What started as an awareness raising and ethnographic styled walk through Sierra Leone, this site now details the encounters of a not so academic academic who spends more time occupying Wall Street and squats than a university...
Ebola in Sierra Leone:
"49 survivers at the treatment centre in hasting took photo with President Koroma!!!
President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has paid glowing tribute to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for the great work they have done, in spite of the huge deaths suffered by its staff to help contain the Ebola outbreak. He also commended the tireless efforts of the Sierra Leone Police and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to get the treatment center, which is the largest countrywide, up and running.
The President described the activities of the treatment center as a turning point in the fight against the Ebola virus disease.
President Koroma thanked God Almighty for sparing the lives of the 49 survivors. He urged them to take the news to thier communities and tell the story that if the symptoms are detected early enough, the chances of survival are high.
He also called on Sierra Leoneans to desist from stigmatizing patients discharged from Ebola as this will pay little or no dividend for the fight against EVD.
The President further appealed for more treatment centers and up to 1,000 beds to intensify this fight. "We know it is our role as a government to do these things but we want those who want to help us to hurry as time is not on our side," he said, and added that the Ebola fight is a fight for government and its development partners.
President Koroma encouraged all to continue the collaboration which had resulted into this ceremony being witnessed today.
Meanwhile, a dynamic group of young Sierra Leoneans from all works of life donated assorted provisions, food stuff, sanitary pads and condoms worth over Le16 million to the 49 survivors, including the children."
So I gt hit by a car on Thursday (9/13). I
was riding my bike in the bike lane on Christie street headed towards the Manhattan bridge. A big black BMW SUV pulled out of standstill
traffic and into the bike lane, thinking he'd get ahead while cutting
me off. When he got pinched and couldn't go any further I went
around him and pointed to the bike lane and said “so where do we
go?” “You're in the bike lane!?” He responded with with an
abrasive Fuck You styled aggression filled response you'd only expect
stereotyped from Jersey Shore. I kinda kept moving slowly while
responding in a kinder version biking legalese that didn't resemble
backing down but wasn't aggressive like his but more matter of fact (those who know me can imagine..;). As the lane
opened a bit I started to go through, only to hear the roar of an
engine in my left ear and all of a sudden I got hit on my left side and handle
bars from behind (I think). The wheel turned maybe, I went straight over the bars,
the bike I think landed on or my hit back area while the car sped off.
It stopped briefly at the light ahead (as I tried to write down the
license plate number), and then turned and was gone. I lay on my
stomach assessing my bits while others checked on me and tried to help me up. I was
amazed, and really just wanted this guy to not get away with it. I called
the 911 and some passers by in a car gave me a little first aid kit.
I refused an ambulance because I felt
ok, I had a couple scrapes and bruises, but I'd had worse in football
and life. Of course, by the time the cops got there it was one hour
and twenty minutes later and three calls to 911. By this point my
back and hip were starting to stiffen up. But still I didn't think
it was anything to get concerned about. Really I just wanted to make
sure this guy didn't get away with it.
The cop eventually pulls up and firstly wants to know if I need an ambulance. I'm wishy-washy. I don't
know if I still have medicaid. I think I do, but never got that
confirmed as I lost my address before I got paperwork confirming it.
So I am reticent to get an ambulance as with no insurance and
no money I'm screwed. I can't afford that bill. So I say no. If
money was no option, yeah, I'd have gotten checked out. But it is. He pushes, "it's a simple yes or no answer." "yes or no?", as
if someone just hit by a car thinks so clearly? Kind of like,
officer, are you an asshole? Yes or no? Come on, its a simple yes or no answer.
