So now that I work with this non-profit to help people in the developing world, rather than a for-profit to help people in the developing world, it only makes sense that I would now travel to Europe for meetings, rather than the actual developing world, and that I would go in business class, rather than economy class. You might not find much to favor in this administration, but at least they made people travel coach. Ha. There is not much really to report about going to Switzerland, so I will focus my efforts on the experience that was business class, as [View Full Entry]

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Uh, drug street? Not interested, thanks. So that's how my afternoon went. But let me give a brief rehash (oops, pun) of the week. My man Rohan has kept me well stocked with good food - goat roti and food from the Breakfast Shed, including callaloo, um, don't know what the rest of the plate was, but it was good. I think it included macaroni salad, pasta salad, salad greens, provision (cousin of cassava), big boney hunks of meat, plantain, rice, the list keeps going on... So in return, I took him out to dinner at Sweet Lime. Refer to previous [View Full Entry]

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On my day, I visited two rural communities in the Sisian region of Armenia - Tolors and Akhlatyan - as they celebrated the openings of their renovated health posts, done with the help of our project. So, I cut the ribbons at both health posts, gave some speeches, kissed babies, was interviewed on Armenian television, etc. [View Full Entry]

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On Saturday I went to the large bazaar with a colleague from work. Everything you can imagine, from single beaters to plug into your handheld mixer, auto parts, beautiful rugs and needlework, bootleg CDs, etc. and you name it and it was there. But the highlight of the evening was yet to come. I went with one of my Armenian colleagues to a birthday party. Originally I thought we were going to a "jazz club", but then this came up. I arrive at the birthday party around 9.30pm. I'm thinking this is going to be some staid affair. Hahaha. I couldn't [View Full Entry]

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First, today is 1989 throwback day in Armenia. And I don't mean they are wearing "throwback" jerseys. For the upcoming election, I think it is in January or February, one of the candidates was president back in 1989. As a protest against him by the other candidate, who must still be in government, Armenians do not have heating oil today. A little reminder of what life was like back during this guy's tenure - no electricity, no heat, food shortages, etc. I think it's a great campaign strategy. I think my feet might fall off they are so cold. I am [View Full Entry]

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Bon appe-nutin' So today here in the land of Armenia - Bossman Tikki Tikki Timbo sicked out on work. Well, actually his luggage was going to arrive this morning so he stayed at the hotel. Considering it is now almost 2pm, I think he should have rolled into the office by now. But, I'll keep that to myself. Actually, no, I'll share that with you. Tikki and I are sitting with the Healthcare Finance Team, which consists of L. and G.. This is G. I., because there are several with the same name on the project. L. and G. are super [View Full Entry]

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Armenia is nice, but I have absolutely zero interesting things to convey. The airport was shiny and new, but leaving I saw the old Soviet one, which was crumbling and in disrepair. It looked like a flying saucer, I think it may have been cutting edge when it was built. No scary men with guns, no creepy dark rooms or anything. I walked around this morning before meeting the boss of the project here, R., for lunch with Tikki Tikki Timbo, my immediate boss. Tikki and I get along at the highest level, but not so much the lower level things. [View Full Entry]

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Dear all, I wish I had something fascinating to report about my latest travel. I will say this, Bogota is far different than the last few places I've been, namely Maputo, Lilongwe, and Dar es Salam. For example, Bogota has electricity and water 24 hours a day, every day. And while there were a few similarities, such as men with guns, the difference in Bogota was this - I actually believe that these were loaded AKs and not left over from the Soviet Union. Let me back up first. After a terrible flight - spending the night in Atlanta (oh wait, [View Full Entry]

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Greetings to all After a miserable few days cooped up in a windowless conference room and eating all my meals in this hotel, I finally escaped. But I'm getting ahead of myself. This hotel is well, let's just call it special. It really isn't for the foreigners. As a matter of fact, this evening a woman said, "Mzungu!!" (whitey) when I came in. In any case, today the toilet didn't work. Yesterday, I had to wait in line for the iron and hairdryer. The hotel employee stood outside my door waiting for me to finish because of the queue, he needed [View Full Entry]

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While in Lilongwe, I stay at the Sunbird Lilongwe Hotel. Don't be fooled, it is not the Le Meridian as advertised on Expedia. They pulled out some time ago when Malawi nationalized hotel chains and called them Sunbird or something like that. It's not really clear to me what exactly happened… In any case, following my horrible cab ride, I now have a driver arranged through Africare or the hotel. So the manager of the hotel and I have become friends, as I believe it is some relative of his that chauffeurs me around. When he sees me, the manager, he [View Full Entry]

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