A lot going on

Can't i just go already. all i want to do is get on the plane so I can stop thinking about how it will be when i'm there and i can just be there. I google earthed it the other day and I'm happy to report that the landing strip at the Kigali airport does have pavement. I'm not landing in a field or on a dirt road.

I'm also starting to feel the compulsive urge to pack. Except i'm not leaving for three weeks so everytime i pack something that I'll need when i get there, i have to unpack it to use it the next day.

Passports

Getting a Visa is more complicated than one would imagine, especially a multiple entry visa, especially a multiple entry visa for 2 countries, especially when those countries happen to be Kenya and Tanzania.

Ugh.

Important Africa-related suggestions I've received so far:

1. Don't open your mouth in the shower.
2. Bring baby powder.
3. Don't jog in a sports bra.
4. Get a menstrual cup. (this is VERY gross).
5. Don't eat anything you cannot peal.
6. Always wear socks.
7. Don't swim in any non-salt water. (Schistomiasis)
8. If it looks hungry, throw your friends to the animals first.
9. Triple bag it.
10. Parasites are excellent rapid weight loss solutions.
11. Always pretend that you know what you are talking about and where you are going.

Anything to add?

I was told to blog!

Its really interesting that after I tell people about my summer plans, they ask me: "How many shots did you have to get?" and "Are you going to have a blog?" I can take a hint. And now I have a blog.

Yesterday I found out that I did get accepted into the Hubert Fellowship to help fund my summer (my checking account is so excited). In case anyone doesn't know where I'm going or what I'm doing, here is the brief synopsis:

Part of my public health masters program is a practicum. The best training in HIV/AIDS for a french speaking biochemistry undergrad is in clinic in Rwanda. So, thats where I'm going. My task is to train clinic lab staff, in french, to do real time PCR, HMA, HLA, and Elispot (these are all viral sequencing procedures). From my training, I will produce a training manual for their future use, and I will submit this in place of a thesis. These techniques will expand their lab capabilities to include linkage analysis (viruses have a family history just like we do) to map infection sources.

Enough with the technicalities, I'll be in Kigali, Rwanda. I leave on May 21 and will be gone 3 months. I don't know a whole lot more than that except that I'm going on safari in July and to Mombasa beaches (Indian Ocean) in August.

I wonder what I should pack!