Another Day

(This post was written on Thursday the 23^rd).

Malaria in Africa

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.

Practicalities

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. 

Vaccinations

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.  

Quick notes

So I got vaccinated today!!  Not quite what I expected though.  I thought I was getting a number of vaccines today but needed to get a prescription for Yellow Fever and Typhoid, which I didn't have, so I will have to wait for that until when I go back for the second sets of Hepatitis A/B in September.  So I guess that means I am definitely going to be waiting to get my visa.

I also wanted to publicly thank my grandparents for donating to me the costs for the vaccinations, my first aid kit, and contacts for the trip.  I can't say enough how much their donation really put me back within striking range of coming up with the money that I will need to make the trip work.

I spent some time today working on a possible project to talk to Child Help Sierra Leone about.  We'll see, very much premature, but so are the funding deadlines for it as well!!  Anyway, I am getting really backed up on getting things written down, but am hoping to get some time to just write over the next couple days.  More soon...  

Vibram says no...

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.

Starting to seem like its kinda far away...

Working away...

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!!

Tomorrows landscape...

...October's landscape