5-30-10 Got to the clinic compound around 5 or so. We are all staying in the new isolation ward. They aren’t done with it yet. They were just putting up mosquito nets and painting when we pulled up. Not all beds had mattresses yet. Bunk beds and not divider for toilet. Shower curtain is short so the water pours out on the floor. We had dinner all of us around a long table stuffed in a small room. Had to pass the plates around because there wasn’t room to get up and get the food. Have to use hand sanitizer after washing hands because the water is bad. Can’t even put the water on the toothbrush or get it in your mouth when showering. ... read more

May 27. Awoke at 4:45. Breakfast in open air dining room. I had an omelette and fruit. Coffee was great. Mango juice also. We loaded up in our safari vans and headed out. Drove about 2 hours to Arusha and met with Vensa the travel agent at a hotel. She briefed us about the events of the next three days over snacks, (samosa and bhagia) and coffee. Took off again to the Ngongoro crater. It took us quite awhile but we saw lots of the countryside on the way.All along the way were the Massai. They all wear the traditional clothes and tend their cattle and goats. Mostly the children tended them. We saw many small hut villages along the way also. Along the way our driver spotted a giraffe. I was able to see it ... read more

We arrived at the Minneapolis airport without a problem. The check -in didn’t go well. We took all of the donation carton to the check - in area but they could only check me in. The rest wouldn’t work. They then sent us downstairs to group check in. That didn’t even work so they had to put everyone in a new booking. Our flight was delayed an hour. Luckily we had a 3 hour layover in Amsterdam so we were fine. No time to do anything at the airport. Just went to our gate and had to go back through the security screening and then boarded right away. I had pulled a muscle in my mid back lifting bags into the van when we started. Wouldn’t have been bad except then sitting in an airplanes seat ... read more

Testing a system for the new netbook.... read more

I have ordered an ASUS Netbook to take along. Now I just need to spend some time with it once it arrives. I will be packing this weekend as next week is very busy. Purchased travel/evacuation insurance. Sprayed my clothes and mosquito net with Permetherin.... read more