The following is a post recently made to our FAQ page that we wanted to include to all of you who might be reading this blog.
Swine flu has recently been confirmed throughout Mexico and parts of the US. A few other countries have also reported possible infections. While we're in touch with the CDC and monitoring all of the international news we can put our hands on, we also feel we are uniquely placed to handle the situation given that all of our field staff are trained in Wilderness Medicine; two of our office staff are currently Emergency Room nurses; and the other is a Wilderness EMT. We also have contact with a variety of local doctors (including a few with advanced training in international and tropical medicines) that should needs require we can reach out to.
Our spring & fall 2009 programs will continue to run as scheduled although we plan on requiring flu shots for our fall programs as they have been proven (with Avian Flu for instance) to much reduce any severity of infection. We may also choose to outfit our medical kits with extra supplies such as extra hand sanitizer and the like.
Swine Flu is an offshoot of the 1918-19 flu: just as every flu since then has been. In that strain of flu as well as most that have followed including Swine, Pneumonia has been the actual concern and the one we're most on guard for. The good news is that once recognized there are very good treatments for Pneumonia and we are very familiar with good doctors in the areas our students travel. Of course we plan on continuing to take the proactive approach and deal with any medical potentialities quickly and professionally. Since that initial pandemic in 1918, the subsequent strains have historically been more and more benign. The Swine Flu is presenting thankfully as a low-mortality flu (currently, in the US as an example, there have been 50 suspected cases and only one took an overnight in the hospital before being discharged in good health). So, while this particular flu strain is stronger than the typical seasonal flu, we are hopeful that it will continue to be as easily treatable as it has been.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
What a day-a, TAYODEA.
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh....how to describe our last two weeks...?
Well, to start off, the leader of the organization introduced the conference as a scam (Not too promising). The first few days were pretty shaky. Our room had cracked walls and maybe a few ghosts and Carrye's bed was eternally wet, but it gradually started to become more comfortable. The town we were in is called Mlalo and is located in the mountains and dinosaurs live there. We (Emily and Lizzy) swear. We saw them.
We were supposed to do some tree planting, but it involved two trees and a couple plants. On the plus side, we got taken to a lot of schools and got a chance to really interact with kids. We had a discussion about corruption with some of the upper level students.
The best part of the summit was being able to help out in the kitchen with Mama Elisa and Dada Pia. Mama was a temporary grandmother to everyone and made fun of me (Emily) for farting in the kitchen all the time. We had three really awesome cultural nights. Kim, Carrye, Sally, Rosy, and Marshall did American night and made potatoes and eggs and banana bread. Miriam and the two of us cooked for Korean night with a Korean volunteer named Sasa. She taught us how to make two types of Korean pancakes and cold vegetable tea stuff and a spongey egg thingamabob quiche-y magiger. Vegans have sadness.
Mlalo was so amazingly beautiful and we all took a lot of epic walks. Some people went to pride rock and some climbed to the cross.
On Easter, the bells started going off at 4 in the morning and then suddenly a marching band started playing right outside our room and, seeing as I (Emily) wasn't going to be going to sleep anytime soon, I ran outside and followed some kids down the path to the cemetery. A huge crowd gathered around a cross and was listening to the preacher as she passionately preached about Easter. It was awesome. A bunch of us dressed up and went to church later that day.
Custard apples exist in the mountains and they are delicious. Like creamy mangoes with a bunch of seeds. Pear peeling is the greatest thing in the world. Sugar may or may not belong on pasta. We are addicted to rice. Donuts taste better when you sneak them. Ugali is fine with us. It means we can eat with our fingers.
Love you all!
Emily and Lizzy (Bob)
Well, to start off, the leader of the organization introduced the conference as a scam (Not too promising). The first few days were pretty shaky. Our room had cracked walls and maybe a few ghosts and Carrye's bed was eternally wet, but it gradually started to become more comfortable. The town we were in is called Mlalo and is located in the mountains and dinosaurs live there. We (Emily and Lizzy) swear. We saw them.
