So far, coming home from Liberia has been bittersweet. I actually wish we had a few more days there, things didn't really come together until the last few days and it would have been fun to have some more time to get to know the friends we made there. I keep thinking about how different life is here! So in honor of that, here are some things I've been grateful for since returning, and things that I've missed.
Grateful for:
- electricity and running water
- brushing my teeth with the tap water
- how clean it is here
- my education
- our government (there's plenty to complain about but at least it works)
I don't miss:
- worrying about running over hundreds of pedestrians while driving
- all the attention that comes with being an American in Africa (especially when holding a camera ...)
- people assuming that just b/c I'm American I have plenty of money to spare
- sweating all day
- not being sad or wanting to cry several times a day.
I miss (oddly enough):
- seeing the status of the ants on my bathroom wall each morning
- talking with Chris while showering and filling the bucket in case the water pressure runs out
- waking up to Francis' beautiful smile and hugs
- being surrounded by joyful people
- the inspiration of Rev. Luther and the Transformation International boys,
- coke with real sugar
- swimming in the ocean after a long and hot day.
We have tons of pictures to go through, soon I'll start posting a few at a time with some stories.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
YIKES!!!
We leave for Liberia in just a few days. My bags are packed and I'm physically ready to go, but emotionally and mentally I feel far from ready! I talked to Sarah Jane today about it and she said she thinks she just needs to be there so she can stop worrying about it. I think I might agree with her.
My conference in San Diego went well. I loved the area, and for the first time in a few years I can say that I could see myself living somewhere in California! My favorite part of the conference was when we brought up policy or ethical issues. It's not really related to my research but personally is the most interesting part of what I do. On one hand, I enjoy being a part of a field that is very relevant to society right now, but on the other hand I don't want to get wrapped up in the policy side of things because that is way beyond my area of expertise!
Anyway, I'm just stopping in between packing and cleaning. It is sooo nice to be home, I kind of wish I could be here a little longer before heading out again.
My conference in San Diego went well. I loved the area, and for the first time in a few years I can say that I could see myself living somewhere in California! My favorite part of the conference was when we brought up policy or ethical issues. It's not really related to my research but personally is the most interesting part of what I do. On one hand, I enjoy being a part of a field that is very relevant to society right now, but on the other hand I don't want to get wrapped up in the policy side of things because that is way beyond my area of expertise!
Anyway, I'm just stopping in between packing and cleaning. It is sooo nice to be home, I kind of wish I could be here a little longer before heading out again.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A strange year coming up!
For the last few years, by this time of year I am either into my cycling base training or getting ready to start a triathlon training plan. I am extremely goal oriented and have become hooked to this lifestyle of training and racing. But this year is different, for a few reasons ...
1. I need something different. I did a lot of base training last year, and it gets boring going the same, slow speed all the time.
2. I'll be in Liberia 2 weeks and won't workout at all, so what's the point in ramping up the fitness until after then?
3. I have no idea what races I will do this year because of the B-word, which Chris and I have been talking about lately. I would hate to register for and invest my time in training for a race and then not do it because I'm the P-word. Then again, Chris also brought up how much he wants to travel still this morning, so maybe we will just never have the C-word. And just because we might start trying to get P-word (which won't happen until after Liberia, at the earliest) doesn't mean it will actually happen any time soon.
So this is strange for me, and I am at a loss for what to do or how to motivate myself to workout when I have no idea what it's for. So for now I am just living in denial and daydreaming about how I'm going to get faster this year.
1. I need something different. I did a lot of base training last year, and it gets boring going the same, slow speed all the time.
2. I'll be in Liberia 2 weeks and won't workout at all, so what's the point in ramping up the fitness until after then?
3. I have no idea what races I will do this year because of the B-word, which Chris and I have been talking about lately. I would hate to register for and invest my time in training for a race and then not do it because I'm the P-word. Then again, Chris also brought up how much he wants to travel still this morning, so maybe we will just never have the C-word. And just because we might start trying to get P-word (which won't happen until after Liberia, at the earliest) doesn't mean it will actually happen any time soon.