No you obviously are not. You have friends and family, people you
love, things you do that show it. No you are not an asshole. So
don't act like one right now to me. This was the way the
conversation would go. He then asked for my ID. Which I had
forgotten that day of all days. He then proceeded to lecture me
about not having an ID on me. That I could be making up names and my
life, and this incident. That I could get a summons for not having a
valid ID on me. What?!?! um, right.... Anyway, I questioned it
subtly in an attempt to just get past it and move on. Kind of an I
don't need a drivers license to ride a bike, I don't have it what
info do you need. Needless to say he just continued on in his police
speak aggressive tone. The authoritative, shut the fuck up speech
that they always give you when you ask a question or don't
immediately jump as high as the ask you to. It's like there's cop
school where they send them to go learn how to verbally bludgeon
people into submissiveness. It's so sad. I finally got to the point
where I just said to him, “officer I just got hit by a car, it
would really be nice if you could show a little compassion”. He responded
defensively and with vigor about how his job was to weed out people
faking these claims. That he had to be certain that I was telling
the truth and not making things up. Claiming it was his job to push
me and to make me feel awkward to the point that if I was making my
story up that I would waver and give up the attempt. Basically, that
I could just have a vendetta against someone and be filing a false
police complaint. Yeah well, if it didn't take an hour and twenty minutes for you to get there there
would have still be witnesses....
Anyway, it was absurd. To say that
this was what he was supposed to do. How he was trained to push
people and to make sure they were in the right place. As if getting
hit by a car is an everyday occurrence and doesn't require any empathy. Would you treat your
grandmother like that? Your mom? Anyone you weren't assuming was a
criminal?
This to me is what the problem is, and
I hear it in the words of every police and law enforcement officer I
speak to. You are a criminal if you come in contact with me, you are
a criminal in general until I eliminate that from my detectiving. ----Pause---- I am writing this in the hospital and they just put a neck
brace on me. It's tough to write in a neck brace ----Unpause---- So
yeah, police officers always are looking for criminals. If that is
your soul goal, then how you treat people initially is going to come across as such. It is
tragic really. After he and I got all done playing paperwork games
and had developed a more friendly repore, I mentioned to him again that
just as a thought that maybe he should work towards finding
a better balance between doing his job and showing compassion in this
type of situation. We talked for another 15 minutes and I would
consider him a friend at this point. Yes, I consider everyone a friend, but you know what I mean. I mean that is the way it
always works with me! ;) But still though, I think I got the
message across to him. He told me where he always is working there and writes tickets all the time for the bike lane. But as it is, my
point in writing this is to say that I think its horrible how cops
speak to people. Aggressive, authoritarian, and as if their
authority is unquestionable and inherently legitimate no mater how just or lawful what they are saying. They do not speak with respect or from
a place of dignity for others. Power over others that is all to often
abused - as I felt it was with me after I was run down by a car. Sadly.
So this week has been nonstop. Not that I would have it any other way, but it has been a lesson in self-control that's for sure. Since Saturday I have been going every day, meetings, meetings, and meetings. The malaria fatigue has definitely been felt, and I've had to be very cognizant of both getting to sleep at night and finding moments of relaxation and meditation during the day. But as I said before, poverty doesn't care if I don't feel well, so I've gotta move past it... control it as best as I can. Trying...
I have plenty to write about and will get into it tomorrow as best I can. I do still have another meeting tomorrow afternoon though, and I did promise my grandparents I'd bring them some fresh baked homemade cookies - yeah, don't be jealous!! They've earned it!!
I was hoping to have all day today to catch up on the million pieces of information I've been given this week, but ended up with several meetings and had to give blood today. So I will have to get to it tomorrow in between cookie making!! But quickly, I've met with the head city planner in Newburgh, a local organization that can help set up the business/look for funding, and a community activist. I've enjoyed a nice cup of tea across from one of the oldest historic sites recognized in the US, taken in the ambiance of the city, and learned and honed in on the deal here. Real progress is being made...
Oh, and one thing that can't wait... I am going to be on the organizing committee for Safe Harbors 5k run/walk in May... big fun!!
Can I get back in the saddle?? So it's been an eternity since my malaria encrusted mind saw light enough to turn into electronic words. Where to begin...
