Be the change you want to see in the world -Gandhi

Habitat build to Chiang Mai has been posted!!!!

2010-03-16T12:41:00.000-04:00

It's official! I'm a team leader and my first trip is up on the Habitat for Humanity Global Village Website!!!!

Please check it out:

My build info page: click here to see it!

Chiang Mai, Thailand
July 31 - August 14

Weekend in DC

2010-03-16T11:54:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I spent in DC. Christina (my roommie) and I drove down Thursday for a Doctors Without Borders information session. I've had this organization at the back of my mind since I decided to apply to midwifery school. They have a strong presence in Haiti (before and after the earthquake... Click here to donate to keep funding their international efforts) and recently I've started thinking more about the possibility of joining. Trouble is that you need 2 years post-graduation experience (a good idea, frankly) and you can't go with a spouse or children. So, those timelines don't work together very well. But, placements are generally 6 months to a year, so it wouldn't be as long as the Peace Corps committment. It was a great information session and gave me something to think about.

Otherwise, I spent the weekend at Natalie and Andrew's house, playing with "my" sweet little Audrey. I've posted about her before. She's 10 months now and is mobile - crawling everywhere and even starting to pull herself up into standing. Soon that little chica will be walking - heaven help mama and daddy then! Here are some great pictures of that gorgeous girl:

BATH TIME!

This week is Natalie's 30th birthday. I was happy to be able to go down close to her day to celebrate. Of course, I had to bake a cake and sing a round of "Happy Birthday". :)

Weekend in Chicago

2010-03-16T09:50:00.008-04:00

The weekend before last, I traveled to Chicago for my Habitat For Humanity team leader training. I'm so excited to start the journey as a team leader. After participating in builds in Tanzania (2002), India (2005) and Romania (2009), I will be leading my first team to Thailand this summer (watch for an additional post on this trip). The training this weekend outlined the responsibilities and procedures of being a team leader. It was a great training with lots of similarly minded people. Here's a picture taken at the end of training.

One of the perks of attending the Chicago training was that I was able to stay with a good college friend who is a Physician Assistant in Chicago - Jackie. She took took care of me for a couple of days while I was in Chicago and took me into her little (mostly furry) family.

One evening, we took a stroll along the lake. The edges are still crunchy and frozen, but most of the lake has thawed. It was simply beautiful to walk along the half-frozen beach with the Chicago skyline behind us. Such a beautiful city!

Another really exciting pice of this trip was seeing a highschool friend who I had not seen in nearly eleven years!! (Since highschool). It was just thrilling to see this boy-turned-man who was a best friend of mine through much of highschool. We remembered quickly why we'd been such good friends. (Thank you Facebook for reconnecting us!)

All around it was a great weekend!

Houston sunshine bikeride

2010-02-07T15:26:00.000-05:00

Haven't written in a while, but the last week has brought about great change - I am headed back to Connecticut to finish my integration semester there. I had some beautiful births here at the birth center and learned, invaluably, how beautiful natural birth is. But, the birth center here was not a good fit for me and my learning needs.

Here I am again packing everything back into my car to set out on the journey back to Connecticut. I'm glad that the snowstorm/blizzard of the NE is this weekend - hopefully it will be under control by the end of the week when I arrive in DC...

As for my last days here in Houston, I am enjoying them immensely (and particularly enjoying turning my phone ringer off at night - didn't turn it off once in the previous 4 weeks!). Yesterday, we were blessed with a gorgeous sunny (warmish) day. So, mom and I spent as much time as possible outside. There is a new bike trail going from the Heights to Downtown Houston, so we used the gorgeous day to take a ride. Here are a few pictures:

Downtown Houston skyline is in the background

and the bridge is over

a Bayou (Houston is

Bayou City)

The sky was perfectly blue - not a cloud in sight and the weather was warm enough to don a tee-shirt for the ride. Perfect way to end my time at home. Spring in February makes me so happy!

After the bikeride, I headed off to a baby shower for one of the babies I caughtThursday night (two baby boys that night). He was born early, so got to be present for the shower. His mom was a young Salvadorian girl - sweet as can be. I was flattered and honored to go to the baby shower - and felt so "official" when I was introduced as "the midwife who delivered the baby". Wow, that's me! What an amazing feeling!

with mom and baby (#15 for me) at the shower

(her face has been blocked to protect patient privacy)

I guess after such a great day in Houston, I'm able to head back north into the blizzard....

Tacos at 1am: surviving midwifery school one night at a time

2010-01-25T22:51:00.000-05:00

Friday started I started out exhausted, after several nights of poor sleep. I was hormonal and emotional so I drove an hour to the coast (Galveston, TX) and took a long bike ride (on my newly purchased road bike – love Craigslist) on the sea wall. It was refreshing, renewing and tiring. Drove home, showered and was just getting ready for bed…when….

My phone rang.

We expected a slow weekend, but off to the birth center I went....for a 17 hour labor ride.

My preceptor should have sent her home – she said so herself: Friday 8pm – Saturday 1pm with two 20 minute naps at some point in the middle of the night while I played the hypnobirth CD for the patient and she was able to rest.

Admittedly, I was really glad that I was there for this woman – she struggled through labor, even during "prelabor"…the time she "should have" gone home before the contractions were at their strongest and before they were really causing cervical change. I wouldn't trade anything for sitting with a woman in labor - doing laps up and down the hall, rubbing her back, looking into her eyes and breathing with her to help pace her breathing. Running her bath and slowly pouring water over her contracting belly - hard as a rock every 2 minutes or so. It's beautiful and I do it happily. But by 6am, still no baby, I thought I might fall over head first into the tub where she sat. Fortunately, I stayed up right and present somehow. I have no idea how I. Your energy changes when you're in the presence of a woman in labor. Your peace and patience increases and your senses become more acute.

But, by 7:30 I was struggling. Now, with my preceptor up, I suggested that I go take a nap for a while. "No" she says, "there is another woman coming in". Someone else in labor. By then my energy stores seemed depleted and I didn't think I had it in me to support two laboring women after 24 hours without sleep.

But the woman who came in was in active labor – it was her third child and she'd stayed at home until she knew she was getting close. She arrived at 8am, we gave her IV penicillin and she and her husband began to labor together beautifully with complete concentration and connection. I returned to my first patient who begged me to do *something* to help things along.

9am – we broke the bag of water for the first woman. A painless procedure, it removes the padding of water below the head, so the head sits directly on the cervix and helps it dilate more quickly. The hormones created by the "rupture" also speed up labor and create more painful contractions. I told her to try and walk again – that combined with the ruptured membranes would surely move things along.

Back to room number two – laboring well, baby healthy (good heart rate). I don't want to disrupt/intrude into their focused energy, so I leave the room.

Woman one is in tears in the hallway – it hurts SO much! I can't walk. Ok, back to the tub (for the third time) – it does wonders. I support her down the hallways her tears falling onto my scrub top. Encouraging words. Quickly run her bath. In she goes. I get her husband to kneel by the tub and look into her eyes to help her breathe. I'm summoned to the other room

9:30 "She needs to push" – run into room 2 calling for my preceptor and quickly put on some latex free gloves – this woman has a latex allergy. We rush in soon after she's climbed into bed and is determined to get this baby out.

She's powerful and focused.

9:32 "It's a girl" we sumersault her out because the cord is tight around her neck – too tight to pull over her head, so we keep it close to the mom's body and "sumersault" the body around it. Cord loose, it can be removed. She goes onto mama's tummy with a healthy cry.

Baby's cry in this room is quickly followed by mama's cry in the next room. "Don't do anything and stay here" my preceptor says as she runs out.

Boy it worked to rupture her membranes – we should have done it at 1am!

9:35 "It's a girl" Baby 1 is born in the water in the next room. I missed it! I'd labored with her for over 13 hours and I was stuck in the other room for the birth of her baby. My preceptor caught it. I was sad and consoled only by the fact that the mama told me that she wished I'd been there. *smile*

3.5 hours of post partum vital signs, baby temps, baths, breastfeeding and bleeding monitoring. I alternated between rooms and tried to get everything done on time for the two women who delivered nearly at the same moment.

Somehow, I made it through. Adrenaline during birth removes all weariness, but as tasks are finished and mothers are left to bond with their new treasures, exhaustion (re)sets in. I fought off renewed nausea and delirium.

1pm – we send both mama's home. My preceptor is out the door before they are even packed up. I'm left with the doula. So, we make sure both families have been given all the necessary information, have car seats that work and we walk them down to their cars (both moms' turn down a chauffeured wheelchair).

1:45: Home – 4ish hrs of sleep - trying to pace myself so I would sleep that night and get back on a regular schedule. Get up and eat and start a movie before heading to bed for a well deserved full night of sleep.

Psych!

9:15pm Saturday - called in again. I cried when I hung up the phone. I sat on my bed with my head in my hands and cried. I was sure I couldn't do it - sure this would push my body and mind past what it was capable of. Still, I took a deep breath, donned my scrubs, packed a sandwich and apple and got back in my car. I cried in the car too, but pulled it together by the time I arrived at the birth center.

9:30pm - 4am - labor, birth, post partum. Strong, beautiful Mexican woman – I got to practice my Spanish. Gorgeous experience. I hardly noticed I was awake - second wind kind of thing, I guess. Beautiful baby girl was born just after midnight. But, I did everything myself. It was a pretty small baby and I maneuvered her easily from perineum to abdomen. Cord cut. Blood collected.

I pulled out the placenta without even a thought of being woozy. This is a first. Twelfth placenta and the first time I didn't feel scared. Wow. Maybe I really CAN be a midwife. Isn't that nice!

We always want the mama to eat before she gets up to toilet and bathe after giving birth. This was my lucky midnight. No fast-food for these lovely people. Home made Mexican fajita soft tacos. They appreciated me – labor support, attempt at Spanish and love – and offered me to share in their meal.

Tacos at 1am have NEVER tasted so good.

They wanted to go home. I wanted to go home. I woke my preceptor at 3:30 to discharge them. She was gone before I returned from walking them to their car and I was not far behind.

Slept from 4am - 11am. Not well once the sun came up, but I was in my bed, my precious bed – didn't even both to remove the clothes that were scattered on top of it before climbing in.

Went for a run Sunday and for the first few blocks my body cursed me with every step. My joints, my muscles and all the surrounding cells screamed at me. But, I pushed through and the endorphins kicked in. After the run, yoga and some delicious home-made tortilla soup, my body felt almost normal, though still tired, again. The newly grown bags under my eyes give me away, but that's what cucumbers are for, right?

This journey into midwifery is intense!

A report of the situation on the ground in Haiti

2010-01-16T23:40:00.000-05:00

report from Amber Munger in Port-au-Prince

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO KONPAY.ORG TO ASSIST OUR EFFORTS! WE NEED
YOUR HELP!
Visit the Konpay website and rightsbasedhaiti.wordpress.com for updates

The gunfire spread last night to our zone. At 1 am it started. It was off in the distance a ways when it first started but got closer and closer up until about 2:30 and then it seemed to stop. All of the homeless on the streets and in the refugee camps again met the chaos with loud singing, clapping and prayers.

I am at the Matthew 25 house in Delmas 33. Here we have set up a triage hospital with more than 1,300 refugees on a soccer field. The people at Matthew 25 have been traveling all over the city trying to figure out what clinics and hospitls are operational, what services they can provide and what the needs are.

There is no visible coordination effort from international agencies on the ground. There were no planes coming in yesterday. One of my coordinating partners, AMURT-Haiti, worked to find a plane of 30-40 doctors and supplies that could come, but the plane was not allowed to land in the PAP airport. We have teams in the Domiican Republic with truckloads of supplies, but they were stopped at the border and were not allowed entry.

The situation here is desperate and getting restless. The John Hopkins Students who were visiting Rights based Haiti and AMURT when the earthquake hit, have been doing surveys and assessments of the clinics and refuggee camps in the nearby zones. The surveys that they conducted two days ago show that none of the people in the camps had food or water to last them more than a day.

Here at Matthew 25, we have been doign amputations, and other painful surgeries, with no painkillers, no anesthesia, nothing to work with. There are no tools for our doctors. We have numerous Haitian doctors
and nurses here but no supplies! We have run out of antibiotics twice but then found them by searching at nearby clinics run by missions and NGOs.

We have heard nothing from MINUSTAH. I have not seen any of the international agencies on the ground. I have seen belgian doctors and cuban doctors all doing amazing work - but we have not seen or received any contact or assistance from higher agencies ourselves.

The city has run out of water and food - but the biggest problem is gas and diesel. The little that trickles in to the one or two gas stations is the subject of fights that will soon become rioting. At matthew 25, there no diesel to run the generator. We are using the last power that the inverter has that may cut out at any time. Our vehicles are all on their last ounce of fuel. I have sent one of my trusted staff and friends who worked closely with me during the gonaives emergency in 2008 to find gas this morning. I am afraid for him. There is no way for him to communicate with me because there is no phone service in the country. Now we are also running out of money. I gave my last cash today to pay for gas, a little bit of food, and a spare tire for one of our vehicles to replace one that was stolen. The nearest western union is two hours north in St. Marc and
we are not sure if that is still functioning.

An added pressure on the city right now is that, due to the lack of communications, many people from the provinces are coming to search for their loved ones. They then add to the numbers of people stuck in PAP with no way out, no food, or water.

All of the problems that exist in catastrophes, we are expereinceing now. how to dispose of the bodies, the human waste, how to move people out of the city. Everyone here is fearing rain because they think that the first rain will move the earth under the standing houses causing those buildings to fall as well. Each day more things fall.