So this is strange for me, and I am at a loss for what to do or how to motivate myself to workout when I have no idea what it's for. So for now I am just living in denial and daydreaming about how I'm going to get faster this year.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Differences
I keep thinking about the man we had dinner with last night during a meeting to get ready for Liberia. He's from Rwanda, but spent much of his childhood in refugee camps in Uganda. He talked about watching his two sisters die of starvation, of barely surviving on a bowl of porridge a day, and of being hurried into a hospital to hide after learning a group of rebels were coming to kill everyone in the village. He kept saying, "It was very hard" or "It was challenging." I kept thinking about all the things I've said are challenging in my life and how easy they were in comparison! We are so lucky for the lives we have.
Also, he started a feeding program in Rwanda that serves a small community of children. He is a student and earns $800 a month, and he sends $300 a month to this program. How can I hear a story like this and not question my own unwillingness to part with my time and money to help others? I'm so grateful that he came and had dinner with us!
Also, he started a feeding program in Rwanda that serves a small community of children. He is a student and earns $800 a month, and he sends $300 a month to this program. How can I hear a story like this and not question my own unwillingness to part with my time and money to help others? I'm so grateful that he came and had dinner with us!
Friday, January 1, 2010
2009 - a great year!
As I predicted back in January of 09, it was an amazing year. One that I don't know if we'll ever top. Right now I'm okay with that, on top of being a lot of fun, 2009 was exhausting and I wouldn't mind a quieter year in 2010. As soon as we get back from Liberia ...
But one thing that strikes me is that even if you take out our life-list type feats, it was still a pretty good year! I attribute that to the Colorado lifestyle and the good friends we've made here in Fort Collins. So for this post, I want to reflect on the more "normal" good times of 2009, the ones that make day-to-day life in the Choice City.
In January, we went snowshoeing at Lake Agnes near Cameron Pass with Nick and Levi. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time sliding across the frozen lake!
In February I went to one of my favorite place, Moab, with two of my favorite people, Michelle and Rachel. Here we are at our campsite with enough supplies for a week:
And we traveled back to Atlanta to visit Chris' grandfather, who since then has turned 90 and gotten remarried! :)
In March and April I taught at Colorado College in Co. Springs. On a weekend back in the Fort, Chris and I went on an urban hike around the city. We saw fox, deer, made a snowman, and had some fun with the prairie dogs (look for the prairie dog and snowball in the picture ... no animals were harmed in the making of this picture):
Chris also came to the Springs for a weekend and we hiked around the Garden of the Gods. I worked a ton while down there but one positive was finding just enough spare time to explore the natural beauty of this area.
May brought us spring and the beginning of our athletic pursuits - the Colorado half marathon, and a great weekend for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Durango.
We went on a couple other hikes with Nick and Levi - first a failed attempt up Mt Spalding (a thirteener next to Mt. Bierstad) where we fought willows and mud and ultimately had to turn around near the summit due to thunder. Then a beautiful hike near Pingree Park, which was a little longer than expected but extraordinarily scenic. And in July, Chris and I traveled to the Cloud Peak wilderness in Wyoming for a weekend of sitting by the campfire trying to stay warm and fend off mosquitos. We'll have to go there again sometime, the mountains were beautiful!
Hiking up Spalding:
Captain of the campfire in Pingree Park:
Chris & I in the Cloudpeak Wilderness:
The lesser talked about part of our Europe trip is the week in Jena, Germany for the International CO2 Conference. I took an afternoon off and Chris and I explored the city, including a small festival where we rode a ferris wheel. We also visited the Buchenwald concentration camp. That was an experience I won't forget, it was VERY sad but a good thing to see. One of the wierdest things about it was the camp was on a hill overlooking a town - I just don't understand how people could be going about their normal life just a few miles away.
In October, we went on a nice hike in RMNP for our sixth anniversary. After hiking in Switzerland, it was a great reminder that we live in a pretty amazing place, too! Just an hour from our house is some of the best scenery in the country, how lucky are we?
In November we traveled back east - for me the trip included a visit to friends in Lexington, KY and my brother in Nashville. Chris also finally taught me how to throw a cast net in our feeble attempt to catch shrimp. Turns out it isn't so easy from the banks of a marsh.
And we ended the year with a relaxing Christmas at home. Here is Chris showing off his favorite present.
But one thing that strikes me is that even if you take out our life-list type feats, it was still a pretty good year! I attribute that to the Colorado lifestyle and the good friends we've made here in Fort Collins. So for this post, I want to reflect on the more "normal" good times of 2009, the ones that make day-to-day life in the Choice City.
