3.26.2006
To Ireland, with friends
One of the best parts about being a "permanent student" is the frequency of vacations. My Spring Break happened to line up with that of H, a college friend who is also a permanent student. So one Friday we rendez-voused at a New York airport, got on a plane, and woke up in Ireland.
D, a friend of mine who volunteered with my organization in Tanzania, is Irish and graciously put us up in her apartment in Dublin. H and I explored the city for two days; Trinity College, city parks, the River Liffey, and the rows of storefronts--groceries and pubs and take-aways. We took day trips out of the city to small towns nearby. In Howth, we discovered an off-limits castle that is still partially inhabited and went on a breathtaking cliffside walk overlooking a broad bay. In Dalkey, we braved unremitting rain to find some old castles nestled in a small town, and climbed a big hill just to be in the general neighborhood where Bono lives. In Kilkenny, we roamed the town that still mostly reflects its 15th century layout. We saw the superstar attractions (cathedrals, castle), but a brief unguided wander revealed massive centuries-old churches at the head of each narrow street. My breath caught when I wandered in to the medieval stillness of the Black Abbey. Everywhere we went, we ate like queens, took pictures, marveled at the usefulness of our waterproof shoes, and just generally enjoyed each other's company.
Nevertheless, one day we split up, and while H tackled an impressive set of art museums and specialty stores, I headed to the countryside. In the small town of Navan, I got directions to a walking path that ran between a river and an old canal that was punctuated by vine-covered stone bridges and abandoned locks. After about 90 minutes of walking, I rounded a bend and glimpsed the towers of a ruined castle on a hill across the river. Grey clouds rolled behind it and a flock of ravens circled it, I kid you not. I walked further and saw that directly opposite the castle, on the other side of the canal, was a spooky red mansion with tall dark windows and an umkempt lawn descending to the river. A single light glowed on the downstairs floor. A little further along, I made my way across the canal on a few slippery branches and climbed up a hill to yet another ruin--an old church with a tiny graveyard, encircled by a low stone wall. I ate my lunch surveying my surroundings--river, green rolling hills, abandoned castle. Lovely (see below).
For St. Patrick's Day, we were in the Western town of Galway, where we watched a noon parade of school bands, acrobats, traditional Irish sports teams, bagpipes, huge puppets and immigrant community groups. There was live music and food stands all over the pedestrian area of their small town center, and some people were tipsy by 4 pm. The overall atmosphere was joyful and pleasant; we had a great time.
On our last night, we ate dinner in a seafood restaurant in a small coastal town, where by pure dumb look we were seated by and window and saw fireworks set off over the sea. That night, we went with D and her siblings to the pub in their small town, and toasted our trip.
D, a friend of mine who volunteered with my organization in Tanzania, is Irish and graciously put us up in her apartment in Dublin. H and I explored the city for two days; Trinity College, city parks, the River Liffey, and the rows of storefronts--groceries and pubs and take-aways. We took day trips out of the city to small towns nearby. In Howth, we discovered an off-limits castle that is still partially inhabited and went on a breathtaking cliffside walk overlooking a broad bay. In Dalkey, we braved unremitting rain to find some old castles nestled in a small town, and climbed a big hill just to be in the general neighborhood where Bono lives. In Kilkenny, we roamed the town that still mostly reflects its 15th century layout. We saw the superstar attractions (cathedrals, castle), but a brief unguided wander revealed massive centuries-old churches at the head of each narrow street. My breath caught when I wandered in to the medieval stillness of the Black Abbey. Everywhere we went, we ate like queens, took pictures, marveled at the usefulness of our waterproof shoes, and just generally enjoyed each other's company.
Nevertheless, one day we split up, and while H tackled an impressive set of art museums and specialty stores, I headed to the countryside. In the small town of Navan, I got directions to a walking path that ran between a river and an old canal that was punctuated by vine-covered stone bridges and abandoned locks. After about 90 minutes of walking, I rounded a bend and glimpsed the towers of a ruined castle on a hill across the river. Grey clouds rolled behind it and a flock of ravens circled it, I kid you not. I walked further and saw that directly opposite the castle, on the other side of the canal, was a spooky red mansion with tall dark windows and an umkempt lawn descending to the river. A single light glowed on the downstairs floor. A little further along, I made my way across the canal on a few slippery branches and climbed up a hill to yet another ruin--an old church with a tiny graveyard, encircled by a low stone wall. I ate my lunch surveying my surroundings--river, green rolling hills, abandoned castle. Lovely (see below).
