tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84328531084784741272012-02-16T17:20:34.874-08:00Christina's TravelogueIntrospection, exploration and experiences of an Asian American traversing the World.christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.comBlogger271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-48026037707573427482009-03-22T14:47:00.000-07:002009-04-05T20:55:29.472-07:00Final NotesSince reaching America I've noticed:Food tastes like crap. starbucks tastes like water and the milk terrible and flat. I had to hold a chocolate muffin to my nose, literally to smell it. nothings really 100% organic here, even though its labeled as suchEveryone does their own thing and doesn't stare at me anymore.There are rules. Lots and lots of rules. Everyone lives in a box. And with a clock. christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-50508496954371221242009-03-21T08:41:00.000-07:002010-03-03T16:46:28.219-08:00Arab, Euro, African CollisionThe worst hour of the day for a plane flight.A word about the Accra airport at 2:00 am... There is hardly anyone awake, and because I was early for my flight - the only flight that leaves after midnight from Accra - the customs line was completely deserted and silent.Am I supposed to walk straight through and not get my passport stamped? I wander through to security, where two guards are christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-86812395080331224202009-03-11T04:57:00.000-07:002009-03-14T12:19:06.562-07:00Americans, History & GhanaAkwaaba. Welcome to Ghana, is what the sign at the airport says. I arrive with a bit of intrepidation because I have NO idea what Ghana is like. Except that I know that Marci has moved here recently. Something about traveling for several month just emboldens a person lots so you forget the "what-ifs" and just go. The plane is freezing cold but the minute off the flight; it is a goddamn sauna. christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-73978408552460068572009-03-11T04:00:00.000-07:002009-03-11T04:43:44.941-07:00Some short notes about ZambiaWhile I was in Vic Falls, I did the border cross to Zambia in order to get supplies, like food, money, etc. Because of the economic crisis in Zimbabwe, there isn't much to buy on the street. Most of the people cart stuff over the border Seen at the border: Long line leaving Zim. Short line going back in. The border post has a special offer - no cost- for nationals who want to cross over to christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-67979190882636277802009-02-24T03:40:00.000-08:002009-02-24T03:54:54.805-08:00Zimbabwe: What I saw. <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-80815273380650874032009-02-24T02:59:00.000-08:002009-02-24T03:39:42.166-08:00Deserted BeautyIt’s hard to write when you’re exploring a continent (and having fun). Too many stories and too little time to write. It’s been about 2.5 weeks since I last wrote anything and I’m only doing it now because I’m sitting here icing my ankle. Swollen, ow.Seriously, I could have hurt myself any time in the past 3 months, especially in east Africa, anywhere where they boil giant pots in the crowded christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-51410077427777379932009-02-02T07:27:00.000-08:002009-02-02T08:35:23.497-08:00hate you, love you RSAIt's been a while since I last blogged, but a lot has happened in the last 3 weeks. This is the short of the long..Was sick on my way from Maputo to Johannesburg. No I don't think I got malaria, but had fever for 2 days. Got myself self-tested for malaria... damn why are these things so hard to take?Nothing much exciting in Joburg. Tons of gated houses. Everything has a ridiculous amount of christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-37231088256233445062009-01-13T02:50:00.000-08:002009-01-13T02:55:30.271-08:00Out East and Down the CoastMoshi - through Jan 3 - 2009I spend NYE with the volunteers from my house here. We have a grand old time. I feel like I've returned home. I left my heart in Moshi. Michelle isn't feeling well and then some, so I leave her to recuperate for the next few days before she starts work in Moshi.I learn a couple of new things here in Moshi.Dar es Salaam is a bad place to import goods to. The locals christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-79085598115828496952009-01-12T02:14:00.000-08:002009-01-13T02:50:04.293-08:00Rounding out East Africa: Rwanda, UgandaIts been a while since I wrote. Funny how when you stop writing, you also stop hearing from people. Bummer. Does that mean when I fall off the face of the planet, nobody will remember me? Even on my birthday in 2 weeks? Scary depressive thought.Throughout this entire trip, I've been debating if the some of the crazy throughts are the effects of depression and dementia caused by malaria christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-8683385351931430602008-12-25T01:28:00.000-08:002008-12-25T03:04:40.706-08:00Last week in Moshi, Arusha, Safari, and KigaliDec 19 was my last day in Moshi. This final week was really different from the first 3 weeks. At WEECE, Mama mrema came back in town and basically asked me to drop the schedule. I have yet to post case studies from Week 2 and 3, but I promise I will.I help her write more letters and work in the office at the beginning of my final week. Her major project right now is getting a clinic in Nganjoni christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-80552835648165827362008-12-18T01:23:00.000-08:002008-12-25T01:28:42.298-08:00Infrastructure, Germs and Steel: Moshi and VicinityThis entry is just a mishmash of observations from Moshi from the last couple of weeks.Restaurants: they usually have a sink located in the corner of most sit down eateries for you to wash your hands. Right before you eat. The really good food here is Indian, Italian, Mediterranean fusion, Chinese food. Most of these owners are asian, indian, arab. Especially the bigger joints, you don't see christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-78284644231856169532008-12-16T08:59:00.000-08:002008-12-16T09:20:17.717-08:00Change of Guard & Some truth behind volunteeringSo most of the volunteers from the last group left the house this weekend. We got fresh blood on Saturday. The vocational school closed for the holidays last week. Instead of going away for another day trip this weekend, I decided to stay low key and spend a little extra time tutoring Peter's son. The kid has potential, especially if he is interested in IT here in East Africa. We worked on binarychristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-89397211641351532612008-12-12T06:16:00.000-08:002008-12-12T06:22:49.887-08:00Getting out of the House06 DEC 2008Last weekend, I had to get out. Early in the morning, I packed a few clothes and hiked up to the main road - about 1km. Really I wanted to get some work done in town because it really is impossible at the house. I didn't bring a laptop on purpose, it just doesn't make sense if I plan on backpacking after.There is only 1 computer at the house and 15 people. It can get really antsy.I christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-65534249560271171702008-12-12T05:05:00.000-08:002008-12-12T06:29:17.099-08:00Independence Day & that famous safari city13 DEC 2008This entry runs a bit backwards in time. But it was fun to tie it together.Thursday afternoon after placement, we went to Arusha, that famous safari city where everyone begins their trip to the serengeti.Arusha is a NICE town. Let me tell you, after 3 weeks in Moshi, it really is a luxury to see perfectly paved, sealed off streets without any cracks, dirt, or stones. That is Arusha. christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-64420028039834561702008-12-08T02:23:00.000-08:002008-12-08T03:59:52.805-08:00Week 1:Case Studies at Ground LevelHere in Moshi, I only spend about 1/3 of my time teaching computer skills to the girls in the WEECE vocational school; the other part of my time are spent in field visits.WEECE loans start at 50,000TSH, or approximately 40 USD to a qualified woman. But before she can get the loan the application process is intensive. There is a check into her background and people who know her locally are christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-70670701355783039522008-12-08T01:56:00.000-08:002008-12-08T02:20:08.438-08:00Advice for New VolunteersI realize most of you reading this blog are not coming here to volunteer, but if you are curious to know what challenges there are I want to share some Words of Wisdom (WoW).1. Guilt Trip. For a lot of people, it's really hard to adjust because its really easy to feel bad, guilty about the poverty. I'm writing about this because I've heard a lot of complaining and angsting about this since I'vechristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-29826746855450212192008-12-06T07:24:00.000-08:002008-12-06T07:29:30.758-08:00Help do something good for Christmas?Dear Blog Readers,Thank you so much for taking the time out to read this letter.As you may know, I'm here in Moshi, Tanzania at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro working with a local women's group called WEECE. The purpose of this group is to help empower women by providing microfinance loans and education in business and technology so that they can run their own small businesses and have their own christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-32525737625476689652008-12-01T11:00:00.001-08:002008-12-01T11:00:56.701-08:00The problem with petrolDSCN0022Originally uploaded by christinascSo here is a picture of a local petrol station. On Saturday we walked about 7km to town. About 1/4 of it was dirt