I am coordinating with AMURT, KONPAY, Beyond Borders, Matthew 25, and many other partners on an integrated response that will help us get through the next week as well as prepare us to deal with the coming
months of insecurity. We have coordinated the shipment of diesel from the open port in cap-haitian, the use of a shipping company to haul fuel from the DR to PAP, the use of a large protected storage compound to store the fuel. We have Haitian volunteers working with the John Hopkin team to conduct the surveys to provide us important data on the numbers and locations of people who are in need of medical care, so that when help and supplies arrive, we are able to efficiently get people to where they need to go. We have worked with grassroots leaders in Commune Anse ROuge to gather information throughout the commune on family names and locations in PAP so that each village can send on e or two people to serach for loved ones in PAP rather than everyone from the villages going into the disaster zone.

in general, we are being used as a place for information exchange. journalists, and organizational representatives are checking in daily to give updates and share information which i then share with my
contact at KONPAY who then shares the information with the larger network of NGOS that we are coordinating with. until MINUSTAH is able to re-establish a coordination base, we are making the MAtthew 25 house the coordination headquarters for our operations.

Haitians are helping each other in glorious acts of compassion and kindness every where you look. These people have endured so much unspeakable and unnecessary suffering. I am today, as always, blessed to be walking with them in their struggle to overcome their awful and unfair circumstances, and am even more blessed to be sharing in the strength of spirit that makes each one of them my hero.

Our partners also need your help! AMURT-Haiti and Beyond Borders are helping us to coordinate our efforts. We are all working together to share resources to assist haitians during this disaster. Please send
your donations to Konpay, to AMURT-Haiti, or Beyond Borders to help us!

Amber Lynn Munger, J.D.

"Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full
development of his personality is possible."
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 29(1)

"Chak moun gen yon seri obligasyon anvè kominote kote li ap viv la.
Paske kominote a se sèl kote li kapab alèz pou li devlope pèsonalite
li tout bon vre."
- Deklarasyon Linivèsèl Dwa Moun, Atik 29(1)

My new favorite poem

2010-01-14T21:36:00.000-05:00

Written by my favorite 11 year old, Happy.

From a class room to a hospital

I know a young person who did the world a big favor

and taught in Thailand for two and a half years

to school again to help people in one more way

may she give every little baby a way to be born

a midwife of course

thank goodness you are here Emily

This is what it is to feel loved!

Sent with a Christmas thank you note, written by my favorite 11 year old who I have taught, lived with, traveled with and loved for the past 7 years!

Just wanted to share

Help for the Hatians - donate now! Every little bit helps!

2010-01-13T23:23:00.001-05:00

Here is a message written by a dear friend of mine. She is doing her PhD on the Hatian government and situation and is quite close to the country and the people there. I visited her in Port Au Prince a couple years ago for a week. As someone who has seen varying degrees of international poverty, including India and Tanzania, I was truly surprised and saddened by the "normal" situation in Haiti. My heart hurts for their current situation. Please read the message below and help in whatever way you can. Feel free to also pass along or "borrow" the note and links to forward to others. I have added in a couple additional sites to those she sent me.

We are citizens of the world! Don't let the relative calm bubble surrounding us here keep you from helping your brothers and sisters in Haiti who are hurt, scared, homeless, hungry and truly in despiration! Remember, even the smallest donations, if made by each of us, add up quickly and will help save lives.

Dear all,

By now, I suspect that most of you have heard about Haiti's being hit by a 7.0 (magnitude) earthquake yesterday afternoon.

You can get the latest reports at:

CNN

BBC

New York Times

As some of you know, I lived and worked in Haiti for most of 2008.

Under 'normal' circumstances, the level of need is persistently high and in the wake of this natural disaster, I cannot begin to explain the nature and extent of the consequences.

Not having done initial assessments of the impact, most relief organizations have not yet planned their medium-term response; for the moment trained emergency first responders are needed to administer medical and humanitarian aid.

Since many of us do not fit that bill, let us do what we can in the short-term. Let us donate.

Please see a list below of the many organizations who are seeking donations as they either collaborate with other organizations or construct their own response efforts. Each has a hyperlink, so just click on the organization's name and it will take you to a website where you can donate.

Please choose the organization you trust the most and give as much as you can.

For those of you who wish to give of your time and energy, I will be vigilantly keeping up with the efforts and working on ways that we can volunteer in the medium-term.

If you are yet to make Spring Break plans, this may be among the best uses of your time and money.

Until then, let us give as best we can and keep on praying for the people of Haiti.

Thank you,

Sheree

Emily and Sheree in Haiti 3/2008

waterbirth: first birth in Houston, first boy, first birth center all-nighter

2010-01-13T05:28:00.000-05:00

Happy early early hours of Wednesday. It's hump day, but just barely. My "hump" is actually making it through this all-nighter here at the birth center. (And most of you know that all nighters and I are generally not friends)! Then of course, I need to make it through a full clinic day tomorrow before a blissful night of sleep tomorrow night. . . Anyway.

A woman came into the clinic today claiming she was in labor. Well, there are different types of "labor" and she was in the very early kind that is mildly painful, but not too much, and doesn't cause any real cervical change. So, my preceptor sent her home and told her to call at 10pm or sooner if she felt that things were really picking up.

I rushed home from a ACNM (American College of Nurse Midwives) meeting at 8pm and scarfed down some dinner in attempt to jump into bed for a nap before getting called into the clinic. Alas, it was not in the stars.

At 9pm, as I was eating my last bites of dinner, my preceptor called and told me to meet her at the clinic at 10pm - we were in labor, but it was going to be a long night.

The dreaded night labor - somehow (aside from the still birth that happened at 11pm after evening induction and which was filled with so much emotion and processing that I hardly noticed it was night) I have avoided middle of the night labor and birth until now. Admittedly, I took as few night call shifts as possible and somehow was lucky enough not to be called in for those I had taken. Of course, sleepless nights are part of this profession I've chosen. It's never been something I've been able to do easily and usually leaves me rather nauseous. But, this summer, with the outbreak of H1N1 at summer camp, I made it through about 4 days on around 8hrs sleep if I'm being generous. So, I know I can do it. Still, I was disappointed and nervous about what lay ahead of me this evening.

10pm - birth center. The patient is clearly in more serious labor than she was this afternoon. Her cervix is still only about 4cm (as opposed to 2cm around 4:30 when we sent her home) and it looks like we have a long night ahead of us.

But it's her second baby and things were getting moving, so by 11:45, she'd progressed to about 7-8 centimeters and was really wanting some pain relief. We broke her water to speed things along, got her in the bath with the jets going and (begrudgingly .... perhaps only because they threatened to go to the hospital) gave her some IV pain meds...which pretty much knocked her out right away. She became really groggy and was practically asleep in the tub.

12:00....12:15 - baby stable, mom groggy but stable, water warm, dad present, grandma (well, frankly she had a knack for thinking of, and verbalizing, just about anything that could possibly go wrong....not.helpful.)

Every 10 minutes or so listening to the baby's heart rate and using a flashlight to check to water for signs of imminent birth (only small lamps and candles on in the room).

12:45 - a short vocal "oooohhh" from the mama which prompted a "flashlight check"

A HEAD!.... well, not the whole head, but the crown of it with beautiful hair.

Two pushes...well, two contractions...mama was still a little asleep from the pain meds...and baby smoothly entered the world - from one water world into another... then dry land. It's nice to transition smoothly then land in a hug!

Amazing - nothing happens so smoothly and gracefully in the hospital....there it is always dramatic - voices, lights, counting, urgency. Here just life - easy and delightful. It was (finally!) one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

I pulled the baby out of the water and put him on the mama's chest, continued to pour warm water over him to keep his temp up and helped daddy cut the cord.

After a few minutes, we helped mama out of the tub and to the bed to take care of all the "after birth stuff" that is the least favorite part of my job. But, I didn't get woozy (which, unfortunately, has been quite a challenge for me when placentas are involved) and sat on the bed with the mom while we took care of her. I was a little unsure - this was so different from doing these things in the hospital - but my preceptor very patiently guided me through them and it was ultimately a success.

Believe it or not, this was the first boy that I have caught. Nine girls up to this point. Now, the magic 10th was a sweet little boy with very good lungs - started crying just as soon as I brought him out of the water.

What a different experience. I loved it!

click here for more information on waterbirth -articles and information

2010-01-13T02:53:00.001-05:00

I just caught my first BOY under water in a gorgeous perfect water birth. All is well in the world.

a poem by Hafiz

2010-01-10T23:04:00.004-05:00

You carry

All the ingredients

To turn your life into a nightmare-

Don't mix them!

You have all the genius

To build a swing in your backyard

for God.

That sounds

Like a hell of a lot more fun.

Let's start laughing, drawing blueprints,

Gathering our talented friends.

I will help you

With my divine lyre and drum.

Hafiz

Will sing a thousand words

You can take into your hands,

Like golden saws,

Silver hammers,

Polished teakwood,

Strong silk rope.

You carry all the ingredients

To turn existence into joy,

Mix them, mix

Them!

-Hafiz, the Sufi master poet

Reflections - my Christmas letter

2010-01-10T22:57:00.003-05:00

December 2009

Happy holidays! It’s hard to believe that we will soon be in the year 2010. I still find myself writing a 19 instead of a 20 occasionally and yet it’s been a decade since we feared the big Y2K. Would the computers crash? Would the world end? Neither happened and we kept truckin’ through life’s adventures. As I reflect back on the first decade of the 21^st century it is hard for me to even begin to process how many experiences I’ve had and how much each has changed me. Ten years ago this month, I was finishing my first semester of college at Oglethorpe in Atlanta – I pulled my first all-nighter (which caused me to be very discombobulated and physically quite ill), was beginning to fall in love for the first time, made my first multi-state drive without one of my parents and experienced for the first time how “home” can be simultaneously intimately familiar and strangely foreign. How my self and global understandings, heart, faith and knowledge has changed since then! Adulthood: joyful lessons, painful ones; acute experiences, subconscious processes; life. For better or for worse, till death do us part, this beautiful chaotic world and I play a game of chess with God as our referee.

Five years ago, December 2004. This month five years ago, I was anxiously awaiting my Peace Corps deployment for Thailand (1/05). I was excited and scared without any idea of what my upcoming journey held. I had just attended a presentation made by two of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” and was deeply inspired by their story of strength, courage and survival – reinforcing me desire to work internationally, though at that time the idea of it was fully romanticized. I had birthed the startling thought of becoming a midwife, but it was on hold as I continued substitute teaching, tried desperately to make sense of my “Teach yourself Thai” CD set and attempted to see as many friends and family as humanly possible before departing for the next twenty-seven months.

Two years ago I sat in this same computer lab trying to figure out how to convey the overwhelming experience of my first semester in grad school, nursing school and time adjusting to being back in the United States after a long absence. I was overwhelmed, overworked and feeling quite insecure, incapable and discouraged. And wondering if I’d made the right choice in changing my career path and spend way too much money doing so.

December 2009, today. I can’t say that my fears and doubts from two years ago have totally disappeared – they still resurface now and again. But, here I am finishing my last few assignments of my last classroom semester at Yale School of Nursing. It seems surreal that in a short five months, I will yet again don the black cap and gown, adding a hood this time, and walk across a stage for the third time in my life. Soon there after, I will wear the catcher’s mitt alone, without more experienced and confident hands covering mine as new life after new life enters this world from the love of couples, powers of women, creation of God and the guidance of my two hands. These very hands that have dug in the mud, cramped from holding a pen, held crying babies, clapped with joyful children, turned pages of a musical score, felt for fever, struck piano keys and spoken the common language of gestures and humanity when I had no words that would work. I don’t know how these chapped, nail-bitten, well-used hands can be deserving of such honor. I often doubt that they will know what to do when I instruct them to work on their own without guidance from more experienced hands. And yet, I am assured that every novice midwife has these same thoughts, worries and pride that her own hands can guide a new life into existence.

In the past year, I have helped guide eight babies from water world to dry land – seven alive and healthy, one stillborn at 22 weeks. All beautiful. I have learned to blindly measure the diameter of a cervix using only touch and the movement of my fingers. My accuracy of identifying fetal position in utero with my hands outside the belly continues to improve and each time the fetus tries to kick my hands away as I push and prod, I can’t help but laugh with the expectant mother. I have hugged women in joy and in sadness, in comfort and in pain. I have helped women slowly lie down and held others up through labor pains they thought they surely could not endure. I have counseled, taught, guided and encouraged. Midwifery is not a profession for the weak – it enters your soul, ruins your sleep and occasionally takes over your mind. I am daily challenged and rewarded. Moreover, I can’t believe it is I who is taking on this journey. And as this nearly fatal academic journey comes to a close, the real journey is just beginning. I have great hopes for my Christmas letter next year!

The experiences of this year are not all held within the context of midwifery, however. In April, I took the national nursing certification exam and am…wait for it…officially a registered nurse. That’s right: Emily Lawson, RN. After receiving this license, I worked as a summer camp nurse at a camp in the Texas Hill country. I was the only medical professional for around 200 hundred people at a rustic camp 30 minutes from the nearest hospital and at least 10 minutes from cell phone service (we did have land lines). We had some scorpion stings, sprained joints, burns, ingrown toenails and multitudes of cuts, scrapes, bruises and splinters. I am now officially an expert tweezer! We also had the swine flu.

Yes, we were confirmed H1N1 recipients. It hit us 10 days before the end of camp in a sudden wave that went from one to twelve over night. On the worst day – before sick campers started going home for their seven day quarantine – I had 23 sick campers with at least 10 spiking fevers over 103F. I was rounding on them (in protective mask for those confirmed cases) in three different cabins (boys and girls quarantine bunks) every four hours taking temperatures, icing hot foreheads and armpits and distributing Tylenol/Motrin and meals. I think I got eight hours sleep in four days. My adrenaline kept me going. And despite living with fifteen of the invalids for several days I never got sick. Man, eating that street food in India really paid off. Go, immune system, go! It was an exhausting, challenging session and first nursing “gig”. But, for once I felt like I knew what I was doing, was appreciated (the directors, staff and campers made sure of that) and had something to contribute. It was such a meaningful change from my two years of feeling incompetent that I didn’t even mind that I wasn’t sleeping – and that’s a first!