In January, we went snowshoeing at Lake Agnes near Cameron Pass with Nick and Levi. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time sliding across the frozen lake!
In February I went to one of my favorite place, Moab, with two of my favorite people, Michelle and Rachel. Here we are at our campsite with enough supplies for a week:
And we traveled back to Atlanta to visit Chris' grandfather, who since then has turned 90 and gotten remarried! :)In March and April I taught at Colorado College in Co. Springs. On a weekend back in the Fort, Chris and I went on an urban hike around the city. We saw fox, deer, made a snowman, and had some fun with the prairie dogs (look for the prairie dog and snowball in the picture ... no animals were harmed in the making of this picture):
Chris also came to the Springs for a weekend and we hiked around the Garden of the Gods. I worked a ton while down there but one positive was finding just enough spare time to explore the natural beauty of this area.
May brought us spring and the beginning of our athletic pursuits - the Colorado half marathon, and a great weekend for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Durango.
We went on a couple other hikes with Nick and Levi - first a failed attempt up Mt Spalding (a thirteener next to Mt. Bierstad) where we fought willows and mud and ultimately had to turn around near the summit due to thunder. Then a beautiful hike near Pingree Park, which was a little longer than expected but extraordinarily scenic. And in July, Chris and I traveled to the Cloud Peak wilderness in Wyoming for a weekend of sitting by the campfire trying to stay warm and fend off mosquitos. We'll have to go there again sometime, the mountains were beautiful!
Hiking up Spalding:
Captain of the campfire in Pingree Park:
Chris & I in the Cloudpeak Wilderness:
The lesser talked about part of our Europe trip is the week in Jena, Germany for the International CO2 Conference. I took an afternoon off and Chris and I explored the city, including a small festival where we rode a ferris wheel. We also visited the Buchenwald concentration camp. That was an experience I won't forget, it was VERY sad but a good thing to see. One of the wierdest things about it was the camp was on a hill overlooking a town - I just don't understand how people could be going about their normal life just a few miles away.
In October, we went on a nice hike in RMNP for our sixth anniversary. After hiking in Switzerland, it was a great reminder that we live in a pretty amazing place, too! Just an hour from our house is some of the best scenery in the country, how lucky are we?
In November we traveled back east - for me the trip included a visit to friends in Lexington, KY and my brother in Nashville. Chris also finally taught me how to throw a cast net in our feeble attempt to catch shrimp. Turns out it isn't so easy from the banks of a marsh.
And we ended the year with a relaxing Christmas at home. Here is Chris showing off his favorite present.
Monday, December 28, 2009
The lazy beast within
Christmas was very nice for Chris and I. We have been so busy lately between work and Liberia preparations that we needed a few days off. I missed being with my family but the quiet time at home was wonderful. We had our friends Mollie and Rob over on Christmas Eve. Kelty, their 2-year-old, kept our cats in line, and Keen, their tiny 1-mo-old just lay there and snorted every now and then. We had some good laughs and it was nice to share the holiday with friends.
We went to church at 11 PM and Christmas day we slept in (the theme of the weekend). Chris gave me some great books I'm looking forward to reading (3 cups of tea, in defense of food, and a slow-cooker cookbook!) and some funny presents. He was simply delighted by the UGA snuggie I bought him (haha). Personally I think it is great for those sub-zero nights we've been having, even if it's not as stylish as the leapord-print snuggies. I stayed in my pajamas all day on Christmas, a feat I have not accomplished in ages. It was great! I even got started on my masterpiece paint-by-numbers (further proof of my inner 80-year-old).
This morning was painful though, and after 4 days of sleeping past 9:00, I realized just how lazy I am deep down. Somehow, I surpress the laziness through early morning workouts and my caffeine addiction, but letting the lazy beast out for a few days made it even harder to fight back today. I lead a pretty active lifestyle and sometimes compare myself to some amatuer triathletes or cyclists, but in this respect I am so different from the super driven athletes. When given the chance, I LOVE to slack off! It just makes me wonder how long I can keep up this act.
Luckily, although it was difficult to get to, I really enjoyed my 6:30 AM body pump class, so I have some hope for returning to a productive human being. Then again, it's 1 PM and I am blogging instead of working, sooooo ...... yeah.