So I got off the plane on Tuesday the 23rd of November and was vomiting not much after walking in the door in New York (Could I be allergic to America!?! lol.). A couple days later, more of the similar but of the less pleasant variety. Come Friday I was in the hospital, but was sent home after a couple of bags of IV and an apparently botched malaria test. Sunday I awoke on what felt like death's door with a decent fever, horrible sickness, and an ambulance ride back to the hospital. By mid afternoon I was in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) and signing papers for possible blood transfusions. They hadn't yet figured out if it was malaria, lasah fever, or something else. Things from there for me though are pretty fuzzy. They started pumping enough antibiotics and meds into me to look like Chris' cow.
They also came across a positive malaria test and some other mysteries at some point. Of course then come the medications - which I ceremoniously threw back up after 45 minutes. The next night was even worse. They gave me the pill at 8:45 in the evening and I was determined to keep it down no matter what. I fought with ever ounce of strength I had. Every meditative thing I'd ever learned, breathing, energy movement, acupressure, whatever. But the pain... I was determined to make it 45 mins. I wanted to throw it up for every single one of those 45 minutes, but I concentrated and pushed past it the best I could, trying to get to an hour and be certain. The nausea started moving from my stomach into my digestive system though and turning into cramps and pain. I think then and there is the first time I ever blacked out. I was in agony, concentrating on my breathing, just trying to handle it - then all of a sudden it was later, where was I?. Not sure what happened. But regardless, I had started seeing things. Not real things, but they were way to vivid and multidimensional to be dreams. Rumor has it they were hallucinations, and I kept hearing this frog behind me in my right ear... Funny though, no one else seemed to hear it. Not sure why, what isn't normal about having frogs in hospital rooms... What a horrible night.
To top it all off, in critical care each nurse has two patients and no one else can sign off on anything/has responsibility. No nurse tech or helper. The women next door had just come in and had to go to emergency surgery, her/my nurse left with her. There was no one to help me. I ended up naked, writhing in pain, and cursing belligerently about ancient Chinese medicine and listening to that damn frog sing his/her tune!! Finally, I called my mother. It was 11pm and I'd lost it!! Lol!! Miraculously, by 11:30 my mother (and maybe brother) and four nurses were in there helping me. Funny how that works, a naked man writhing in pain and talking of a strange Kermit type comrade doesn't bring help, but a mother sure can!!
I expected much the same the next night. But I had gotten them to drop the antibiotics that day in hope of not having a reaction. Wonderfully so, it worked. I took the malaria meds and slowly drifted off to sleep an hour later.
I got moved out of critical care a day or two later and then was home a bit after that. It was quite an experience. Since then I've been dealing with the after affects. For the next month I had a tremendous amount of weekness and dizziness. Pretty much debilitated for all intents and purposes. Sequestered to my house, bed, and couch, using the walls for balance and movies to keep time.
I started getting better though, enough to be motivated to look for work. Non-profit jobs all over the country. I need to get something meaningful to do, put some cash in my pocket, and allow me to try to move forward with the projects found on this trip. I have a lot of thoughts on things and some options to hep get things started here in the US. The problem obviously is that my health has not put me in a position to function at full mental and physical capacity - or even at half capacity much of the time. But I am getting there.
I got to a point where I was out hiking: elevation, millage, even some trotting and walk/run trail trips. Things were looking up, until I got some other kind of sickness. This seems to have put other things over the edge, or have been the edge itself. I had been getting follow up doctor visits and blood work, and as it turned out, things were going in the wrong direction. The tests were showing problems with my liver, spleen, and kidneys. Each visit things were worse. So off to the specialists I went. And that gets me right up to today.