As most of your know about and helped fund, my last month of summer found me building houses in Beius, Romania with Habitat for Humanity and then traveling in both Romania and northern Turkey. It was a perfect ending to a fabulous, and much needed, summer. The build in Romania was the most productive of the international builds I have done – we were working on a group of duplexes for former soviet orphans, now adults without support systems and often with very little education. The future home owners were fun and friendly, many with pretty good English. I learned that Romanian is the fifth Romance language, but alas, that connection didn’t help me speak it! Inspired by this build (and my past two International builds) I applied to be a Habitat International team leader and was accepted last week! In the upcoming months, I will attend team leader training and then begin to plan a build to Thailand for this summer. Let me know if you want to join the team – I deeply believe there is no better way to experience this diverse world in which we live.

So, as I finish up my last days in New Haven before heading to Houston for the holidays and next semester (will be at a Houston Birth Center for my full time midwifery integration) I simply take one assignment, one emotion and one interaction at a time. I am thankful for your continued support and love through this journey we call life. I could not keep dreaming up my wild plans without being surrounded and cared for. Thank you. Have a joyful and blessed holiday season.

a New Year's Resolution

2010-01-09T19:58:00.004-05:00

Happy new year!

A new friend of mine, who is a wonderful communicator, has led me to some self examination through which I have realized that within the the stress and rigor of my midwifery program, I have slacked off in my own communication and connection with many people in my life. It was this communication and relationship that helped me through Peace Corps. Though the difficulties of the last 2.5 years have been less tangible, in some ways, than those I experienced abroad, the readjustment and academic challenge - along with living in a new place and trying as a "feeler" to exist and feel nourished in an intense "thinking" community - have led me to somewhat isolate myself emotionally. Of course it is easy to blame the situation etc etc for these feelings. That's what I've been doing. However, I see now that God has given me the skills to communicate, emotional depth to connect and friends that care for me so that I would not find myself feeling lonely. So, instead of wishing for things to change, I am taking action and reaching out.

Communication.

This semester is going to challenge me further - this is certain. I am entering into my "integration" semester during which I will be working full time as a midwife / apprentice midwife. I have finished my classes for the program and now have these three months to prove myself, refine my skills and prepare to be an independent practitioner (terrifying!). I am living at home in Houston and working at a birth center just 5 miles from my mom's house. The birth center has one midwife - the lone practitioner - who does around 15 births per month in addition to GYN well-woman care and prenatal care. Needless to say, it is going to be intense. I'm working 2 full days (M,W) and 2 half days (T,TH) in the clinic, will be on call for deliveries 24/7 and have additional academic requirements for the semester along with my thesis to complete before I return to New Haven mid-April to take my comp exams and graduate. I'm going to be tired and overworked. I'm going to be emotional and occasionally overwhelmed. I'm going to have wonderful moments and totally inept moments. I will have moments in which I am high on this new profession I've chosen and others where I believe, with certainty, that I have spent way too much money on something that is not for me at all. I'm likely not going to have much time/ time at reasonable hours of the day to talk on the phone, go out, connect etc. So, I'm going to write. My goal is to send weekly. This is my new years resolution to be more connected, more open and more carried, not only by God but by you wonderful people that He's put in my life to help me along....yes, that means I need help. ;-p

I know you are all busy too, dear reader. But, if you can occasionally find time to respond/comment, it would be deeply appreciated and treasured. You are truly important to me and honestly help carry me along. I want you to know that, even when I am quiet for periods of time, I am appreciative of your friendship.

In this electronic world where we spend way too much time in front of glowing screens, community takes a different shape. You are mine and I love you for it!

Habitat for Humanity International (Global Village)

2009-12-02T00:38:00.000-05:00

On Monday I had a phone interview to become a team leader for Habitat for Humanity International, Global Village. And.... I was accepted!

I have participated in three international builds:

Romania (2009)

India (2007)

Tanzania (2004)

On these trips, I fell in love with Habitat as an organization, on working side-by-side with the villagers and future home owners and of seeing the world through eyes of service. So, I took the plunge and applied to be a team leader.

I cannot wait to help show others the wonder of seeing the world through Habitat eyes.

First trip: returning to Thailand this summer for a build. Continuing to give to Thailand and hopefully time for a visit to my village!

Hooray!

Citizens of the World!

2009-12-02T00:18:00.000-05:00

Just a quick picture from Thanksgiving in DC. My sweet Audrey and I have matching outfits (courtesy of me and Amnesty International). We will teach her to be a citizen of the world:

And my theme song for the day:

We want the world to know

We won't let hatred grow

Put a little love in your heart

Let kindness be your guide

Put a little love in your heart

And the world will be a better place

Yes, the world will be a better place

For you

And me

Just wait and SEEEE!!!

a beautiful dancing belly...

2009-11-14T21:55:00.000-05:00

Never one to be held back by a mere extra 18 inches around the middle and growing fetus eating all her calories and keeping her awake...Lisa and I decide to go salsa dancing the next day. She used to go out all the time, but doesn't often feel up to it now (can't imagine why) so I jumped at the chance to see her sexy pregnant self shake some salsa moves on the dance floor. It was beautiful!

all dolled up in our salsa outfits

Go, Lisa, GO!

What a beautiful belly bump - you should wear it EVERY time! :)

and some good dances for me as well.

A beautiful belly - another pregnant friend!

2009-11-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

Shortly after Audrey was born and I stopped having weekly personal pregnancy calls (now weekly personal baby calls!) another friend became pregnant. Lisa is a classmate from my midwifery program. I don't think any situation would offer more excitment and support of a pregnancy than being surrounded by future midwives who love you!

This past weekend, I threw a baby shower for Lisa. The theme was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". Lisa IS the very hungry caterpillar - she eats everything in sight (and you certainly can't tell, but baby is glad!) Here are a couple shots from the shower:

Look how many people love Lisa!

a successful party

the "Very Hungry Caterpillar" cupcake cake that I made for the party

(with all the things...or most...that he ate through on the white cupcakes)

game: who can guess how many inches around Lisa's belly is

answer: 40 inches!!!

game: who can remember the greatest number of items from Lisa's VHC gift basket

Jessie and Lisa with the gorgeous blanket

Jessie MADE for the baby!

(Lucky baby!)

Would you just LOOK at that belly!

(I sure do love it!)

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-14T21:37:00.002-05:00

Halloween I drove down to DC to be with Natalie, Andrew and Audrey. I decided that we needed to dress up and that we should go "in theme". My prior visit to DC had included a shopping trip during which Natalie found a very cute pumpkin costume for Audrey. But, this left me with a lack of creativity as to how the bigger ones of us would fit this theme - varieties of fall squash, perhaps???

Natalie, so amazinly creative, came up with the answer:
Audrey: pumpkin
Natalie: vine (that grew the pumpkin)
Emily: farmer (plucker of pumpkins)
(And Andrew declined from participating in the dress up fun)

How perfect is that??? (Found out later she was hoping I'd reject the idea, but she didn't tell me that until she was dressed as a "fluffy" vine). I thought we were a great group.

Some last minutes shopping on my part produced the following scene:

I thought Natalie's vine looked great and I insisted that she attach it to hear head (plus, this was the placement least likely to be eaten by the little pumpkin!)

cute pumpkin with mommy and with daddy

We found a "recepticle" for trick-or-treating and were on our way

Only natural that one first holds the basket (brute strength) and then eats it! ha.

It was so special to be there for her first Halloween. And time with Natalie and Andrew was WAY better than the drunken shin-digs that New Haven had to offer on this ghouly night.

Trick-or-treating....of course everyone knew the candy was really for us!

Catch-up post: the new love of my life - my pseudo-niece

2009-11-14T21:24:00.000-05:00

Between the time that I stopped writing and now a new, beautiful person has come into the world.

*cue angels singing* Audrey *cue stop angels singing*

My best friend, Natalie from Peace Corps and her husband had a little surprise blessed upon them this year. We had scheduled weekly phone conversations during the course of her pregnancy and it was so fun to see what I was learning (as I was in my prenatal course at that time) being played out as she went through it. I had insight into possible emotions/changes that moms go through and I could offer her some of the information that I was learning. It was so delightful. Fortunately, she is in DC, so I am able to get down there fairly frequently.

So, here's the quick catch up:

1. Natalie and Andrew learn they are pregnant. They are a little stunned, I am nothing but extatic!
2. I get (almost)weekly pictures of the gorgeous belly bump:

3. I go to DC for innaguration and get to hug and squeeze Natalie and bump and poke the little peanut, who kicks me back!

4.Another trip to DC/Baltimore for the baby shower:

Quilt made of pieces of Thai fabrics (and lots of love!)

Yale Midwifery onsie

5. May 2, 2009 Audrey is born. What an angel! (Natalie is a true superstar!)

6. I get to meet Audrey when she is about 2 weeks old, on my drive back to TX for the summer. It's LOVE at first sight!

snuggle time on the couch

Is there anything more precious than this?

(Didn't think so)

tiny girl - only take up 2 squares

complete perfection!

7. See "my girl" again on my trip back to New Haven the beginning of August (3 months now)

8. This semester, I'm going down once a month to see my Natalie, Andrew and Audrey. I love it!

look how she's grown - takes up 4 squares now!

in the Amnesty International onsie I gave her - ain't she cute?

when I oversleep, she "appears" to wake me up in the morning

I've never had a better wake up!

look at the big girl eating rice cereal!

Conclusion: I am in love! She is a perfect, genius baby and I'm so priveledged to be close and able to see her (and of course, her parents who I also love dearly) so frequently!

Midwifery Potluck...and all that vag...

2009-10-26T22:46:00.000-04:00

We had our annual faculty hosted midwifery potluck this evening. Admittedly, miwives love potlucking - we'll do it for most any reason. Actually, we don't need a reason - seeing each other is reason enough.

But, today we did have a reason. Each year this potluck is for first years to pass on wisdom (in the form of study guides and black book pages) to the GEPN students. For 2nd years to honor the faculty. And, most importantly, for the 2nd years to perform an original pice or two.

So, we filled the tables with delicious food...

Ate our fill

And then - the good times rolled!!!

We're leavin' for integration.... (sentimental)

and

All.....That....VAAAAG!!! - this one is spunky!

Feathers and fishnets look great on midwives, don't you think?

"Traction on the cord, don't wanna involute
Don't need retained placenta, or to get a lawsuit
Gush of blood, I see a lengthening cord
Now you can head on up, to the post-partum ward
apgars are nine and nine, uterus is mid-line...

And all.... That....VAG!

And finally, we said goodbye to our wonderful Meredith (who is leaving us in December for a private pactice)...

It was a good night for all.

Bee Keeping

2009-10-25T18:08:00.006-04:00

Until today, everything I knew about beekeeping was from the book "The Secret Life of Bees". I highly recommend it - great read. Haven't seen the movie yet, but I hear it's good as well.

At any rate, having learned from this book that when one raises or tends to bees, the most important factor to the bee keepers safety is to enter without fear and to "be one" with the bees. Same for interaction with any living thing, if you ask me. But, perhaps more difficult when standing in the middle of a potential swarm of small creatures with mighty stingers.

Here's the colony we were tending today:
A friend of Clo's (my roommate) has recently started taking bee keeping classes and has two bee boxes set up in her back yard

We stopped by her house after the fun run today and she asked us if we wanted to fee the bees. As I have always wanted to don a beekeepers suit and learn how it's done, I jumped at this chance. They allowed me to wear the full suit, since it was my first try and Clo put on the make-shift suit.

Boy, did I feel official!

look at me, I'm a beekeeper!

What a pair of beekeepers we are!

The first step when approaching a hive, is to use smoke to make the bees go inside. Seems like it would be more logical for them to come OUT with smoke, but apparently during forests fires, bees retreat INto their homes. Interesting.

I grabbed the smoke can ...

and gave a few puffs towards the bee box as Clo removed the lid:

Then we used a funnel to pour the sugar water into the side of the box where the bees feed.

Unfortunately, some of the little guys are not too intelligent and had drowned in their dinner. I lovingly scooped them out, while reminding the other bees (in a loving voice, of course) that they should beware not to suffer the same fate).

After we poured their home-made nectar, some of my new little friends lapped up small drops that had fallen on the wood. Aren't they cute?

It was a fun experience. Maybe in the spring I can help collect the honey!

Pumpkin Run

2009-10-25T17:53:00.003-04:00

Today I let my roommate, Clo, talk me into joining her on a 5Km fun run. It was the 16th annual Haddam-Killingworth (Connecticut) Pumpkin Run. I admit that I was slightly grumpy at the thought of running 3.1 miles - particularly when I woke with a nagging head ache this morning. Last night I hoped yesterdays rain would continue into today solely to prevent me from running.

Boy was I wrong!

It was a perfect, cool (but not cold) fall day. The leaves were cheering us on...as was Clo. She ran with me, despite my slow pace and encouraged me all the way. I ran the whole way - never stopping to walk and ended up making pretty good time (34 minutes 17 seconds). It was delightful!

I think I'll do more 5Ks! What a great way to get exercise, stay in shape and be outdoors!

Here we are before the race started. I was not technically a participant, hence I have a shirt (gift from Clo) but no number.

And the finish line is in sight.....

HOORAY!!!! We made it. I'm feeling strong!
A perfect fall day for a perfectly fun run!

It's been a long time

2009-10-25T17:52:00.001-04:00

It's now been just about a year since I posted anything on this blog. Spring semester was really intense for me and I was gone most of the summer. Doubtful anyone is even checking my blog anymore after such a long time, but just in case....

I'm going to start blogging again. I'm going to start with NOW and then slowly play catch-up for all the adventures I've missed.

a video tribute to my Do

2008-10-04T09:45:00.001-04:00

Here is a beautiful picture video tribute to my Do that was played at the wake. It shows pictures through the course of her life.

Click here to watch it on youtube

Dorothy Thaller Schultz

2008-10-02T10:48:00.003-04:00

I know I have yet again become lazy in my postings to this blog. It is as though I hardly have time to come up for air in my course of study. However, I must take this moment to share my love for a beautiful life that has recently passed away from us.

My grandmother, Dorothy Schultz:

Dorothy T. (Thaller) Schultz

(written by my mother, Mary Schultz)

DOROTHY T. (THALLER) SCHULTZ, 90, died on September 28, 2008 in a circle of care like many she had drawn around all the stages of her life.

