November 23rd

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Hey everybody,

Just a really quick note before I take off for two weeks in the Solomon Islands and where I will, gasp, be paying for the internet. Well not me per se, more PIAF, but whatever details. Hope all the American's had a great Thanksgiving. I actually got a Turkey Day of my own here. I'm currently lviing with an American lady, Paige, while Sally has been in Vanuatu. Paige is a volunteer vet at the clinic here for a couple weeks, and has been staying with me just to avodi the over crowded clinic house basically. So anyways, the American rep wanted some turkey, and after a couple calls, it was discovered that Trader Jacks was serving a dinner special of Roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, the full meal deal, plus topped with pumpkin pie. So a bunch of us went, American or not, and raised our cholestrol. It was fabulous.
So I take off for the solomon islands tonight, well technically tommorrow morning, at 3:55am. Sally is getting in from Vanuatu at 2:40, so we have an hour to toast my birthday and catch up before I hop on the plane she got off of and fly to auckland. In Auckland I'm buying myself a birthday camera, as mine still won't turn on after having been bathee in the Aitutaki lagoon, and meet up with Zoe at the Burger King for a birthday burger. Zoe has been in Fiji for 2 weeks, and we're just lucky to be in the same airport at the same time!!! Then I fly to Nadi, Fiji, where I have a layover of two nights. I'm staying with my boss Maire in her hotel, the Radisson (!!! I know a step up from my typical abode, probably no cochroaches or vomit on the floor). I'll check out Nadi for a day and hopefully find a couple more shirts that have actual fabric over the shoulders so I don't look like a hussy in the solomons. Then I fly to Honiara, the capital of the SI. I'm supposed to be met by the head of the HIV unit of the ministry of health, Japhet. His email said that he should be there and to look for him, so wait, but if he's not there, take a taxi. First off, I have no idea what he looks like, i have a feeling the white girl with the huge bewildered eyes and the AIDS ribbon necklace will stick out a little more than him. Second, how long do I wait for? I'm sure it'll work out. It's a cconcept in itself to be met at the airport at all!!!
Today Ann and I, being the only two PIAF staff on the island at the moment, went out for lunch at Cafe Salsa. I had a great pizza, which was made better when I was told yes, they could make the pizza I wanted but without the asparagus. You all know how I feel about food that looks like a tree/plant.
I also bought a pack of Tim Tams to have throughout the day as my birthday cake. Beauty of that, not actually having a cake, you don't feel obligated to share with with anybody. Though in allm reality I would more than share my Tim Tams with all of you fabulous people who have emailed me birthday salutations. I love getting them, it's like a replacement birthday party over the internet. To all the people who have not emailed me/facebooked me birthday wishes, you get NO Tim Tams!!!! You know who you are (Lindsay Manko!)
Well that takes me right up till when I leave tonight, probably won't be able to write from the solomons, but I will be taking a lot of pictures, and as always, I'll probably have some thoughts after I get back, so you can all eagerly await those nuggets of knowledge. Have a good one, and remmeber, just as nobody should fight on Dec. 25th, everybody must be happy on Nov 24th!!!!
love
Emily
PS. oh because my birthday is only 4 hours this year, I've decided to have the birthday, but technically stay 22 for another year!

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