All this while I've been slowly getting an increasing amount of abdominal pain. Sharp, bend you over, type stuff at times of late, coupled with a light hazzy film covering all physical and cognitive functioning. I've still got that of course, and apparently will for quite some time. But my blood work has turned around and is going in the "right" direction. So theoretically - while there was a concern for things like liver disease - I really am just "hurt", not "injured". Which in American football terms means: if your hurt, you can play; if your injured, you can't. So it seems I can't make myself worse. The pain is there, and the organs are still not functioning properly, but the body is cleaning itself out and I'm apparently headed in the right direction. That of course is all I can ask. They said it may take several more months to get back to full strength, but rest assured I will, and I will come back much stronger than ever before.
So here is a micro case study of issues in Africa/Sierra Leone. We are sitting outside chatting, dusk turns to dark. I get up to walk Yapo out of the compound. It's dark, I don't have the "cat's eyes" people here seem to develop. Someone called my name, I turn and step towards them and smack!! My foot goes straight into a big rock, I stumble over it, down to my knee and my hand. It's dark I can't see anything. I pick myself up, brush off, start walking... Ow!! I've cut up my toe, of course I don't know this yet, there is no light. It is nothing big but several spots, its bleeding, not just a scratch.
I only know this once I pull out my mobile phone and use its light to see. How else do you see it, there are no street lights, no house lights, nothing. I go inside to dress it. But what about clean water? What about first aid? They recommend salt. I have my stuff, but what would they use? And how do you dress it in the dark? By flashlight...? I sit down in the shower floor, head lamp putting a little light on the situation. But sitting there next to me is the inch and a half cockroach that's been there on its back all day. The floor is grimmy dirty, the water is from the well and been sitting in a bucket all day, but there is the roach "helping" me. At least I have my first aid stuff. They would have just salt - which is not bad.
Point is, we wonder why life here doesn't statistically add up to the West. There is no light so easier accidents. There are only the most basic first aid methods. There is no light to dress a wound by, and there are unsanitary environmental conditions. Power, clean water, medical supplies... all tied up into one stubbed toe. Welcome to Africa... I'll be fine, but what if it was more? And how many people didn't get better? Time to get to work!! :-/
And as is life... with every positive, there must always be a negative, for you can not have one without the other as life could then never find its balance...
The day (Friday) was going so well. I had been in the city in the morning, walked across Manhattan, gotten my visa... jumped on a train back upstate, and even got to Beacon and found NO parking ticket for my forced night in the city!! Good stuff. I said my hello's to my people in Beacon, went into Mountain Tops and poked around, tried on the Vibram treks, chatted it up, and then headed out. I grabbed a snack on my way towards taking the scenic route through Wiccopee and where the Appalachian trail runs through it on my way home. Sun was out, gorgeous autumn day. Upon getting in, my new phone was there. I spent the next couple hours trying to figure out what the heck all this technology stuff was, and then headed off to spend some time with my grandparents...
Whoops.. Half way there... CRASH!! I got in a car accident. I completely wrecked my car in a three car accident. Everyone else there seemed to by OK (some nice people I might add which don't deserve to have had their day and car's in shambles). I certainly seemed to get the worst of it, both personally and for my car. I just sat there completely dazed... what and end to a day, to a lot really. But I'll be fine, I've had worse collisions on the football field - and one only a couple of weeks ago.
The real travesty in all this though is to my psyche and life scenario. I have struggled for years in always putting my principles and ideals so much above life's practicalities. Always "living in the world as I want it to be" - which I completely believe in and will continue to do. No matter what general practices are, I will do everything I can to be honest and ethical, even at my own expense - which it usually seems to be. This makes life very difficult. People don't pay people to be nice. I carry different priorities than most and as a result I tend to have to struggle. Here I am unemployed, looking for work for over a year, on food stamps, in the application process for Medicaid, and still struggling to put together the funds to go on a three month humanitarian trek in West Africa - a smaller part of my incessant effort to try to make a difference. All the while I am fielding questions about "what I am thinking", "what is wrong with me", "why can't I just balance my ideals with real life?" (i.e. compromise them). I am pretty much standing on my own to try to make a difference. (yes, I do have some great support from a few... you know who you are!!)