After 10 years of progressive illness, Dorothy came to nursing home at St. Dominic Village for the last weeks of her life. It was just steps from the office where she had served as School Health Coordinator for the Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (1975-1982) and just around the corner from the Dominican Sister's retirement/ rehabilitation center, initiated with nursing services and policies established by her (1972-1975).

Born the 13Th child of immigrant parents farmers from Alsace-Lorraine, Dorothy grew up as a farm girl, surrounded by family in central Illinois. She took up the profession of nursing in the footsteps of a beloved doctor who'd become her mentor after both parents died. After signing on as an Army Nurse in WWII, she met and married Colonel Charlie Schultz who brought her home to the rest of her life in Texas. Faith and family were Keystones to the life of Dorothy Schultz. Though the values were immovable, they could be demonstrated through gentle compassion, tough determination or playful camaraderie.

Husband Charles often referred to Dorothy as "an activist"- a term which may have described her constant energy in work and volunteer projects, usually for the Church; or maybe her progressive politics which was in contrast to his own; or perhaps to Dorothy's propensity to step in and take care of any family member or friend in need. Dorothy Schultz's creative contribution to children and Church began when her three young children were primary students at parochial school in San Antonio. Form 1956-1958 she established a kindergarten to support the mission of the Presentation Sisters. The kindergarten continues to this day. While living with the family in San Antonio, Dorothy also taught both full time and substitute in the parochial school; a work she continued at Mount Carmel grade school after the family moved to Houston in 1963. She was director of religious education at Mount Carmel (1966-1969) and Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral (1971-1974)

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband Charles Schultz (d. 1994) and all of her sisters and brothers. But the gift of her life will live on with gratitude and love in the lives of her three children, Mary Emily Schultz, Charles T. Schultz and Carol J.S. Coulston with husband Robert; three grandchildren, Joseph Coulston, Andy Coulston with wife Sae, and Emily Lawson; as well as two great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2008 from 5- 7 p.m. with a prayer services at 6:30 p.m. at Forest Park East Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 3, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, 11011 Hall Rd., Houston, TX 77089. Interment will take place at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Columbus, TX. The family is requesting that you sign the guest registry on line at www. Houston Chronicle.com. In lieu of flowers donation can be made to Dominican Sisters of Houston, 6501 Almeda, and Houston, TX 77021.

To sign the guest book, click here.

Port Au Prince, Haiti

2008-04-13T15:34:00.008-04:00

I started working on this post in March, but didn't get past uploading these pictures. So, this will have to do for now as I would like to try to catch up on my postings.

We had two weeks of spring break in March and knowing I wanted to go somewhere warm, I bypassed the ideas of typical beach destinations like Cancun and the Bahamas and opted for somewhere far more unstable. A good friend of mine has spent the last 8 months or so working on her PhD in Haiti. She is studying Haitian politics and the governments reaction/interaction with outside aid. Since she was there, I decided to spend a week of my spring break visiting her in the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

I have seen poverty all over the world. This place has some of the most tangible that I have ever experienced. Never have I known that people around me were actually eating dirt in attempt to survive. Never have I had to scoot past guards with semi-automatics in *every* store I entered. Never have I seen UN peacekeeping trucks around every corner with troops from countries around the world.

And yet, as usual, I felt welcomed and embraced by the people I met and got out of the city long enough to experience some of Haiti's natural beauty (namely some gorgeous beaches).
Before leaving I packed a huge duffel bag full of children's clothes (after a friend from church suggested it and organized the collecting of them) which I took to an orphanage. It was difficult for me to leave without one of those beautiful children

It was a great experience and I am glad to have had the opportunity to go. Fortunately, I returned before the unrest began again in April. Here are some pictures of my trip to give you a small glimpse of this island country.

Sunset in Port Au Prince

a woman coming home from the market

street market

view of the smoggy city

Port Au Prince at night

public transport

and from the back

you have to pay to have your garbage picked up, so there are lots of community made dumps like this one

many houses look like this because the taxes are less if the house is unfinished!

a view out of the gate

(I love this picture)

this one speaks for itself

superstars!

With my friend Sheree (who I was visiting)

visit to the fort in town

Some boys we met there

A night of Salsa in Haiti!!

trip to the beach - we're not as tough as we look!

one of these things is not like the others....

girls in the sunset

boys working on their future music careers

sunset with Sheree

saying goodbyes

Final stop at the orphanage - aren't they beautiful!

Quito, Ecuador

2008-03-11T10:00:00.009-04:00

My final posting from Ecuador contains sights of Quito - the capital city built in a great Valley near the center of Ecuador.

From the top of TeleferiQo, you can see the whole city spread up and down the valley. Every inch seems to be covered.

the three cousins about to ascend to the highest point in the city to see the view

And what a view!

almost in the clouds

a view of the city at night (from a little lower - at a friend's house)

And, of course, no capital city of a country names Ecuador would be complete without the equator running through it.

Strangely enough, the large equator monument, built by the French several hundred years ago) is just slightly off - by about 500 yards. So, we had to visit the large monument (actually the "wrong" equator) and the smaller museum (built on the correct one - and proven by forces of nature)

Not really it....

the real thing!!!

one foot in each hemisphere .... so cool!

If you are ever in doubt as to whether or not you are standing on the real equator...here are a few tricks that will give you a definitive answer:

1. It is very difficult to balance on the equator. Our bodies are used to the pull of one pole, so if you try to close your eyes and walk with your arms out along the equator, the pull of both the North and South poles equally makes it very difficult!

"I think I can, I think I can"

2. When you are directly on the equator (without arms etc extended) there is only one force. Unlike the northern or southern hemispheres, where the primary pull is north or south, respectively, on the equator the pull is directly down. This is shown a couple of ways. First (not pictured here) the water going down a drain does not swirl at all, it goes straight down and out. This was proven on the equator by filling a sink with water, placing a leaf in int and pulling the plug. It swirled around in both the northern and southern hemisphere (only just a few feet from the equator) but directly on the line, the leaf moved directly down without any circular motion. Secondly, you can balance a raw egg on the head of a nail. This is true because the fluid inside is being pulled directly downward. It took some adjusting, but I did manage to balance this egg:

Look, mom! I did it myself!

Another interesting tid bit about Ecuador, that we learned at the equator museum, is that the shrunken head tradition is Ecuadorian. In case one might be inclined to try it at home, here are the directions:

Your end product should look something like this:

The last fun fact from this museum that I'll share with you is the role of the guinea pig in the Ecuadorian culture. In the past, people kept multiple guinea pigs in their homes. They say that they warn of evil spirits and negative energy. Apparently, if someone with ill intent enters the premises, the guinea pigs will start running about and squealing frantically. They had some on the tour and fortunately, our group had great energy because they just went about their business while we were in there (but the tour guide did say that he's had 3 groups that set them all a flurry)

Funny, I wouldn't have pegged these guys are "guard pets"

Stranger yet may be that though these animals are revered for their energy sensing powers, traditional Ecuadorian cuisine also includes roasted and fried guinea pig. Hmmm...??? Doesn't quite add up to me. But, I guess if your guard-guinea pig population is multiplying rapidly you have to do something about it. Martina and I had to try it out for ourselves:

you could see their little toes (see next to Martina's thumb)

but I ate it anyway. A little greasy, but not the worst thing I've ever eaten (believe me!)

The first part of my time in Quito was spent with my cousins. Martina had been living there and was just moving when we arrived. So, we helped her move and saw a couple of the neighborhoods in Quito.

the view from the roof patio of the first house

moving day: there was no room in the cab, so I squashed into the back

a view of a street seller from the back of the moving truck

With Asha and Martina we had some nice dinners out in Quito and took a trip to some natural hot springs in the mountains near Quito. It was truly magnificent - fueled by the volcano, the water was so hot and relaxing. The cold mountain air made the experience even more wonderful.

Dinner at Tapas y Vino

Emily and Asha in the hot springs with the mountains in the background

And of course, no trip to Quito would be complete without seeing some of the old town. The colonial center of town always has a buzz of activity surrounding these beautiful stone buildings and cobblestone pedestrian streets.

a plaza in old town

a view up one of the old town streets

the statue on the hill is the virgin of Quito

a cathedral in old town

inside the cathedral

the "gargoyles" are native animals (these are Galapagos turtles)

Yes, this is a modern cathedral!

another street in old town

After returning from the rain forest with the Herolds, we spent a couple of days together in Quito as well. One day we took a trip out to Otavalo market - a traditional market in the mountains a couple of hours from Quito.

at the market - I love the colors and patterns

Happy and I in our wares that we purchased at the market

lunch break after a full morning of shopping

On our drive to and from this market, we saw rows and rows of green houses. We learned that Ecuador is one of the biggest exporters of roses. We stopped at at "flower shop" where we purchased 4 dozen roses for about $3.00. Amazing!

aren't they beautiful?

On the Herold's last day in Ecuador, we all had lunch in old town. It was such a fantastic group of people that included the Herolds, me and Martina, Jorge (our guide from the rain forest) with his wife and daughter and Maria Clara (the daughter of the owner of another place they had stayed). Here's a fabulous group photo:

And because I had to leave in style, my last evening in Quito included one final shopping spree where I bought this amazing carnival mask. I'll let it speak for itself!

the Rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest

2008-02-17T16:01:00.007-05:00

(So much for my vow of more regular writing. This one had so many pictures that it deterred me from spending the time it takes to upload them all..... but, here it is)

Each part of my trip in Ecuador was uniquely wonderful. However, the days I spent in the rainforest were especially fantastic both because of the unique look I had into the life and culture of the rainforest, but also because I spent this portion of my journey with some close friends from Atlanta. While we were together over Thanksgiving, it came out that we'd both booked tickets to Ecuador for almost the exact same dates. We were floored by this coincidence and immediately began to plan which portion of our journeys we could spend together. They were generous enough to take me along to this tourist oasis in the middle of the rainforest. What a great adventure!

After spending more than six hours getting to know the other guests on the trip and snacking in the VIP lounge at the Quito airport (due to weather delays) we took a short flight to Coca, Ecuador. From there, we boarded a motorized canoe and traveled for about two hours (sixty miles) down the Napo River,

walked for about half a mile on a boardwalk of bamboo slats, boarded paddle canoes for another 20 minute ride across Lake Garzacocha (Heron Lake). Here on Lake Garzacocha, we arrived at La Selva Jungle Lodge.

The lodge consisted of about 20 individual cabins connected by bamboo-slat raised walkways. Beware - bamboo can be quite slippery when wet! Each guest was provided with tall rubber boots to wear on our excursions into the Amazon Basin Rainforest that surrounded the lodge grounds. Our group of five also had two guides of our own. Jorge was a bilingual naturalist guide from Quito and he was accompanied by another guide (bilingual in Spanish and the native tribal language) who was indigenous of that part of the rainforest and could offer information about the jungle beyond even what Jorge knew.

Our first morning, we awoke with the generator around 6am and prepared ourselves for some jungle exploration. Our first stop was a huge Kapok tree.

Built around this tree was a huge tree house - probably eight stories high - that reached to the canopy of the rainforest. We spent several hours in the tree house bird watching and enjoying the sights and sounds of the rainforest.

In the tree house

After appreciating and learning about some of the rain forest creatures of the air, it was time to see what we could find on the ground. Jorge had a great eye and we were able to see, learn about and even hold some really neat little critters. Here are a few:

Tree Frog

You have to hold this little guy really tight or he'll get away!

some adorable mushrooms reach skyward

baby tarantulas are to be seen, but not held

these are my favorite type of ants

there were lines of them all over the forest floor

This little guy looks vicious, but actually is the only type of non-poisonous ant Jorge knew of in the jungle. His pinchers didn't even hurt!

Again, looking rather lethal, this millipede was ok to hold.

Centipedes are poisonous, but not millipedes.

(But don't hold millipedes too close to your eyes because they emit cyanide)

How do you know the difference you ask?

Millipedes had four legs per body section and centipedes have only two.

Unfortunately, you have to pick them up to figure this out.

Thank goodness we had Jorge!

And of course, no jungle tour is complete without some vine swinging. So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you:

Jane of the Jungle

Starring: Emily

What fun! We all had a turn on the vine.

After lunch on our first day, it was time for a swim. We took out canoes, kayaks and had a nice swim in the lake around the lodge. When we were "swum out" it was fishing time.

There were not poles, but rather sticks with line. The bait: Red meat (hmmm... what are we fishing for???)

Janet caught a couple fish. (I did not.)

And it turned out, we were fishing for.....

piranhas!!!!!!

Yes, we had just swum in the exact place where we then went fishing for piranhas. Yikes! I'm glad I still have all my toes. I guess those Amazon movies exaggerate some!

However, it gets worse...

As many of you know, I am deathly afraid of snakes. As it turns out, this lake where our lodge was located an in which we'd just boated and swam is also the home of a.... 15 foot....

anaconda!!!!!!

Remind me why I went to the rainforest??? :) (Just kidding...sort of)

We canoed across the lake after learning that the resident 15-foot anaconda had been spotted that day. There is was- sunning itself on some sticks at the side of the lake. I guess we can officially say that we swam with piranhas and anacondas. Although, I must admit that I didn't really swim...boated and put my feet in...my intuition must have known this all along. After learning about the residents of the lake, I was glad that I made it back with all the members of the group that I'd started with! Yikes.

After these lethal creature spottings, I was happy to canoe to the other side of the lake and enjoy some peaceful monkey spotting for a while. Now, these guys are cute!

And the day ended with a delicious meal in the dining room. All the guests of the lodge eat at several long tables to share stories of their day. We'd made friends with several other guests and so had a great time over dinner. Jorge even joined us and added some excitement to the meal.

The next day, our adventures took us to visit the house of an indigenous family. We retraced our steps across the lake, the bamboo walkway and about 10 minutes down the river in the motorized canoe until we came to the house of one of the community leaders.
In the canoe with Jorge, Janet and Pat
the house we visited

traditional rainforest style (bamboo and palm leaf)

hand-made dug out canoe belonging to the family

We learned about some of the vegetation around us and both dietary and medicinal uses.

an unripened cocoa bean and cocoa bean pod

(opened with machete, don't try this at home....unless you live in the jungle and have been trained with the machete since age 4!)