We were supposed to do some tree planting, but it involved two trees and a couple plants. On the plus side, we got taken to a lot of schools and got a chance to really interact with kids. We had a discussion about corruption with some of the upper level students.
The best part of the summit was being able to help out in the kitchen with Mama Elisa and Dada Pia. Mama was a temporary grandmother to everyone and made fun of me (Emily) for farting in the kitchen all the time. We had three really awesome cultural nights. Kim, Carrye, Sally, Rosy, and Marshall did American night and made potatoes and eggs and banana bread. Miriam and the two of us cooked for Korean night with a Korean volunteer named Sasa. She taught us how to make two types of Korean pancakes and cold vegetable tea stuff and a spongey egg thingamabob quiche-y magiger. Vegans have sadness.
Mlalo was so amazingly beautiful and we all took a lot of epic walks. Some people went to pride rock and some climbed to the cross.
On Easter, the bells started going off at 4 in the morning and then suddenly a marching band started playing right outside our room and, seeing as I (Emily) wasn't going to be going to sleep anytime soon, I ran outside and followed some kids down the path to the cemetery. A huge crowd gathered around a cross and was listening to the preacher as she passionately preached about Easter. It was awesome. A bunch of us dressed up and went to church later that day.
Custard apples exist in the mountains and they are delicious. Like creamy mangoes with a bunch of seeds. Pear peeling is the greatest thing in the world. Sugar may or may not belong on pasta. We are addicted to rice. Donuts taste better when you sneak them. Ugali is fine with us. It means we can eat with our fingers.
Love you all!
Emily and Lizzy (Bob)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Pete O'niel's Crib
Jambo! Miriam here.
Well first of all, it was nicer than I can express to escape into what felt like the lap of luxury for a few days. We had hot showers (usually) Home-style cooking, and real beds! It might as well have been on a completely different planet from the maasai village.
Pete O'niel is an exiled black panther from Kansas City. He is quite a character. He was very prominent in the movement, but when was charged for weapons trafficing, he fled the country. If he were ever to return, he would go straight to "shaw sahnk's redemption." After a somewhat strenuous and very exciting journey, Pete and his Wife Charlotte arrived (for good) in Tanzania. There they have formed the United African Alliance Community Center. It is quite an operation. The UAACC provides classes in a wide range of subjects for the local community such as art, computers, english and even yago, as well as clean water for everyone. They recently opened a childrens home for local orphans. These children are given wonderful care at the UAACC. They are also adorable!
While we were there we also got to make a day trip into Arusha. This gave us an internet opportunity, as well as a chance to get a good meal including burgers and milkshakes! We are now in Moshi, where we will spend one night before heading off to the Youth Conferance in Lushoto. No one knows what lies ahead!
We miss you all, and can't wait to update you about our next great adnventures.
Kwa Heri!
Well first of all, it was nicer than I can express to escape into what felt like the lap of luxury for a few days. We had hot showers (usually) Home-style cooking, and real beds! It might as well have been on a completely different planet from the maasai village.
Pete O'niel is an exiled black panther from Kansas City. He is quite a character. He was very prominent in the movement, but when was charged for weapons trafficing, he fled the country. If he were ever to return, he would go straight to "shaw sahnk's redemption." After a somewhat strenuous and very exciting journey, Pete and his Wife Charlotte arrived (for good) in Tanzania. There they have formed the United African Alliance Community Center. It is quite an operation. The UAACC provides classes in a wide range of subjects for the local community such as art, computers, english and even yago, as well as clean water for everyone. They recently opened a childrens home for local orphans. These children are given wonderful care at the UAACC. They are also adorable!
While we were there we also got to make a day trip into Arusha. This gave us an internet opportunity, as well as a chance to get a good meal including burgers and milkshakes! We are now in Moshi, where we will spend one night before heading off to the Youth Conferance in Lushoto. No one knows what lies ahead!
We miss you all, and can't wait to update you about our next great adnventures.
Kwa Heri!
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