Anyway, I have been running completely against the grain for years, I have no money, that car was my only real asset, I am staying with my parents, taking state assistance (and hearing about it from people), and all the while trying to make the world a 'better' place for the future of humanity, and to get myself better qualified to do this. But I just... can't... catch a break. Living in the Hudson Valley you have to have a car. I am already losing friends and contacts because I live a long way away from people and am not in a position to spend money on gas versus money on this project. Yet, if I take a job for a couple weeks or take a job that sacrifices time and compromises principles, then I am not living by my beliefs or example. Now, with no car and no public transportation in the area, I am in a really tough spot. Never mind when I return. I had work set up, but now have no car. It changes things. I had security to return to from this incredibly insecure venture. Now, I almost have to either come back from Sierra Leone with a job here, or find one there. Both my personal and emotional safety nets vanished into the back of that minivan...
But it is tough times that challenge us and make us stronger. I feel at times like I am doing nothing but "training" to make myself stronger, yet I'm never actually getting to use my strength. I just can't find that place within the system that allows me to shine and do the type of work I believe in and am capable of. That day, of course, will come... but it wasn't yesterday... ;)
Got the rest of my vaccinations done. Second time around for Hepatitis A/B, and then Yellow Fever and Typhoid. Simple as can be, except of course again for the nurse's complete and total disbelief in my view on Malaria. Wait!! You mean drugs aren't always the greatest thing ever?!!? Nope, I am not going to knock down my immune system with chemicals and synthetics just so that I don't get a disease that the drug doesn't even really completely negate. Oh, yeah and then there's the side effects as well... Bottom line, if I don't take drugs, pills, antibiotics, or anything else of the sort because they always bother me or make me sick, then why on earth would I start doing so on this trip!?!? Logic to me, but not to a lot of western medicinal practitioners. I will be eating well, getting exercise, doing chi gung an other preventative energy/medical exercises, trying to get decent sleep, and working to minimize stresses. This is the best way of PREVENTING disease and fighting it off if it does come to you in my opinion. I usually get sick when I start listening to what other people think is best an stop listening to my own body... Plus I have insurance for an emergency. If I do get sick, which I figure may very well happen, then I will be covered.
Malaria in the world
Ok, so enough preaching!! Vaccinations went well, a decent amount of soreness, but otherwise all good. Then it was on to the Gamechangers proposal and getting my visa situation set up. I also got a good “putting in my place” by my stepfather. You know one of those conversations where you've been going, going, and going, and some one just sort of verbally slaps you back to reality? I needed to hear it. I'd been trying to do way to much, and needed to let some things go and focus on the things that were directly important to what I had going on right here and now for this trip/project. Many thanks...
As for the Gamechangers proposal, I have been through a number of other proposals and have a pretty good feel for what they are trying to do. I have pulled out key points that we will need to address in our proposal and the project itself. I will send these points to Kaps for his evaluation on what they think could be done there, and how best to structure the project. Lots of work to be done, but not so much that it is insurmountable. Two weeks, and all we really need is the theoretical side of the project for the proposal. So I'll finish up a report on it with some key points worth hitting on for the proposal and we will go from there.
I still have a post to finish about positive developments with the Gamechangers athletics/track project, but while I am working on that I still have had a few other time sensitive things that need to be handled this week. Wednesday is my second vaccination cycle - second round of Hep A/B and the Yellow Fever and Typhoid (both of which I have to get a prescription for). Trying to get my self clean and healthy to make it easier to handle. Should be interesting.
I need to get more contact lens as well. I have been using the same prescription and "one year supply" of contacts since 2006. lol. One year my butt. ;) But I don't have enough now to be certain if something happens while I'm there, and my glasses are from 2003/a mess. I can't afford glasses as well, but contacts are a must. Sadly though, in the US in order to order new ones you have to have a prescription from within one year - 2006 obviously doesn't qualify!! lol. So working on getting something together for that.