Trying some of the manioc alcohol - the traditional drink

It is made by chewing up the manioc, then spitting it out, allowing the deposited saliva to ferment the manioc paste. Essentially, it tasted like liquid sour bread dough. Not my favorite.

And of course, no trip into the Rainforest would be complete without a lesson on blow gun hunting. First, we painted our face - hunting style.

Happy gets her face painted using the traditional fruit as paint.

This pod fruit is also used for dying clothes and beads. (But it washes off skin!)

Emily, Jorge and Janet - ready for the hunt!

Pat captures the blow gun lessons on video.

The smallest daughter of the family is intrigued and not at all shy to watch how it works.

She shoots!

She scores!

(Ok, this was my tenth try....but those blow guns are LONG and hard to aim!)

The family we visited was so hospitable and friendly. We had a great time and bought some of their hand-made jewelry before leaving. (You can see the necklace and earrings in the picture above)

Later that day, Jorge gave us a tour of the butterfly farm run by the lodge. It is a thriving business and they ship butterflies internationally. We were able to see and hold both the caterpillars and the actual butterflies. Apparently, it is a wives tale that if you touch butterfly wings they will fall apart. With gentle handling, no harm is done.

my favorite sticky-footed caterpillar on Jorge's finger

a beautiful butterfly

This part of the trip was truly spectacular. I hope to do it again sometime!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-20T13:47:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all!!

I spent my new year dancing salsa, watching fireworks and jumping over a burning paper mache man on the beach in Ecuador. Here are a couple of New Year pictures:

Feeling festive in my New Year hat at dinner

Ready to bring in 2008 in our sequined masks

three cousins in our new year disguises

Jumping over the burning paper mache man to leave my troubles in the year behind me.

(I know it looks like I'm wearing spandex. This is unfortunate! Actually it's my skirt in my hand!)

Dancing in the New Year

The trip down to Ecuador was truly fantastic. I could not have asked for more! The country is so beautiful and I feel like I got a good taste of several parts of it. And best of all, I was deeply rejuvenated after a very difficult semester. Praise God, it is a new year and I am starting it with vigor!

So, I shall break my trip down into three posts: the beach, Quito and the jungle.

The beach:

I arrived late at night and the next morning, my cousins and I took the bus from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere to go to the beach on the north coast of Ecuador. The drive was interested, though rather long after my full day of travel the previous day.

mountains in and around Quito

QQuite a lot of fog! Be careful around those turns!!!

reminds me of Thailand

roadside houses

And a fruit stand. Bananas, anyone?

We traveled to the town of Atacames (a beach town not too far from the popular beach Esmeraldas). It was a cute typical Ecuadorian town with a central park and a couple of turn-arounds with fountains:

Of course shiny shoes are a must. I enjoyed the shoe shine stations we saw everywhere.

Near the beach, there was plenty of shooping...I mean shopping

And since we traveled down there only a couple of days before the new year, there were paper mache masks everywhere for sale. The tradition is to build a paper mache person and put into it all your troubles, anger etc from the year. Then you burn in at the stroke of midnight and jump over it to leave all those things behind you. I think this is really neat and jumped over ours with great enthusiasm!

all kinds of paper mache masks for sale...

some are generic and some are famous people/cartoon characters

Several of Martina's friends and their families were down there for the holiday and we joined them. I could not have felt more welcomed. With few exceptions, I found Ecuadorian people extremely warm, inviting and friendly. This first interaction at the beach could not have been better. Though we had just met, I felt like I was in the company of relatives. Despite (very minimal) language barriers, we were included in everything and a fun time was had by all!

the whole gang

The days we spend on the beach:

And the nights all the young people went out dancing. My goodness Ecuadorians love to party!!! (I've never gotten so little sleep or stayed up so late in my life. But, boy it was fun!)

the gang at Casa Blanca beach

Pilsener models

(the drink of choice in Ecuador. Don't be fooled...try as I may I still don't like it!)

hammocks and dancing

This was a great start to a wonderful trip, though I did return to Quito pretty tired after all that late night dancing!

on to Chapter 2

2007-12-27T23:02:00.000-05:00

So, that about sums up the two months that I failed to write.

In 30 minutes I will leave for my journey to Ecuador. Be sure to watch for some postings about that.

In two weeks I will begin semester number two. This one starts out with six weeks of psychiatric nursing. We'll see if this talent runs in the family.

Lesley and I are co-chairs of the the nursing school student government organization for this coming semester. I'm sure this will keep us busy (because we need that)!

I continue to study, study, study and dance Argentine Tango in my "spare time". And I promise I'll try to write more this semester!

Happy New Year to all!!!!

Navidad de Tejas

2007-12-27T22:49:00.000-05:00

And the semester came and went and finally it was time to go home to celebrate the joyful season of Christmas. Indeed it has been a joy to be in the United States this holiday season.

Outside of being around people who appreciate the true meaning of Christmas, I was struck again and again through the season by all of the little details that I love so much and missed while I was away. The parties, the lights, Christmas clothes, wreathes on people's doors, the cookies and the general holiday spirit that permeates each day during this time of year.

When I got home, I saw my cute little house all decorated for Christmas. This is the house that has been 'home' since my birth. Mom may sell it soon, but I was so glad to have at least one more Christmas here before that happens.

And no holiday season in complete without driving around looking at beautiful houses with beautiful lights. Here are a few that we saw.

white lights are my favorite!

wow!

My first Christmas celebration was with my mom's side of the family. Grandma Do turned 90 in October and though she is unable to speak because of her dementia, we know she still understand love!

my Do

The newest member of the family is little Miku. She just turned 1 and is Do's first and only great-grandchild. We all enjoyed watching this little one (especially her grandma!)

At dad's, before the celebrations began, I went with Abby out to the barn to see her "babies".

good pig. OINK!

her cow's name is Emma

(I try not to take this personally!)

Emma behaves better for her mom!

And as Rachael was managing a photos with Santa booth this year, we all had to go and have our picture taken with the old guy in red.

Merry Christmas Y'all!

What a semester!

2007-12-27T22:38:00.000-05:00

Looking back on the semester part of me is surprised that I made it through. However, I did and I've learned a lot. Academics were pretty much a constant struggle, but through it all, I never forgot how much more there is to life than only books.

Here are some of the fun times that kept me going:

BIRTHDAY PARTIES:

SURPRISE BABY SHOWER:

YALE/HARVARD FOOTBALL GAME:

CRAFT NIGHTS:

DANCING:

FRIENDS:

It really was a good semester!

Trip to New York City with Asha

2007-12-27T22:23:00.001-05:00

My cousin Asha came down from Toronto for Canadian Thanksgiving. It was so wonderful to spend the weekend together. Unfortunately, I had several tests the coming week, so I did have to spend a lot of time studying, but we did take a day trip into New York City to check out a few of the sites.

First we took the train from New Haven to Grand Central

which is a site itself

The walk from the train station to times square was fun. There are always some interesting street performers in Times Square. Asha wasn't quite sure what to make of this one....

but she was sucked in by lady liberty herself

(or maybe himself, we couldn't quite tell)

That's more like it!

Our walk around the city showed us several famous sites, many street vendors, wonderful people watching....and even some nature nestled right in the middle of the city. Who would have thought!

Any nectar in there, fella?

With the Brooklyn Bridge behind me.

After strolling around town for a while, we went a saw a show: The Drowsy Chaperone - which was a bit different than other musicals I've seen, but quite entertaining!

When we got out of the theatre, times square was bathed in lights.

Ah, the city that never sleeps!

The next day back at my apartment, we had to do some modeling with our top of the line shirts we just HAD to buy the day before....

Lookin' good! Lookin' Good!!

Gotta love those cousins!

Winter!

2007-12-27T22:17:00.001-05:00

I officially love winter! This is my first true winter and I'm enjoying every piece of it. Those from these parts claim that I'll hate it soon...at least by February/March when it is STILL snowing. Maybe so, but for now it is purely magical for me.

The first snowfall was really more of a tease. We did have some flaks like this in Atlanta a couple of times. Still, coming from 2.5 years of 80+ degree weather, I had to capture these first few flakes!

fall leaves and winter flakes

And when the first true snow came, it really came. I had gone into class in the morning to dry streets. Four hours later, I emerged from the windowless classroom to see about two inches of snow on the ground. Promptly, I ran outside and made a snow angel right there in the nursing school parking lot. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of that snow angel, but I do have some pictures I took after I got home. (We walked home by the way and it was great fun. I was covered with snow and my hair was icicles by the time we got there 45 minutes later!)

looking off our front porch

There I am - so happy about winter!

Looking down the street.

Blessing of the hands

2007-12-27T22:07:00.000-05:00

The midwives are a really neat group of women. I am excited to be entering into such a fabulous "sorority" of sorts. My year is already very close and we look forward to learning and growing together. We have such an amazing range of experiences from two women who are already direct-entry (non-nursing) midwives to many who have been doulas to one who has never seen a birth. There are all sorts of talents and experiences, but one thing we all have in common is our calling into this field.

At the end of the semester, the midwives from all three years had the annual "Blessing of the Hands" ceremony. Next semester the third year students will enter into full time integration - working one-on-one with a midwife preceptor in a full time clinical practice. In preparation of their departure, the second year students (along with us, the first years) give each midwife a hand crafted bowl of her own and pour salt water over her hands into the bowl to bless those hands that will help bring new life into the world. It was a really beautiful ceremony.

Blessing of the hands

I help pour the water to bless a third year's hands.

(I have my back to the camera and am wearing a red skirt)

It was also a nice fellowship time - to be with our own class of midwives as well as the two above us.

Three first year midwives

At the end of the ceremony, we (first years) gave our "big siblings" a small gift as well. Each of us gave our "big" a small potted bamboo with a meaningful quote and hand made felt pin. Here I am with Katie, my big (who is an RPCV Kenya!)

Nurses around town!

2007-12-27T21:59:00.000-05:00

But of course, you can't study ALL the time. Especially after the successful completion of an exam, we have to have a celebratory meal or drink.

There is a place near us that has a free burrito bar on Thursdays. Granted the burritos that are free are not the best ones we've ever had. But, HEY!, they're free. What more can you ask?!?

a table full of nurses, burritos, chips, dip and margaritas

Lesley did NOT like my outfit, but Janna liked it so much, she had to give me a kiss!

(and Sara REALLY loved the salsa on her plate!)

Another fun spot is the sports bar/restaurant just a few blocks away from us. One thing I love about New Haven is that you can't smoke inside ANYWHERE! So, I am never fearful to try new places. This place has really great food and a fun atmosphere.

Aww...roommies

Lesley and Emily

Since when are napkins and straws private property?

Biomedical Pathophysiology - YIKES!

2007-12-27T21:49:00.000-05:00

Biomedical Pathophysiology - ahhh, brings joy to your ears doesn't it. Ya, me neither! Needless to say this was a particularly difficult class for me this semester, especially seeing as I haven't had science since 1998 - nearly a decade ago!!

However, the teacher is quite expressive and I got a few good shots of my clinical friends during class (had to take a mental break and snap a few shots before I could try and wrap my mind around the content again...)

I do believe we were learning about the brain.

This is the expressive part I was telling you about.

(With the Yale School of Nursing crest behind him.)

Brandon always wears good hats!

"Are you taking a picture instead of listening?"

"Yep!"

Mara is so studious, but always has time for a picture.

The best clinical group ever!

2007-12-27T21:42:00.000-05:00

I have officially completed my first semester as a nursing student. Believe me, this was no easy task. There were definitely moments when I wasn't sure I'd make it through, but I pushed through and with the support of friends and family I came out on the other side.

Some of the people that were vital to my survival this semester were the members of my first clinical group. This semester we studied medical-surgical nursing. I completed both of my practice clinical rotations at the Hospital of Saint Raphael (pronounced /Ray-feel/ here - don't know why).

The picture above is of my first group with our first preceptor. (Hey! We look sort of like nurses!)We worked/studied on the cardiac floor of St.Raphael's hospital. These guys were the best I could ever have asked for and kept me alive through the semester! THANKS GUYS!

My Apartment

2007-12-27T21:34:00.000-05:00

I fear that despite my best of intentions the semester succeeded in getting away with me. I was determined to blog at least every couple of weeks, but now I see that it has indeed been a couple of months (almost exactly) since I made a post.

My dear dedicated readers (if you still exist) I am so sorry! So, I shall try to make up for my lack of postings this evening. I leave for Ecuador in a few hours and was trying to sleep, but my excitement overwhelms me and instead I blog. Knowing that I'll have lots of pictures and stories to tell upon my return, I'll try to get caught up first.

Several of you requested pictures of my apartment. Finally I can say that we have transformed it from a house into a home. Here are a few pictures:

On the front porch. The house is 3 stories. Our apartment is half of the first floor.

Living room 1 - the "ethnic room" housing statues from Tanzania and a print from China.

Living room 2 - where we spend much of our time at home.

Looking off my front porch at our first snow fall. Beautiful!

Fall in New England and my goings on

2007-10-28T22:03:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that it is almost November! I've got more than 2 months of nursing school under my belt and more knowledge, skills and experiences from those two months than I could ever have thought were possible!!! Admittedly, there have been some moments when I've wondered why it is exactly that I left teaching to learn about cell metabolism and to scrape liquid feces from a bed and into a specimen cup. But, then I take a walk through the maternity ward or begin to explain why I'm here to someone I've just met and I remember. This year - this bombardment of my senses and brain cells - is not everything. There is an end to this difficult journey.

So, I push my way through pharmacology, pathophysiology, medical/surgical nursing and anatomy. I strain to remember the drugs, doses, contraindications and best practices I'm presented with daily. I attempt to learn what I'm doing not only in English, but in Spanish as well. And, of course, I continue to look for ways in which I can impact not only people in my own country, but people around the world. What a tremendous challenge I've set for myself!