For St. Patrick's Day, we were in the Western town of Galway, where we watched a noon parade of school bands, acrobats, traditional Irish sports teams, bagpipes, huge puppets and immigrant community groups. There was live music and food stands all over the pedestrian area of their small town center, and some people were tipsy by 4 pm. The overall atmosphere was joyful and pleasant; we had a great time.
On our last night, we ate dinner in a seafood restaurant in a small coastal town, where by pure dumb look we were seated by and window and saw fireworks set off over the sea. That night, we went with D and her siblings to the pub in their small town, and toasted our trip.
3.10.2006
Did you know?
Right now, Tanzania is facing a severe food crisis and power shortages. The short rains failed last August, after I left. Electricity is rationed to about 6 hours per day in the capital, the prices of staple foods have doubled in the last month, up to 10 million of the country's 35 million people will need food aid in the coming months, and the amount of water behind the major dam only provides half the electricity that the nation needs. It's a crisis that no one can manage and that affects all the people in Tanzania, from the industrialists to the pastoralists to the Seventh Day Adventists
I guess the deepening misery of one of the world's poorest countries is not interesting to America's news networks.
I guess the deepening misery of one of the world's poorest countries is not interesting to America's news networks.
Sick children
The New York Times has a beautiful article this week about treatment programs for children with AIDS. A lot of times the 2.1 million HIV positive children are forgotten when talking about the pandemic (including in the school of public health) but their misery is just as great, and their capacity to respond to treatment and live is good, too.
Of course, as the article points out, pediatric formulations of HIV medication are not as well researched, not as available, and are much more expensive. One of the most promising new drugs is Kaletra, manufactured by Abbott Labs in Illinois. But there is currently no timetable for issuing a pediatric formulation. Abbott says that the liquid suspension is the pediatric option because it can be divided to adjust dosing, but the liquid requires refrigeration and is too bitter for children to take. If you think that Abbott should work to make this important drug available to the children who need it most, you can call the CEO and leave a message on his machine telling him so.
Miles D. White
CEO, Abbott Laboratories
Phone: 847-937-6100
Fax: 847-937-1511
For more information about what you can do, click here.
Of course, as the article points out, pediatric formulations of HIV medication are not as well researched, not as available, and are much more expensive. One of the most promising new drugs is Kaletra, manufactured by Abbott Labs in Illinois. But there is currently no timetable for issuing a pediatric formulation. Abbott says that the liquid suspension is the pediatric option because it can be divided to adjust dosing, but the liquid requires refrigeration and is too bitter for children to take. If you think that Abbott should work to make this important drug available to the children who need it most, you can call the CEO and leave a message on his machine telling him so.
Miles D. White
CEO, Abbott Laboratories
Phone: 847-937-6100
Fax: 847-937-1511
For more information about what you can do, click here.
Back to the World
So Emily's worldview has been, er, narrowed lately, restricted mostly to computer screens, lecture halls, committee meetings, readings, etc. I did manage to work ahead and fit in a rock concert (awesome show--The Strokes) and a few hours of socializing, but wow. Today is the first day of my great spring break, which I will be spending in Ireland with two dear friends. I went out shopping for rainproof things last night, and wandering around the travel store made me really miss being on the road and embarking on daily adventures.
Fortunately, one of the things I have been working so frantically on is a proposal for my summer research, which has been accepted on all sides. I will be spending 10 weeks this summer in Western Kenya, working with an international aid agency that provides antiretroviral therapy to people living with AIDS! Specifically, I will be looking at ways to better connect pregnant women who come in for routine antenatal care with HIV testing and treatment if they need it. The project is perfect, it's my life's passion and a perfect next step for me.
And from there I will go to Australia for a whirlwind vacation with my family. So by August, I will have been on four continents and literally have traveled around the world. And I am so lucky for it.
Fortunately, one of the things I have been working so frantically on is a proposal for my summer research, which has been accepted on all sides. I will be spending 10 weeks this summer in Western Kenya, working with an international aid agency that provides antiretroviral therapy to people living with AIDS! Specifically, I will be looking at ways to better connect pregnant women who come in for routine antenatal care with HIV testing and treatment if they need it. The project is perfect, it's my life's passion and a perfect next step for me.
And from there I will go to Australia for a whirlwind vacation with my family. So by August, I will have been on four continents and literally have traveled around the world. And I am so lucky for it.
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