Still working on funding, if anyone wants to donate... now is the time!! I leave in less than a month and am down to the bottom of my budget. I want to say thank you to the few people that have already. You know who you are!!
I also have started thinking more about my stove situation. I want to use an aluminum can stove as it would be light and easy. But I need to use denatured alcohol (methylated spirits, grain alcohol, rubbing alcohol, etc.) and I am not sure of availability over there, thus an inquiry is in order. I found one typical backpacker stove that uses three different kinds of fuel (including gasoline) here which would have been ideally versatile - but it costs $125, so I'm gonna try the can stove first. Maybe try to make it this afternoon...
On Thursday, right after Wednesday's vaccinations, I believe that I will be headed in to NYC to apply for my visa. We shall see how that goes, but it is something that I am actually quite looking forward to. Not sure why, maybe another finality thing. I've also been trying to get some work done while in the Hammock, but not so comfortable to type in there. It needs a pillow of some sort for sure to keep your head up. Ok, so I need to get back to work. Hope you are enjoying your day.
Nothing serious... at least compared to what it could have been. So after six hours in the emergency room I finally got a diagnosis. Amazing though that given all my time in Eastern Europe that I never had to wait so long for care. No wait to get a room though, just then sat and waited... and waited... with empty rooms around me... Still though, I'm thinking the service I got was probably more than I can expect in Sierra Leone should something happen... ;)
Dazed and Cufnused...
Anyway, so that american football game the other day proved to be more of a nuisance than a real problem. Officially, I have a sprained neck/back. No serious/permanent damage to my spine. The doctor said maybe a little tearing of ligaments, which I thought was a big deal, but he said wasn't really evident in the scan and would be miniscule and not really any issue if that small. As it is, I have to rest, take an anti-inflammatory, heat and stretch the area, and can run when "the pain is 80% of what it is today..." What?!? Yeah, I guess that means I can run when I feel like it... lol.
I did find it quite interesting that after claiming he had spent some time working with alternative and eastern remedies in his career, that the doc was both amused and dismissive when I said I would use bromelain (which is a natural substance derived from pineapples that he had never heard of) as an anti-inflammatory instead of Advil (he'd never even heard of arnica either). I can't understand the arrogance of western medicine as it looks at other options. I mean Western medicine has a profound place in the treatment of illness and affliction, but how as a medical practitioner can someone not at least be interested and open-minded to other possible ways to treat people and make them better? If it works it works, who cares where it comes from or if the FDA says it work??
But all told, the good thing about all that waiting in the ER was that I got a lot of reading and note-taking done. I am almost finished going through my guidebook on Sierra Leone for my itinerary. Granted its not geared to find key socio-economic areas/opportunities and concerns, as it is after all designed to sell the country for tourism The econ part of my agenda will take a bit more work, but I am starting to see the journey on paper, and it is going to be ambitious to do everything on foot. But then again... what fun would it be if it wasn't ambitious? ;) I'll finish up the guidebook part of it and post it later. Finally, starting to feel like my head might be coming back to me... been an odd week...
I just wanted to drop a quick thought on vaccinations. I am not a big fan of putting an illness into your body. But I have capitulated to western medicine's conventional wisdom and started the cycle. I had a polio booster and Hepatitis A/B last week and must say that I can definitely tell that my body is fighting something. I have been lethargic, and disinterested in much running. I spent a decent amount of time splitting wood yesterday and and was noticeably fatigued and even felt a bit sickly as it went. It is amazing to think that this is of course for the better...
I just wanted to mention this in case anyone was reading this as a "how to" piece. I would certainly say that you should be ready to spend a couple days before the vaccinations "being healthy" - good food, sleep, etc. - and then be prepared after words to take it easy and healthy again for a few days. Most people may not notice it, but with my allergies/sensitivities, I have definitely noticed a difference.