And just when I think my brain is about to burst, I look out my window and see splashes of red, orange and yellow. Fall in Connecticut is beautiful. I want to run outside and roll in the leaves. I will yet - of that you can be assured. I haven't taken pictures this week but here are a few I took about ten days ago. You can start to see the color. I'll try to get some more up soon - they are falling quickly!

This past week I joined with students from the other medical professional schools to help put on the play "the Doctor Stories". I worked (as the stage manager) with an awesome group of actors to portray several scenes from a book by the same name written by Dr. Richard Selzer (surgeon, writer and former professor at Yale Medical School). What a joy to meet such an amazing group of people with whom, through the adventure of putting on a show, I could connect with quickly. The show was a success and I was blessed with some new friends. Here is a picture of some of us from the cast party after the show. (I was in my Halloween costume).

And speaking of Halloween.... Saturday night saw a crazy costumed Halloween party at the graduate school pub. Some nursing friends and I went as "gang green" (i.e. Gangrene). Check us out:

Happy fall and Happy halloween!

These books were made for studying...and that's just what I'll do

2007-10-05T11:47:00.000-04:00

These are the books that took and time and paved the way to learn the stuff in the school that Yale built!

Needless to say, you can see that we have quite a work load - and I didn't even buy ALL the books!!! So, it's been crazy and exhausting. The before and after pictures from the last illustration pretty accurately show the state most of us are in right now. This past week we learned how to prime, and calibrate an IV. Here's a great picture from a friend of mine entitled "GEPN year IVs"

photo courtesy of Brandon

This week we will start administering medication and setting up IVs during our two days of clinical in the hospital. This is an exciting step forward from taking temperature, blood pressure, giving bed baths and making beds (yes, with hospital corners!) . I have also done blood glucose finger pricks as well - both in the hospital and at a soup kitchen where I will volunteer a couple of times this semester (and where the people are simply fabulous - this is why I'm doing this!).

Slowly but surely the skills and knowledge is coming. The pace is fast, the hours are long and the intensity can be overwhelming if we let it, but we will get there. I try to stay focused on why I'm here and where I will be in 3+ years!

On another note, the class of 2010 has been officially welcomed into the Midwifery sorority of YSN (Yale School of Nursing). I think that the midwifery "clan" has a really special energy and bond that may or may not be present in the other clinical specialties. I know I've chosen the right field. Here are the future nurse-midwives of 2010:

What a gorgeous bunch!

And despite how busy I am with class, I refuse to put my life on hold, so here are a couple snap shots from some non-academic fun of the past week.

1. Argentinian Tango class - last weekend I went to a "boot camp" (7hrs) to learn to dance Argentinian Tango. I can't quite claim to truly dance it yet, but we're getting there. It was a lot of fun and I made some new friends along the way. I think now I'll join the Sunday night Tango classes. (Seems to be the big thing around here these days).

with some new friends after class

taking a turn around the floor with the instructor

Yesterday was a fellow midwife's birthday and though we had a test to suffer through in the afternoon, there was a party at the Grad student pub last night. "Blast from the past". A good time was had by all!

"Happy Birthday Mara!"

the First Exam

2007-09-22T22:18:00.000-04:00

How can it be that I've only just been in class for three weeks and I've already been presented with an amount of knowledge that should accompany months of study??? Indeed from one course alone I am already expected to know the entire system of fluid balance within the body - how it works, what can go wrong, how you can tell if it goes wrong and ways to fix it, Electrolyte management within the many systems of the body, normal vital signs, hormone and electrolyte levels and the basics of how to do and entire body assessment upon entering a patients room...oh, AND the basics of the cardiac system - paths, jobs, diseases and basic EKGs. One course. And we're being tested over all of that on Monday. Yes, my dear readers - two days from now. Holy cow. My weekend is filled with studying and I am amazed at how much I already know compared to this time last month when I sat in a moving truck traveling across thousands of miles of asphalt!

So, the study is going well, but needless to say it is already taking a toll. Just to prove my point:

Some nursing school friends and I two weeks ago - at the beginning of the semester.

And now - in the midst of studying. Boo Hoo!

I hope all of you are getting more sleep than I at the moment! :)

First step - look the role

2007-09-19T05:33:00.001-04:00

The true journey to nurse-hood has officially begun. True, it technically started several weeks ago when I moved to New Haven and started classes, orientation even. But, yesterday was my first day in the hospital. I donned my scrubs, lab coat, fake crocs, ID badge and stethoscope and headed out of the house to be there for the 7am shift. True, we didn't do much "hands-on" work yesterday - it was just orientation. But, it was interesting and exciting to enter a hospital for the first time with a tiny ounce of clinical knowledge.

I'll be working on the cardiac floor - mostly with post-op patients. I am particularly excited about this assignment because I had a two week "orientation" to the cardiac floor in Houston a few months ago when my dad underwent bypass surgery. I am excited and interested to see this now from the other side. So much to learn!

In my scrubs...

and lab coat!

Today I have the 7-1 shift again and will actually start working with the patients. We have been officially learned to check vital signs: temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure. We've also learned how to change a bed (with hospital corners) and give a bed bath for those patients too weak or too sick to get out of bed. It's in my head...now I just need to transfer it to my hands. Wish me luck!

A little of Connecticut

2007-09-16T20:13:00.000-04:00

Alas, grad school seems to eat up every moment of my time already and I have been slow to post any pictures and stories from my time here in New Haven thus far. I shall try to make a routine that allows me to update this blog more often. But, at the moment, I have piles of studies sitting (literally) between me and this keyboard and I must get to work. So for now these pictures from my mom's visit up here this weekend will have to suffice.

Mom came up for the weekend and we spent Saturday taking a road trip through the back roads of Connecticut. I plotted a route on the map and mom exclaimed that it would simply take us forever to drive. In fact, it took about an hour and a half. Toto, we're not in Texas anymore! :) So, we set out on our drive.

After changing plans a few times, we decided on a cute 2 lane road through the country and it was perfect because we happened upon and Lewiz farm - produce and antique shop:

Continuing on, we enjoyed driving through the crisp, cool autmn air amidst the lush trees and stone fences:

Soon we came upon a beautiful draw bridge, which we drove over slowly several times to take in the view (and, of course, get some pictures)

Our road trip ended at the shore in Meridian, CT. We found a great little resaurant (The Warf) where we sat watching the sunset, eating clam chowder and fish and chips. Beautiful!!!

Today we started our day at a Catholic church in the neighborhood and then hiked up "East Rock" which is only a few blocks away from my house. What a view!

On my porch - ready for a walk

a street near mine

"East Rock"

On top of East Rock with New Haven behind us

part of New Haven and the Long Island Sound

Look, it's my house!

It was a good visit and a beautiful time.

Classes Start Tomorrow!!!

2007-09-03T18:14:00.000-04:00

I'm all settled in to New Haven now and I promise to upload some pictures just as soon as every last box is out of my bedroom and I put up the wall hangings. Unfortunately, that is yet the case on this eve of the beginning of my journey into nursing.

Orientation week was great - the group of students in my Pre-speciality RN/MSN program is truly remarkable. We come from something like 35 states and have studied in over 180 different institutions of higher learning. That's even more remarkable seeing as there are only around 100 of us (maybe up to 120). The group includes lawyers, teachers, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (five of us), social workers and a pipe organ builder (who helped build the largest pipe organ in the world!) Degrees held in the group vary from theatre to public policy to English to various sciences to public health to education to...to....to... It is an interesting and diverse group of people.

So, we were bombarded with information during orientation and given the tools to get us started on this incredible journey. I am sitting in my room, after this beautiful labor day weekend, reading over the notes for tomorrow's lecture. We do get one introductory day before jumping off the Olympic high dive. In two weeks we will be actively in the hospitals, 2 shifts a week, under the observation and guidance of preceptors in the medical-surgical units. I can't wait. And I'm scared to death.

I must return to my note reading, but I did want to leave you with this cute cartoon that one of our professors sent us via e-mail. I think it accurately describes our state at the moment. But, not for long....

I am now a resident of New Haven

2007-08-23T12:21:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note, as I am using the computer at the library....

Dad and I made it safely through three days and nearly 2,000 miles from Houston to New Haven. After having loaded the truck in 105+ degree heat, the cold front here made unloading nice - around 70 degrees! Wow - what a change. I can't believe this is August.

So, I am almost completely unpacked and the apartment is taking shape. I hadn't seen it before arriving, as one of my roommates picked it out. However, I LOVE it. The apartment is half of the first floor of a beautiful old house in a gorgeous residential part of town. We are caticorner from a small grocery and coffee shop. People and families are out running/walking their dogs and strolling all day and everyone seems to know each other. It is wonderful!

I'll post some pictures once we have the Internet up and running in the apartment.

Moving Day

2007-08-17T09:53:00.000-04:00

Well, as of today, I have officially finished the first quarter century of my life!!! Sounds a bit crazy when I put it like that. However, I could not be more excited about beginning this next chapter of my life.

This week has been busy - packing, sorting, packing, giving away and more packing. I don't know how I had so much packing to do after having most of what I own in storage for 3 years. But, alas, I do have a knack for building up things to pack!

And today I will finish packing the moving truck with everything I own. Tomorrow morning before the sun comes up, dad and I will hit the wide open road heading from Texas to Connecticut. I'm glad we're getting out of town before hurricane Dean hits land. We'll spent 2.5 days on the road - arriving in Connecticut sometime on Monday.

And the next chapter begins....but more on that later!

SALSA!

2007-08-10T12:10:00.000-04:00

I've always loved Latin dancing. I've taken a couple salsa classes, but somehow the music just seems to be in my blood. Houston has a great Latin dance scene, so I try to take advantage of it while I'm here (and have time!). This past week has seen not only several fun nights of dancing, but I also learned about the origins of salsa music and dance.

Believe it or not, salsa actually comes from Puerto Rico, Cuba and Spanish Harlem (NYC) with a strong African influence from the Caribbean. It essentially came about in the 1970s and has developed since that time. "Salsa" is a Spanish word meaning "sauce" - showing that this type of dance is a combination of several styles, both music and dance.

Recently, the movie "El Cantante" was released - starring Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. It's certainly not the best movie I've ever seen, but it was an interesting look at the life of Hector Lavoe - one of the men central in the Salsa scene of the 1970s. LaVoe (played by Marc Anthony) came from Puerto Rico and quickly became on the of top singers in the New York Latin scene. His life was filled with drugs and misery, but he was an amazing musician.

One reason that I enjoyed the movie so much was that a friend of mine had exposed me to the roots of Salsa and "introduced" me to LaVoe's fame and music. I had heard some of his music before, but never knew who he was. It has been a really neat lesson on Latin music, culture and SALSA!!!

So, of course, I had to get out there and do some dancing myself after seeing the movies and hearing the music! I met up with a friend of mine from Elementary school(!!!) at Skybar in Houston. Thursday is their Latin night. We had a great time together!

My Peruvian friend (who taught me about Hector LaVoe) also came. What fun we had.

Ole!

My first visit to the Georgia Aquarium

2007-07-31T11:01:00.000-04:00

An outing that I eagerly anticipated for my trip to Atlanta was a visit to the Georgia Aquarium.

When I left Atlanta in August 2004, plans were underway for the Aquarium. I think they had just broken ground to begin construction. Everyone was talking about it - the largest aquarium in the world - whales and sharks and and and.... It was sure to draw crowds!

For me, the Aquarium was a new amazing attraction, though it was actually completed nearly 2 years ago. So, a few days before my trip to Atlanta was finished, Happy, John and I set out to explore the adventure for ourselves. Albeit, the kids had gone before - but I was super excited to see it for myself.

Indeed, the aquarium turned out to be everything that people had described it to be. There were many touch pools, a variety of neat underwater exhibits and exotic animals. My favorites were the beluga whales and the whale sharks in the huge 8 million gallon aquarium (I could have sat watching it for hours). Here are some pictures from our trip to the aquarium.

Happy and John in front of an aquarium

a leafy sea dragon

Baby beluga in the deep blue sea......

big crabs

Happy and John at a touch pool

where we could touch......

Small sharks (yikes!) and...
stingrays
a cute penguin on a rock
and we go in for a closer look!

Wow! The jellyfish glow under black light!

Even otters need a nap.

John and Happy in a look window

(seen through an aquarium)

and finally - the huge 8 million gallon aquarium

whale sharks and all!

Visit to Atlanta

2007-07-27T11:11:00.000-04:00

I just returned home from a two week trip to Atlanta. Let me tell you - I had no idea how much I liked that city until this trip back. The lush green trees, the hills, the culture and diversity - it was so refreshing to be there. Of course, the part of the city I knew very well how much I adored are my friends there. What a happy reunion after nearly a full three years away!

My plane arrived a couple hours late in the middle of the night and I caught a taxi to the Herold's house, where I was staying. I was tired and a little travel weary, but as I walked from the taxi to the house, all that vanished with a glimpse of my welcome home sign:

Happy and John made this sign for me and it was hanging on the porch as I walked up.

I had so much fun staying with the Herolds. It was as if I'd never left. Actually, I couldn't believe that John remembered me because he was 2 when I left and is now 5. They made sure to talk about me and show him pictures. I'm sure Happy wouldn't let him forget. It was so touching!

During the time I was there, the kids' focus was on circus camp - a summer camp they were attending. They were learning acrobatics, trapeze and Spanish web along with other circus tricks. They practiced them every where we went.

not too shabby for being 5 and 8! And, lucky for me, I was even there to watch one of the actual circus camp shows!!!

Happy and John made up and ready to perform

This one is hard to see, but if you look closely, you can see that it's Happy upside-down on the Spanish Web - hanging by one leg. Impressive!

Of course, the Herold's weren't the only friends I got to see while I was in Atlanta.

Susie, Maddie, Katy, Sydney and Emily

(a lot of "-ee"s)

Brings us back to KIPP:PATH

All in good time, my pretty. All in good time.

With Sydney and Maddie - what cuties!

