Friday, March 05, 2004

Today was a full day. Daniella and Shannon arrived yesterday from Washington PSI. Daniella is moving here for 3 years and will be responsible for managing the Voluntary Counselling and Testing sites that I am helping to get started. Despite working for hours straight on the guidelines, we had a lot of fun together.

By 7 or so, it was time for another PSI party…this time as a welcome to Daniella, complete with barbecue and twice as many people! They really can’t get enough of playing “Liar”.

  Wednesday, March 03, 2004

So the past few days have been crazy busy. Shelley deserted me early Monday. I haven’t even had time to miss her. I spent Monday rescheduling Shelley’s appointments and delivering invitations for the workshop. I was in Mapotsoe for most of yesterday, working on the referral system and then got my first (but fortunately minor) bout of food sickness. I guess I’m not immune afterall. Then last night (or I guess early this morning) I completed one of the bigger PSI projects.

The highlight of my week so far was definitely the HASH on Monday evening. I know I said this group was crazy, but I had no idea. Imagine 40 people of all different nationalities, ranging in age from 9 to 59, running along a trail that continues on the other side of a very muddy river. Then picture those 40 people slipping down a muddy slope into that muddy river with very little hesitation and walking through the chest-high water a distance of about 50 feet (most likely under-estimation) to climb out, slipping on the muddy slope on the other side. One of the girls even got stuck and it took two guys to get her out! I mostly walked the rest of the trail. It was some of the most beautiful hiking territory and the whole trail took more than 2 hours to finish. It was well worth it to see the breath-taking sunset. The sun was actually reflected in the clouds across from where the sun was setting, so it appeared as though there were two sunsets. It was almost extra-planetary. If only I had my camera!

  Sunday, February 29, 2004

Alas! All good things must come to an end. Shelley will be leaving tomorrow. After a series of family emergencies, she was left with no choice. But she will be missed…and not only because of the extra work it means for me! And I don’t just mean the real work…now I’ll have to make sure I don’t forget the key, boil my own water, and close the windows all by myself (this is a lot harder than you might think).

So I’ll be on my own for the first time…ever. This will certainly be a lesson in independence for me. It’s the first time in 5 years I haven’t had a roommate…and hopefully the last! But Buck comes a week from today!!! :o)