We went to church at 11 PM and Christmas day we slept in (the theme of the weekend). Chris gave me some great books I'm looking forward to reading (3 cups of tea, in defense of food, and a slow-cooker cookbook!) and some funny presents. He was simply delighted by the UGA snuggie I bought him (haha). Personally I think it is great for those sub-zero nights we've been having, even if it's not as stylish as the leapord-print snuggies. I stayed in my pajamas all day on Christmas, a feat I have not accomplished in ages. It was great! I even got started on my masterpiece paint-by-numbers (further proof of my inner 80-year-old).
This morning was painful though, and after 4 days of sleeping past 9:00, I realized just how lazy I am deep down. Somehow, I surpress the laziness through early morning workouts and my caffeine addiction, but letting the lazy beast out for a few days made it even harder to fight back today. I lead a pretty active lifestyle and sometimes compare myself to some amatuer triathletes or cyclists, but in this respect I am so different from the super driven athletes. When given the chance, I LOVE to slack off! It just makes me wonder how long I can keep up this act.
Luckily, although it was difficult to get to, I really enjoyed my 6:30 AM body pump class, so I have some hope for returning to a productive human being. Then again, it's 1 PM and I am blogging instead of working, sooooo ...... yeah.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Day 8: Arolla to La Sage
We took our time leaving today and did some grocery shopping first. We also said goodbye to our British friends, who were taking a rest day in Arolla. Chris and I also split ways early on the trail – he took a more difficult route while I tried to salvage the cartilage in my knees by taking the lower trail. We’ve been having a great time traveling together, but it was a little nice to be on the trail alone for a bit. Solitude is a good thing from time to time.
After about 1-1/2 hours we met up at Lac Blue – more like a pond with very clear, blue water. Well, it was a little warm so I decided to jump in. Once my feet were in I realized I’d have to just dive in or give up because it was frigid! When I dove in, I really wondered if I would make it out – it was probably the coldest water I’ve ever been in! There were lots of people picnicking around the lake and I got some funny looks, including from Chris. Oh well, it was fun!
We then hiked down a lot to Les Haudres, where we had a delicious lunch of Switzerland’s version of a slim jim, bread, honey (from Les Haudres), nutella and plums. Very nice. From there it was just an hour to La Sage, where we are staying tonight. La Sage is tiny and I kind of wish we had just stayed in Les Haudres. Our hostel/gite is kind of dumpy but what else can I expect from an old village on the side of a mountain? I did some laundry, then Chris and I sat on the deck and took in the views and some beer/coffee. Dinner was a very pleasant surprise. Chris got lamb covered in an amazing soft cheese and I had a tasty sausage. Now we are hanging out in a common room with some French people. Oh yeah, there was a bit of communication error with our hostess. We asked for the menu and then waited 30 minutes before deciding that something had been lost in translation. At least that gave us plenty of time to get very hungry!
After about 1-1/2 hours we met up at Lac Blue – more like a pond with very clear, blue water. Well, it was a little warm so I decided to jump in. Once my feet were in I realized I’d have to just dive in or give up because it was frigid! When I dove in, I really wondered if I would make it out – it was probably the coldest water I’ve ever been in! There were lots of people picnicking around the lake and I got some funny looks, including from Chris. Oh well, it was fun!
We then hiked down a lot to Les Haudres, where we had a delicious lunch of Switzerland’s version of a slim jim, bread, honey (from Les Haudres), nutella and plums. Very nice. From there it was just an hour to La Sage, where we are staying tonight. La Sage is tiny and I kind of wish we had just stayed in Les Haudres. Our hostel/gite is kind of dumpy but what else can I expect from an old village on the side of a mountain? I did some laundry, then Chris and I sat on the deck and took in the views and some beer/coffee. Dinner was a very pleasant surprise. Chris got lamb covered in an amazing soft cheese and I had a tasty sausage. Now we are hanging out in a common room with some French people. Oh yeah, there was a bit of communication error with our hostess. We asked for the menu and then waited 30 minutes before deciding that something had been lost in translation. At least that gave us plenty of time to get very hungry!
The silly American
A typical Valaisian home in Les Haudres
Our hostel in La Sage, the food was great
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