With Victor at a posh Thai restaurant near Georgia Tech

Emily and Heather - Lookin' good!

a trip out to the Clarks' to see Brian and Heather

Roasters with Ben

a gourmet meal with Bernard

an afternoon visit with Nancy and Al

Michelle and I visit Melissa for lunch, after a visit to...

the Hindu temple of Atlanta

(which was an awesome cultural experience - the temple was beautiful, we were given holy bananas and we even got to chat with the man who was carving all the moulds for the ornate decorations all around the temple!)

And, of course, I couldn't leave Atlanta without a Thai themed party. I pulled out my photos, took a trip to the Decatur International Farmer's market, greased the wok and had a great time eating and visiting with everyone who could make it.

Tricia chats with Demond and Shaniece about joining Peace Corps.

Jeff, Robin and Tricia in the food line. Look at that spread!

Bernard goes for some curry.

It was a wonderful trip!!!

a break from the rain

Niagara Falls

2007-07-11T11:22:00.000-04:00

Niagara Falls is one of the best known waterfalls in the world. All of my Thai friends had heard of the falls and would often mention them when we traveled to any waterfall in Thailand. I didn't think I had ever been to Niagara Falls - at least I didn't remember ever going, so I was super excited when I learned that I would be going with my family on the way to the summer family reunion in Canada. As it turns out, I had been once before - when I was about 6 months old, but I suppose that doesn't really count.

Actually, Niagara Falls is several different Falls in the Niagara River. "Horseshoe Falls" (where we went) is on the Ontario, Canada side and there are a couple more on the Buffalo, NY side as well. We were awed by the majesty of Niagara Falls and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to go.

Emily with Horseshoe falls in the background

As an extra adventure, we took the "Maid of the Mist" boat trip on the Niagara River. After donning our rain (mist) coats, we boarded the boat which took us right to the base of the falls. They are so high that a great cloud of mist is created by the falls hitting the river. Entering the cloud of mist was like being on another planet. Sight was limited and all I could hear was the tremendous roar of the falls - absolutely amazing!

approaching horseshoe falls

ready for the mist

in the mist

going back to dock with both falls behind us

Visit with Kat in London

2007-06-28T09:42:00.000-04:00

The last day of my trip to England with mom, we spend with a good friend of mine, Kat. She had actually been in the US on vacation when we first arrived in London, but returned in time to see us before we headed home.

We started our day together at the Orangery at Kensington Palace - where Princess Diana lived when she was alive. This was a beautiful English tea parlour where we enjoyed tea and desserts. We tried to be very "proper". Here are a few pictures.

In front of Kensington Palace

Inside the Orangery

tea, anyone?

Emily and Kat with our tea

"OH, how Proper!"

mom is the best at looking proper

After tea, we explored some of London that mom and I hadn't seen yet. I don't have many pictures from this, but here is one from Portobello Road (or, "mushroom road" as mom called it). I was really excited because in the 1971 movie "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" there is a song "Portobello_Road" - and here I am at that exact place!

"Portobello road, Portobello road

Street where the riches of ages are stowed.

Anything and everything a chap can unload

Is sold off the barrow in Portobello road.

You’ll find what you want in the Portobello road."

And this, my friends, concludes my trip to England, my trans-continental journey and my 2.5 year abroad.

Homeward bound!

Canterbury, England

2007-06-26T13:18:00.000-04:00

The other day trip that mom and I took was to Canterbury, England. Probably most famously known for the Canterbury Cathedral (which is home to the Canterbury choir). As was most of our trip, the day was chilly and wet. But, we persevered and still really enjoyed the quaint town, old castle ruins and the cathedral.

on our way to Canterbury

we arrived and that's the "way out"

(we thought those signs were funny!)

We first went to the old Norman castle still standing (barely) on the edge of town

mom waves from a second story window

looks like it could lead to the secret garden!

an old burial mound - seen from atop the old city wall

looking out from on top of the mound

The Canterbury Cathedral

Emily in front of the Canterbury Cathedral

the pulpit inside the cathedral

a candle to mark the shrine of St.Thomas of Canterbury

prayer candles

modern stained glass window

going outside at the cathedral

the outdoor corridor

while we were outside this little (well, not so little) feline climbed aboard my backpack

it stayed there for a really long time as we walked around outside

SO funny!

Ha! Ha! Really funny. A bar in town.

Yellow Rose in Canterbury!

How to build a Global Community

2007-06-25T15:37:00.001-04:00

I found this posted on my mom's bulletin board in her kitchen. I thought it was worth sharing. It's from a greeting card made by Syracuse Cultural Workers. Enjoy!

How to build a Global Community

Think of no one as "them"

Don't confuse your comfort with your safety

Talk to strangers

Imagine other cultures through their poetry and novels

Listen to music you don't understand ** Dance to it

Act locally

Notice the workings of power and privilege in your culture

Question consumption

Know how your lettuce and coffee are grown: wake up and smell the exploitation

Look for fair trade and union labels

Help build economies from the bottom up

Acquire few needs

Learn a second (or third) language

Visit people, places, and cultures - not tourist attractions

Learn people's history

RE-define progress

Know physical and political geography

Play games from other cultures

Watch films with subtitles

Know your heritage

Honor everyone's holidays

Look at the moon and imagine someone else, somewhere else, looking at it too

Read the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Understand the global economy in terms of people, land and water

Know where your bank banks

Never believe you have a right to anyone else's resources

Refuse to wear corporate logos: defy corporate domination

Question military/corporate connections

Don't confuse money with wealth, or time with money

Have a pen/email pal

Honor indigenous cultures

Judge governance by how well it meets all people's needs

Be skeptical about what you read

Eat adventurously

Enjoy vegetables, beans and grains in your diet

Choose curiosity over certainty

Know where your water comes from and where your wastes go

Pledge allegiance to the earth: question nationalism

Think South, Central and North - there are many Americans

Assume that many others share your dreams

Know that no one is silent though many are not heard - Work to change this!

Oxford, England

2007-06-21T11:14:00.000-04:00

Oxford, named as such due to the shallow part of the river where people and oxen forded (crossed) the river, Oxford is now known not as a prime local for raising oxen, but rather as a prestigious place to get an education.

Mom and I took a day trip to Oxford, England during our week in the UK. We were trying to decide between Oxford and Cambridge and decided on Oxford for no particular reason. Well, we were sure glad that we did - because what a beautiful town it was!

arrival at the Oxford Station

the city Ox statue

the quaint streets of town

part of the University

the cathedral and grounds

looking into the Cathedral's courtyard

"Alice in Wonderland" was written in Oxford

and based on a dean's daughter, "Alice"!

I bought the book with original illustrations.

a dramatic face in front of the University's theatre

this is where all the graduation ceremonies are held

And interesting fact: you can have your graduation ceremony whenever you wish - be it the day after you pass your exams for your degree...or 30 years later. Every student signs up for a day that his most convenient for her/him. Interesting, huh?

from the top of the theatre

a beautiful green in front of an academic building

a yellow rose of Oxford!

London with my mom

2007-06-07T10:54:00.000-04:00

At last, I am posting about London. It's been a long time, but my time at home has been so busy! My sister's high school graduation, sorting through about 10,000 pictures, a welcome home party and two days on a criminal court jury, I am finally ready to sit down and write about the last portion of my trip home. Better late than never.

After visiting my friend Luis in the Netherlands, I caught an Easy Jet flight from Amsterdam to London. I had convinced my mom to take a holiday and come meet me in London for a week before I headed back to the states. Seeing as London has four or five airports, it was not surprising that I flew into a different airport than the one at which my mother was arriving. So, I quickly hopped on the "inter-airport shuttle" and headed across town to meet my mom.

Upon arriving at the airport, both my hiking boots decided they were tired of silence and promptly adjusted themselves to have mouths. In other words, the soles of both came detached nearly simultaneously. I had to walk by picking my knees up nearly to my chin in order to avoid tripping over them. It was hilarious - at least to everyone else! :) But despite my clown shoes and the drizzly wet weather, I managed to place myself in the receiving line before mom came out of the terminal. What a happy reunion.

A friend of mine who lives in London (but who was unfortunately away on vacation the entire time we were there) was kind enough to "lend" us her flat for the duration of our stay in England. This was an financial life saver. London is SO expensive!!! We headed out of the airport, to the Tube (London subway) and to my friend's flat.

To ensure that we had the full and true London experience, we were met with dreary, wet and quite chilly weather. This was to continue every day until the very last one of our trip. So, we arrived at the apartment VERY happy to be there and slightly worse for the wear (or at least wetter for the wear!)

Despite the weather, we forged ahead and managed to see quite a lot of London. Our first day, we spent on a 2 story bus tour of the city (Big Bus Company). We battled the weather on the upper deck (open) with our raincoats as long as we could before retiring to the lower, enclosed part of the bus. Here are a few pictures from day one in London.

Red city bus circling Trafalgar square

lion molded with the iron from french cannons

Big Ben

(which is actually the bell, not the clock!)

the tower bridge

Enter the Tower of London

Emily in front of the Tower of London

Royal armor in the Tower of London

mom strikes a pose to show our state at the end of this rainy day!

For the rest of the trip, we alternated a day in London with day trips to Oxford and Canterbury. I will write about the day trips later. For now, enjoy some of London as we saw it.

First of all, the best purchase we made was our "Oyster cards" - or subway passes. We bought the week-long unlimited ride cards and probably spent about 5 times their value with all our rides on the Tube. Mom was continually amazed by how quickly I navigated through the mazes of subway. My reply was simple. "It's easy! It's all in ENGLISH!"

the tube station near the flat where we were staying

consulting my handy dandy London map book

mom next to a train whizzing off

SAINT PAUL's CATHEDRAL

The magnificent dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in London is second in size only after St.Peter's Basilica in the Vatican ( Italy). The present cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the fire of London destroyed the old one (from the Norman times). The cathedral is not only a work of art, but it is also a symbol of London. Many significant weddings (Charles and Diana) and funerals have been held here. We were not allowed to take pictures inside, but here are a couple from the outside. I also climbed the 300 something steps to the balcony ledge around the top of the dome for a great view of London. (Thank goodness it stopped raining for a while!)

the front of the Cathedral with a statue of Queen Mary

on the top of the cathedral with London behind me

Looking down at the square below

COVENT GARDEN

This is not actually a garden, but a part of London known for it's cafes, shops and street performers. Mom and I enjoyed coffee, dessert and some interesting performances here one afternoon.

performance one

carrot cake break

performance two

Buckingham Palace

And of course, no trip to London is complete without a visit to Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, our timing was off, so we didn't get to see changing of the guard. But, we did get to watch this one (funny hat and all) march around bringing his knees to his belly buttons as he did so. (Maybe all the people who saw me at the airport just though I was practicing to guard the palace!)

Em and mom in front of Buckingham Palace

one of the guards

Westminster Abbey

Down the road from Buckingham Palace is Westminster Abby. This church is used formally by the royal family for coronations and royal celebrations. It, like St.Paul's, is truly magnificent. Mom and I 1.enjoy church and 2. didn't want to pay another entrance fee, so we headed to the abbey for their daily prayer service at 8am. It was short and sweet, but beautiful. And having the service in a side room of this magnificent church was very special. Again, I didn't get any pictures of the inside (which we did get to walk through on the way to the small chapel) but here are a couple from the front...including one of the "modern day saints" portrayed at the entrance.

Westminster Abbey

It took a minute to figure out that this truly is

Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

Shakespeare's GLOBE THEATRE

The third Globe theatre to be build, the current one stands about 200 meters from where Shakespeare and his contemporaries built the first one. Millions of dollars and many years were dedicated to the study of what could be excavated from the original Globe as well as other theatres of the same time period so that this one could be built as accurately as possible. We didn't have time to see a show, but we did take the tour of the theatre (and see rehearsal in progress) and visit the Shakespeare museum housed under the theatre. What a neat place.

Emily in front of the Globe Theatre

some of these I never knew were Shakespeare!

mom in front of the Globe

(and the ice cream truck)

ice cream break by the Globe

(and look, it cleared up!)

Random sites of London

It was truly a wonderful trip, despite the rain.

More to come later on our day trips to Oxford and Canterbury as well as our visit with my friend Kat in London!

Forgiveness

2007-05-30T17:57:00.000-04:00

I have been meaning to blog about my trip to England with my mom for two weeks, but now that I have a moment to do so, its going to have to wait. Instead, I want to take a moment and talk about something of greater depth.

Forgiveness.

FORGIVENESS.

I think that forgiveness is one of the most difficult things for humans to achieve. Maybe I should speak for myself. It can be extremely difficult for me. The temptation is to feel somehow empowered by the anger and the grudge. Instead, you are hurting yourself...not the person who you refuse to forgive.

I just finished watching Oprah (go ahead and groan...still I love her!). The show was all about forgiveness. The two featured guests were "sheros" who had every reason not to forgive, but instead chose forgiveness and even love.

The first was a woman who was shot in the head when two teenagers broke into her house to steal her car. She survived, but had to re-learn everything from swallowing to walking to speaking. She is now legally blind. This amazing woman has not only forgiven the boy who shot her, but regularly visits him and loves him like a son gone astray. She has not only freed herself to live again, but has changed the life of the guy who shot her and given him hope for himself and his future (of which he had none at the time of the incident).

The second lady was a victim in the 2005 London bombings. She lost 75% of her blood, her heart stopped 3 times and she had both of her legs amputated below the knee. She, too, has been able to forgive the suicide bombers who caused this tragedy. She is alive both physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Both are grateful for their "second lives" however different they are from the first. Neither wallow in "what ifs" or "whys".

They describe forgiveness as refusal to harbor negative thoughts and emotions and as "peace".

How much we all have to learn from these two woman. Think of the small things that we refuse to let go of in our daily lives. Maybe even some really big things that eat away at us. UN-forgiveness was described as a daily glass of poison that takes the joy of life away from us. Is it worth it? Short answer - no.

I wanted to share these thoughts, encourage everyone to work towards peace and forgiveness and to share this website.

The forgiveness Project

The lady who lived through the London Bombing is a member of this foundation. Individual forgiveness and peace is a first step towards international peace and unity. I never thought of it exactly this way, but I think it is really beautiful. Check it out.

the Netherlands

2007-05-21T09:19:00.000-04:00

The next stop: Rotterdam, Holland - to visit a good friend of mine. And my trip was just in time to catch him before he moved to Switzerland and then started gallivanting around the world with his new job.

