her resignation after three and half years of not being real happy, I guess sometimes you just get stuck, I cannot identify with this, I exercise the 'ol wings when I am pushed). At worst she is miffed and I can't depend on her for a good letter of recommendation. At best she says good luck, go get 'em. At this point the worst seems all too doable.

So lots of words here but, all is well. Here are a few pictures from this last weekend. Have a great day! ...I wanted to add pictures but, I am going to have to tweak them a bit so far as quality is concerned because the connection over here will have no part in uploading a 3.5mb image. Will be soon, I assure you they will be great (Katy is pretty legit).

This past weekend

Wow! It is pretty amazing you can do with a few great friends and a few extra bucks. It was a weekend of firsts to be sure. Absolutely a fantastic break to the past weeks and one that I will need to remember in those to come.

Firsts:

1. Crocodile burger at the Riverfront restaurant: Tastes a little like a cross between fish and chicken with the texture of fibrous rubber (silly string-esque jerky). Not great, but, check it off the list.

2. Absolutely stunning sunset: On the deck of the David Livingstone Lodge with a Castle and terrific conversation about an amazing day. Looked like a scene out of a movie but, it was there, very tactfully creating a memory that I cannot soon forget.

3. Lunar rainbow: Can't even begin to tell you how amazing this was. It turns out that we picked an evening when the moon was as close as it has been to the earth in twenty-five years (Uncle Bill, you can verify this one). You just need to see it.

4. Vic Falls roar: I have been there before in the dry and the falls were very impressive however; this time when they were full, the raw power of the wonder was seen in it's fullness. There is a torrent of spray swirling around in, what feels to be, every direction. I was soaked to the teeth but, would have had it no other way. It felt like a water park, there is no use trying to stay dry and in the end it's not as much fun if you don't get drenched.

5. Zimbabwe: Set foot in Zim though I didn't get a stamp in my passport.

6. Bungee jumped over the Zambezi River: This was probably the most exhilarating thing that I have ever done in my life. It was absolutely incredible. 111m fall over the raging river. Again, this is one for which my words do little justice. Reece, Claire, and I did the 'Big Air Combo' which included the bungee, an enormous swing, and a zip line across the gorge from Zam to Zim.

I am convinced that there is really no way to be prepared for the jump. I was pumped and stepped to the edge and, in my very right mind, hurling myself off the edge. I remember thinking that it was awesome and as I twisted around and looked at the under-side of the bridge my mind rapidly switched to all-out 'what on earth have you done?!' mode. All fun evacuated and I was left with pure terror in the face of, what was certain, to be my doom. The bungee jostled a bit and brought my rigid body to a stop and tossed me back up in the air. Just as soon as the velocity began to peel that terror dissolved into elation and it was immediately ranked as just about the most fun I have ever had. The swing was much the same way though, I can say that I was a bit more prepared for the abrupt emotional transitions on the second round.

Don't you worry, Mom, all is well. There are a few more things that I would like to detail. But, it is getting late and this week is going to be a doozie. It was amazing to have Reece here last week. He is a cool cat and it was lame to have to take him back to the airport. I will write again soon. Have a fabulous day. All is dandy

Lunar bow

Got to see something amazing tonight with new and old friends. Reece, Ellen, Claire, Katy, Kahler and I all packed up this morning and headed for Vic Falls. made it safe and sound. Ate dinner and made for the park.


Met some other friend at the falls too which was neat, it actually feels like we have been around these parts for a while now. Pretty exciting.


I will post pictures as soon as I get them from Katy. Sincerely, praying that all is well and that you enjoy the life out of your weekend. Miss you all very much and wish I could warp you over here to see this terrific place.

All is well

No Webs

Hey there,

I would like to write a long blog and let you know everything that has been going on but, it really wouldn't take that long. It has been busy and boring at the same time. I worked through the two holidays that we had this past week, Friday and Saturday. This way I am able to take this Friday and Saturday off and spend some time with Reece who flies in late this evening.

Working, no internet, church group of friends and the flats to ourselves as all of the other interns left town for the long weekend. Still looking at Capetown maybe with Megan and Claire over the long Easter break though I don't know that I will be able to hack that flight.

For those of you in school or working at school, I hope that you enjoy your Spring Break!

I got an encouraging note back from Dr. Allen about not renewing my contract. That is a bit of good, and undoubtedly unexpected, news.

Vic Falls this next weekend! Thinking that I can drag Reece or one of the girls with me on the bungee jump, I am pretty pumped about that. There will be video, don't you worry. Also, it is exciting that we will not have to take the bus as Ellen coming and is going to let me drive. Can't beat that.