So just as I was sitting here this morning struggling with budgets and whether I should really take a sleeping bag or not (given warm temperatures), Vibram comes back with a resounding no. There was no reason given, but I would imagine my project may just be way to complicated for them or that there is perhaps not nearly enough guaranteed exposure. Doesn't matter... sad day. How do I get my hands on a couple of pairs of Vibrams without having to pay $200?? Maybe I can try to get them at cost from somewhere but I just simply can't afford any of this. My budget has gone up and the expected funding has gone down.
So I was able to get out yesterday and do a little bit of hiking, nothing to strenuous, but I got a run in and then a bit of a hike, so keep on keeping on. Today was a whole lot of moving things around - change of living situation - while trying to juggle writing up the Vibram proposal. It's certainly not the best thing I've ever written!! But I think it gets the message across and certainly points them to the website.
Otherwise, I will be in New York City tomorrow walking around looking at apartments for my soon to be returning from abroad travel advisor... my brother... ;) But more importantly, I am going to go by Sierra Leone's Embassy and see if they will have someone that can speak to me. I can't apply for the visa yet because I can't get my Yellow Fever vaccine yet. I will have this done on the 25th of August in exchange for my arm and my leg... but hey!! Even with only one arm and one leg, at least I won't get Yellow Fever!! I'd love it if at the embassy I could get some leads for networking, with local communities, and/or language lessons. I'm going to try to get into some outdoors stores and best buy to check on netbooks. I've gotta get that computer situation sorted out. Definitely effecting my productivity!!
So continuing along my list production campaign here, and given the food poisoning bout that I waged yesterday, I thought it best to think about the medical and first-aid set up. One of the keys to the medical situation for me is that I am not a big follower of "Western" medicine. I have just never responded well to it and have had a tremendous amount more success with "alternative", "Eastern", or homeopathic remedies. On a daily basis I do acupressure and Chi Gung exercises to help strengthen the immune and other regulatory systems of the body. Me getting into these practices has a lot to do with a decent amount of allergies/sensitivities that I have. Foods, chemicals, pollutants, etc. I am allergic to most antibiotics, and pretty much all Western medicines not only contain medicine, but are also full of chemicals and preservatives which just put more of a strain on my body than they seem to do good.
I should also say though that I never get sick in terms of the flu, colds, or things of this sort and am generally very healthy comparatively. I had quite some time ago been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but must admit that I feel this diagnosis is a 'Western' attempt to quantify what in the East would be classified as blockages to the bodies system of transporting energy, which in turn weakens the body and its immune system. I find that if I exercise, do chi gung, and eat and sleep properly, that I never have any problems. The only time issues arise is if I have put undue stress on my body, exercised too much or too hard, eaten non-'natural' foods, am mentally/psychologically stressed, or don't get much sleep. Basically, I take care of myself and I don't have issues. I had been working too hard over the last couple days, running a lot, swimming, splitting wood, and had some drinks. If I do not do these things, even food poisoning wouldn't be so acute in my opinion/experience.
The dilemma here is this though: I am going to Africa, and all the 'travel specialists' are going to talk about vaccinations, malaria medicines, and the such, yet all of these things will actually hamper my immune system. My first aid kit will consist of band-aids and such, but will also hopefully have a quick reference card for all the body's meridians (energy pathways), as well as acupressure points for specific ailments, and Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) options. This is what I have found the most success with. I know that most people in 'the West' quickly stick up their noses at these practices, but China and Asia are the most populated areas of the world, and have been following these practices for millennia... it can't be all that absurd then can it?