road. When we hit the main tarmac road, I counted 6 double tankers that passed us in the space of 20 minutes. Almost every single tanker had "So may God help us" on the back. And, also fuming black smoke out their rear ends -- the dalla dallaschristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-23613875291405338132008-11-28T06:22:00.001-08:002008-11-28T06:22:53.542-08:00Settling in.Wed morning November 26, 2008The last 2 days have been intense. We have orientation and get to know each other. And we learn basic Kiswahili. One of the exercises sends us out into the community to communicate with the locals in basic Swahili. I’m partnered up with this guy called Andy. We’re supposed to find out the name of the river that runs by the house and where the river goes. There’s a hutchristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-80934842074914662132008-11-26T02:59:00.000-08:002008-11-26T03:00:10.789-08:00Hello from MoshiNovember 24, 2008It is Monday morning 6am as I write this. I’ve been here in a village several km from Moshi now for 2 days.Backtracking….The flight from Boston to Amsterdam was pretty awful. I was ready to puke when we landed; the turbulence was really bad. It was compounded by the snowstorm that peaked about an hour after arrival. On a more positive note, I did see something exciting at the christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-45180480879538788792008-11-21T13:03:00.000-08:002008-11-21T13:30:12.753-08:00I am a Digital girl.I have 3 hrs before my flight leaves to Amsterdam and I'm still trying to fit everything into my pack. One thing for sure is that I am completely ditching my travel guides. I am ill prepared; I wish I knew exactly what pages I could tear out of the 3 lonely planet books I have but I don't. I haven't read it all. The books together weigh more than 5 lbs. I have too much stuff, even at the bare christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-1645977528567571502008-11-17T19:36:00.000-08:002008-11-18T19:24:55.865-08:00Washington, D.C. and other messy junkEverything upon arrival in D.C. has been somewhat of a mess.I didn't get any sleep on my red eye, I broke out all over my face, my posters got lost and I was issued a booth violation the day after I setup in the convention hall. And it took forever to get anywhere because of some G20 conference being held at the white house, and the entire street next to my hotel is blockaded off because of some christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-79851261275418434922008-11-12T20:17:00.000-08:002008-11-14T18:29:38.712-08:00Don't listen to the US State Department..........because they're not always right.So a few weeks ago, I was scouring the US State department's web page for travel advisories. I come across this and I have to laugh:April 30, 2008 This Travel Alert updates U.S. citizens about security issues in China and advises American citizens traveling or residing there to be alert to their surroundings and christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-59249829120554612502008-11-03T17:41:00.000-08:002008-11-10T17:06:02.527-08:00Trip planning and crammingRight now, my trip plans are still in the air after my volunteer placement, and am still hammering it all out. I have been stuffing my brain with info on more than 15 sub saharan countries in Africa. There's too much information and I'm feeling bug eyed. But it is good.I am an obsessive planner. I like to know exactly where I'm going, when and for how long when I travel. Partly this is also christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-66398932136724693442008-11-03T12:34:00.001-08:002008-11-03T17:45:18.852-08:00Weather in KilimanjaroThe weather in Moshi right now looks warm/hot during the day and cool at night, with scattered showers in between. Lovely tropical weather. Lots of Mosquitoes.....http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/63791.htmchristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-40520748983528815602008-11-01T20:10:00.000-07:002008-11-13T15:18:10.853-08:00Big SurI'm trying out email posting to my blog in case Internet access is so bad overseas I can only post by email.Here is a picture from Big Sur which I road tripped about two weekends ago, Oct 18? I think. Anyhow no picture can do justice to the real thing; it's simply amazing the northern California coastline. Also, I discovered that Big Sur is not is single spot on the coast like a city---it's an christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8432853108478474127.post-91254938086911923342008-10-08T20:00:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:06:56.179-07:00Where I'll be going and who i'll be working withThe parent organization: CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. We place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531529796515241175noreply@blogger.com0