Well I am going to get back to fixing errors in the serum database, kill me. I can see the end now and will let you know the return date soon, I hope.

All is well

Did the time change back home?

Application

Application: it's what makes the knowing count.

Employment, academics, electronics, etc. The application is nothing until it is reviewed or opened. Here I have been writing cover letters and filling our forms and double/triple checking everything. I think that this is important because I want to have a plan.

I have a buddy, Reece, that is coming to visit here in a week. We both finished our master's degrees just recently, he in civil engineering and me, well you know. He accepted a one year contract to work in Australia. Other than the fact that he is about a million times better with numbers we have a good bit in common.

He and I both have a significant other that we are far from, we are not exactly crazy about the job that we are working and we have come to this point where we haave to figure out where to go next. I like to think that this is not isolated to myself and my mate from New Zealand. This is one of those points where you get to find out what you really want and where it is you wnat to be when it's all done.

Well I have it half-way sorted out. I know what I really want. That other half is going to fall into place regardless of how much I worry about it. I will continue to look for the openings but, I am in Zambia. I have an incredible family and group of friends that care about me. With them I am not alone in my hopes and dreams. Faith in a God that knows exactly what is going on all the time and cares about me more than anyone ever could doesn't hurt anything either.

So here's to the unknown future.

Let me point out a few happy times:
1. Sundays are awesome, this last one was no exception. Picked up by Ellen and Claire (I will try and snag a picture of some of these folks for you sometime soon) and off to church, lunch at a great Indian (dots) food place, home for a quick nap, to the Baptist Mission House for Bible study, and finally hand and foot with the gang at Mike and Lindy's.

2. Success at work today! Kahler and I made a run to the airport to try and clear a package through an inept/broken customs system. There were two consignments in which we were interested. We were told that only one was prepared. I asked enough questions to get the boss man to tell us, in shiort, that he had lost the paperwork... neat. The one that we got was very important however, and so the half-victory was enough to call the trip a success.

3. That little blue bird was snacking on the critters exposed due to the freshly cut grass at main site.

4. I have been here eight months. Wow

5. Encouraging words from friends and family plus, great contact with previous professors and professional contacts. I still have a few left to contact. Dr. Sweeney and Dr. Primm are fantastic though and the compassion/concern that they have for me, a former student, is pretty spectacular.

You see, everything is going to be just exactly according to plan if I can 'apply' what I know. I know that no matter how much I want to be I am not always going to be in control of my future. In those times I need to have faith and pray that the efforts that I make are in line with his plan.

It might be easy to look at this and say, wow, he is kind of pawning off his failure as part of a higher plan that he can do nothing about. I assure you however, that I went through that scenario. No matter how you slice that it, the above can't account for the joy that I have in what the future has in store for me. Only if I were crazy and/or delusional. I will let you be the judge of that.

All is well and all will be just fantastic. I am sure of it.

Alternate route engage

This was a tough week. I got news that I was not accepted into the program that I wanted. In my head I can't think of a reason why. I also can't think of a way that anything could work more perfectly. I am one of those guys that can set priorities quickly and stick with them until the end. Well when I was blessed with the opportunity to meet a wonderful girl my Jenga tower of priorities fell and I built it again.

So the time line is a bit different than I had in mind.

At church this morning I got to talk to the fella that presented the message (it rotates). He told me something that I knew but, have a bad habit of forgetting. You have to not be sure of something to have faith in it. I know that the Lord is in control and that worrying will prove to be of zero benefit. I am building and forming other options and I have a wonderful support group here and across the world. That wonderful girl has been well... wonderful. My family is always there, no matter what happens, I am so grateful. Katy made me a fantastic dinner and we all talked about all of the other options.

My personality is such that I become paralyzed when things don't go according to plan. I know, I know I claim that I am not a planner but, it turns out that there are goals and dreams that I have sub-conscience plans to achieve. I am well aware that everything will go exactly as it should in sync with the Master Planner but, man let me tell you, saying it is one thing, the doing... well, I will let you know.

It works out ok though cause you know when that tower falls those bottom pieces don't really go any where. That foundation is the same each time I get a little anxious and try and take thing on my own.

So here I go, one block at a time figuring out what this next year holds for me. I am looking seriously at mid-May to return. I will look to get on with a laboratory for the summer and try to get a publication or two out the door along with additional experience. Like I said, the goals are the same, it's just that time line that took a knock.

Please don't worry, I'm not. I am really doing well. I am exploring new options and have a peace even in the not knowing for sure. All is well because the stuff that really matters isn't wrapped up in any particular program, it happens where ever you are.

I will certainly keep you updated on new opportunities and options. They are definitely there, I just haven't found all of them yet.