So the tickets have been bought!! I will leave October 17th at 18:35 from Newark, arrive in Brussels at 7:50 in the morning their time on the 18th, then I will leave Brussels at 11:25 and get into Freetown at 18:05 local time after a stopover in Dakar, Senegal (19.5 hours). Coming back its the same itinerary backwards but into JFK instead of Newark, leaving on January 17th and getting in on the 18th at 12:40 in the afternoon (21.5 hours). This is a great set up as well. I had been budgeting $2000 for the flight and the visa, but got this flight for $1497, giddy up!! Then on top of that, I spent $65 for $1 million worth of travel insurance - for three months in post-conflict West Africa!!! What!?!? Talk about a steal, I think the website's marketing strategy was figuring more like people doing one or two week european vacations rather than three months in Africa!! But even with the insurance I'm at $1562.33. The visa is $140, thats $1702, $300 under budget. I can get my backpack now and even still be a bit under budget!!
The big plus for the trip as well is that there won't be any American carriers!! Now before you start calling names... no baggage limits and better food!! I will be flying on Jet Airways, which is Indian, which means CURRY!! A favorite of mine... and then Air Brussels which at least means real food - not chemicals flavored to taste like food like the American carries have!! :p
And who of course who do I have to blame for this horrible scenario!?!? Well Mr. C. Gregory Fehrmann, travel agent extraordinaire!! Of course after we got past Greg's incessant desire to plan flights around getting to as many airports as humanly possible, we were fine. He did come up with one from Westchester County, NY, to Washington D.C, to Montreal, to Munich (big plus for him), then Brussels, and then to Freetown with the stop in Dakar. !?!? Yeah, I didn't take that one...
But anyway, the dates are set, its time to start moving forward... :)
So what needs to be done in order to make this trip happen? I would hope that this could become an open forum from those of you reading it. Please either just put a comment down below, or send them in, as you wish. I think the best thing for me with it though will be to put down the broad strokes here, and then to go through each list (and its progress) separately and periodically. I'm going to link each heading to a search for that topic (some don't have anything written yet though) so you can easily see what's been written if you'd like.
US based sponsors - I will be looking at companies such as Vibram and other similar businesses with specific interests in what i will be doing to help either with products and/or financial support.
US based individuals and organizations that are affiliated in some way with Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone based organizations and individuals that can help facilitate things on the ground during my trip.
English is the 'official' language of the country, but Krio is the lingua franca and the one that I need to be working on. I've been meaning to post of this for a while and will soon.
There are also many other tribal languages that I will try to have pleasantries down with. The two main one's are Mende and Temne.
Accommodation for when I first get in. (am thinking to spend the first couple days in the cheapest place I can find to get past jet-lag and get acclimated.)
I find myself just assuming I've left some really important thing out - like 'breathing' or something - but this will have to be the start. And again, by all means, add all the comments or responses you can. I need the most exhaustive list I can!!
So been perusing a bit in regards to gear this evening (not finding much mental capacity for anything truly productive). At the behest of another request I am taking this 'registry' thing a bit more seriously. It seems that there are some nice people in my life that not only want to support my trip emotionally, but physically as well!! Thanks.. ;)
I'm gonna actually have to use this list and see what I can do with it!! There is also a chart that compares the types of goods versus the how much weight one would be working with.
Gear
Minimalist
Ultralight
Lightweight
Footwear
Running shoes
Light hikers
Hiking boots
Trekking poles
Carbon fiber poles
Carbon fiber poles
Standard poles
Tent stakes
No stakes; rocks
Just 4-6 stakes
Most or all stakes
Stove
Fuel tabs, soda can
Tabs or canister stove
Lightweight stove
Cookpot
Titanium mug
Titanium mug or pot
Lightweight cookset
Utensil
Spork
Spork
Plastic utensils
Water filter
Halogen tablets
Tablets or filter
Filter
Water bottle
Soft bladders
Bladders or bottles
Bottles
I'm hoping I'll get into the minimalist category with some sprinkles from the ultralight stuff. The Vibrams are certainly gonna help me out though!! And their lists were for three days, not three months in Africa!! But I'll make it happen. Also came a cross a site called backpackinglight.com that I will have to spend some time on. Otherwise, good night...