We didn't really take many pictures because my camera batteries were dead and I didn't have the right plug. But, here are a couple from the train going from Rotterdam to Amsterdam (where I flew out to London).

The train left at 6:30am, so we had beautiful morning sun

Emily and Luis

being silly

Had to take a picture of a windmill in Holland!

so, that's where it comes from! Who would have thunk?

Stockholm, Sweden with Zhena

2007-05-21T07:51:00.000-04:00

After Estonia, I took a ferry across the Baltic sea to Stockholm, Sweden. My college roommate and very close friend, Zhena, lives there with her husband. It was so beautiful to see her and visit Stockholm.

We decided to take a boat tour around the city to see a few sites while I was there. Luckily, we got a gorgeous sunny day to do this trip (the next day when I went back to walk the city it was rainy and cold - not so nice!).

Here are a couple of pictures from my time with Zhena:

Spring is busting out all over Stockholm

I love tulips!

In downtown Stockholm

with Zhena in the boat

a view from the boat tour

ahhhhh

It got a little chilly at the Baha'i picnic in the park!

Estonia with Tea

2007-05-17T15:07:00.000-04:00

My next move westward after Russia was Estonia. A good friend of mine, Tea, from university is Estonian and I couldn't come this close without a visit. So, this part of my journey changes from exploration to visits with friends.

The last time I visited Tea was four years ago. We had a marvelous time and she lived up to the reputation this time - what a great time it was.

First, entering Estonia I had such a sense of excitement to see her. I was greeted at the border by this nice castle:

Tea lives in Tartu, Estonia at the moment and the drive there was just beautiful. There had been snow here as well, but only small traces were left. The fields and houses became even more beautiful with the sunset.

Upon arriving in Tartu, I called Tea...which was a good thing because she was sound asleep after quite a week of end of semester celebrations. She and her friend Taavi came to pick me up at the bus station and we headed back to her apartment for snacks and talks.

The next day we walked around Tartu a little bit.

Here we are in front of her university there.

A beautiful Tea

Asian food for lunch

spring or winter?

And, of course, no visit to Estonia would be complete without a visit to her parents house. They live in the Estonian countryside and live the "simple life". Her father huts (and always sends me home with some yummy canned moose) and fishes. They have an outhouse and well. And my favorite part...bathing is done in the sauna. It wasn't sauna day, but we built a fire and made a sauna for ourselves anyway.

getting the fire wood for the sauna

building the fire for the hot water

While the sauna got hot, we took a walk around her town. What beautiful colors and vibrant greens. The weather did have trouble making up it's mind whether to be spring or winter!

in her garden

Tea by the old mill

the lake behind her house

The sauna was great. We even went down to the lake in the middle. It was too cold to get in fully, but we did splash ourselves with the icy water. (It's good for the pores, so I'm told...) And sleep after a sauna is always wonderful. I slept like a baby on the second floor of their old farm house nestled between the blanket and the sheepskin and feeling as clean as ever from the sauna experience.

The next day, after we helped her parents clear some brush, her dad made the smoked fish that I LOVE! The first time I was a little nervous to eat it right out of the skin with my fingers. But, since that time, I've had such interesting culinary adventures that I dove in with great excitement this time. Yum!

smoked fish with the smoker in the background

And after our delicious lunch of fish, we hitch hiked back to Tartu. (I love hitch hiking!)

What a wonderful (albeit short) visit with a wonderful friend!

2007-05-15T11:32:00.000-04:00

What a difference a day makes!

I woke up on my second day in St.Petersburg to a crisp clear day. What a change...and quite a welcome one at that! This beautiful day was May 1st, international day for workers/laborers.

Obviously, under the communist regime, this was a very significant day in Russia. According to a Russian lady I met, attendance at the celebrations for this day were mandatory. This year, there was not a big celebration scheduled in St.Petersburg (though apparently there was a significant one in Moscow). However, upon leaving my hostel and starting to walk down a sun-lit street, I happened upon a May 1st demonstration. To my surprise, this was a pro-communist demonstration. I had never really stopped to think that there would be people who were actually in favor of the communism that Russia had for so long. However, old, young, male and female alike were marching in this peaceful demonstration.

During my time watching, I was handed a anti-American/West pamphlet (in Russian, of course) as well as a ribbon commemorating Russia's victories in WWII. I later had friends translate some of the Russian for me to help in my understanding. Very interesting. There was also some anti-Estonian slogans due to the removal of a statue of a communist leader from Tallinn, Estonia (the capital). There had been riots in Tallinn for several days prior to this demonstration.

Here are some pics from the demonstration:

All of this anti-west/American energy....marching right past the......

hmmmm...ironic or proving a point.....

After the demonstration, I had a quick walk around St.Petersburg. I didn't have much time to go into see things, but I was able to enjoy the city more with better weather.

remember this?

modeled after St.Basil's in Moscow

the eternal flame

great day for an impromptu concert

(and great FUN!)

After my power walk around the city, I headed to the bus station to head to Estonia. (Tartu, not Tallinn...thank goodness). This is the castle/fortress on the Russian border with Estonia.

I got out with no problems. The customs guy was actually really very nice. On the bus, I sat with an Estonian and Brazilian (dating...interesting combination) and we had a great ride to Tartu.

Thus ends my Asian and trans-Siberian journey and begins my European one. But, more on that later.

St.Petersburg in the Snow

2007-05-15T10:59:00.000-04:00

Again it has been a while...sorry! :)

After Moscow, I took a night train to St.Petersburg. I was met at 5:00am by a beautiful dusting of snow (almost May!) The dark city was beautiful covered in a thin layer of white.

However, after catching a couple more hours of sleep, I was ready to set out exploring St.Petersburg....at this point I quickly learned that snow is not always such a nice pretty experience. Now, I had been told this by people who live in areas where it snows regularly, but I had never really believed them.

Ok, I am now a believer.

It was cold and wet and slapped me in the face all day long. However, I had only 1.5 days in St.Petersburg, so I had to make the best of it. I pushed my way through the freezing, damp wind and tried to enjoy the city as much as possible. Unfortunately, it was also Monday, so all the museums were also closed. This was a bummer not only because I wanted to see the museums, but also because I couldn't get inside and out of the cold. None the less, I persevered and appreciated what I could through the chill. Here are some pictures of the day:

cute Russian ticket taker on the bus

some snow flakes on my Mongolian Camel hair gloves

the (wintry) winter palace

one tough bird

approaching the Peter and Paul fortress

the Peter and Paul Fortress

(the oldest building in the city)

inside the cathedral

(and it was warm...ahhhh)

ice cold coke, anyone?

along a canal

love those golden onion domes

a cold fountain in the snowy park

a park worker

It's a cold day for a stroll

Moscow - the day of the cathedral

2007-05-07T10:58:00.000-04:00

My last day in Moscow was a day of cathedrals.

I started the day at Novodevichy Monastery on the edge of town. This convent and monastery has great historical significance not only because it has stood in it's place since the 16th century, but also because the convent housed many woman from Russian royal and noble families. Many of these women, including Sofia Alekseyevna, sister to Peter the Great (and who was 'sent to the nunnery by her brother on account that he wished to rule) were forced into the religious life, generally by jealous and power hungry men in their families or lives. Sofia Alekseyevna's tomb is contained within the grounds of the monestary, but in winter the buidling is too cold for visiters to visit. We actually had some small snow flurries on this day, so we weren't allowed inside the building.

Novodevichy Monastery - the main cathedral

the yard

the newer church where I saw a service

Since I was here on a Sunday, I decided to go into mass and see what a Russian Orthadox mass was like. I covered my head like a good Russian Christian woman and headed into the church. It was pentecost Sunday, so before the service, the priest was changing from Easter white to Pentecost red. This was done very ceremoniously with great pomp and circumstance. The altar attendents were responsible for bringing the different pieces of his robe and changing them for him. It was very interesting to watch. The chanting in the cathedral during the ceremony was truly magnificent and the ornate decoration really created a unique ambience. Honestly, since I couldn't understand anything, the thing that struck me the most was that Russian's don't sit in church. There were no pews. Everyone just crams (literally) together in the church and does the whole mass standing up. (And I thought the sitting and standing in Catholic mass was bad... :) ) Some of the old people had small portable chairs on which to sit, but everyone else stood for the entire service. I did not stay to the end, but was glad for the experience short as it may have been.

a Russian woman covers her head before entering the church

After the service, I went to the small religious museum housed in one of the buildings on the grounds. It was interesting containing pieces of religious art and architechture from cathedrals around Moscow and the surrounding area.

After the museum, I tried to visit the cemetary, but was told it was closed. The Novodevichy cemetary is quite notable not only because it is very old, but because of the multitudes of famous people buried here. (For a list of notable burials, click here) Some of the most famous include former political figures and their wives as well as many musicians, artists and scientists. The reason the cemetary was closed on this particular day was because Boris Yeltsin, the first president of the Russian Federation, had been buried there the day before. I felt it so significant that I was in Russia for the death of such a significant person in Russia's recent history.

In fact, in the museum, they told me that an additional memorial service was being held for Yelsin that very day in teh Cathedral of Christ the Savior, downtown.

At least, I thought that was what they told me.

So, I found the cathedral on my map and headed to it. I was very interested in taking part in such a significant event.

Once at the cathedral, I waited in line to get in (after going through a medal detector).

Upon entering the cathedral, I was approached by a journalist. (I guess my clothes screamed 'tourist'). She asked me how I'd heard about the service and I told her that I had learned about it at the monastery where he was buried yesterday.

"You mean, where he will be buried tomorrow?" she questioned.

I agreed, though now slightly confused.

"Anyway... Did you like his music? Are you familiar with it?"

OH MY HEAVENS?!? WHO'S FUNERAL AM I AT???????

As my words were being documented (and as I was then and there faced with reinforcing or decreasing the perception of the ignorant American) I started thinking quickly and replied, "No, I am not too familiar with his music, but thought this such a significant event that I should come and pay my respects" Or something along those lines. Meanwhile thinking, "Oh my gosh!!! Who died? Who died?" I did infact not know if I knew of his music ... or of "him" whoever "he" was, but I tried to say what would prompt the fewest follow up questions. It worked. She took my name (ugh) and left. Whew!!! Not as embarassing as it could have been.

I later learned that the funeral was for the cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich. He was internationally renowned and had worked in several countries, including conducting the US National orchestra in DC for several years. I was glad to have paid my respects to him, though at the time I had no idea who I was paying respects to.

At any rate, the funeral was interesting and the cathedral was beautiful. Everyone was taking pictures, so I snapped a few myself. Here are a few shots of the cathedral and the service.

many people came to pay their respects

(and they all knew who for!)

the inside of the beautiful cathedral

the service

many people brought flowers to show their respect

After about 20 minutes in the cathedral, I headed out - glad to move away from what had been a very akward moment! ha ha ha

Next, it was on to St.Basil's cathedral. I had seen it from the oustide in Red Square, but had not yet gone in. This was the day to explore the inside. It is such an amazing and ornate cathedral. Take a look.

St.Basil's Cathedral

the beautiful, colorful onion domes of St.Basil's

looking up

inside the cathedral

a painting of Jesus

a curving stairway

painted walls

an old door

It was a very interesting day of cathedrals, indeed. That night, I got on the train to St.Petersburg. More on that tomorrow!

more Moscow

2007-05-07T10:18:00.000-04:00

After the Kremlin, Jasmin and I walked around Moscow for a few more hours. We explored Red Square a little more, but unfortunately Lenin's tomb was closed to the public. We're not sure if he was having his once-a-decade waxing\rehydration or if the tomb was closed because of the upcoming national holidays. At any rate, I was unable to see the preserved body of either of the communist leaders of countries in my travels. But, I suppose there are worse things - and it's a little creepy anyway!

So, we walked around the Kremlin gardens and Red Square some more. With such a blue sky, the red bricks seemed to glow.

looking back at the gate from just inside Red Square

I believe this is thestatue in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier

The other thing that Jasmin had really wanted to see was the Wall of Peace on Arbat Street. Arbat street is a hippie, tourist street with characature artists and lots of painting and souvenir stands. So, we took the subway and began our search for the wall. Unfortunately, we seemed to have walked right passed it and then before we knew it, the rain began to fall. We had just had some Russian 'fast food' and were in a stall admiring some paintings when the weather suddenly changed. We had dressed inappropriately - both wearing sandals - and we were suddenly freezing in the rain and wind. So, we took off running searching for the subway station at the other end of the 1.3 km street. We did find it rather quickly, but not before we were both damp and quit chilly!

art on Arbat Street

Russian 'fast food'

interesting (and wet) sidewalk art....not the wall of peace

an interesting graffiti wall...but not the wall of peace

everyone scrambling to stay dry as the rain broke

We were deterred from more exploration due to the rain, so we headed back to the hostel. A couple hours later I accompanied Jasmin to the train station. There I saw her off and successfully bought my ticket to St.Petersburg for the next day. (It is always an accomplishment to buy the ticket you were trying for! I even got third class, though I was originally told there were no seats left.) Another successful and crazy day in Russia.

Moscow - the Kremlin

2007-05-07T09:49:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I blogged - internet availability has been sporatic. So, this is the start of the game of catch up.

My first full day in Moscow, and Jasmin's only day, brought us first to the Kremlin. According to Wikipedia, 'kremlin' is used to refer to any fortified area. I had thought that it meant government buildings of some sort, but though the kremlins around the country do usually include government offices, that is not the official definition.

The Kremlin in Moscow is the largest one in the country. Located at Red Square it is surrounded by tall walls with watch towers. These walls themselves are beautifully built and painted.

a wide shot of Red Square

(the Kremlin is on the left)

looking at the Kremlin from Red Square

a wall and watch tower of the Kremlin

We walked through Red Square and then around the Kremlin complex to get to the park at the front gate of the Kremlin. There we saw a nice fountain and statue as well as some tulips that felt the signs of spring and bloomed just for us.

the fountain

tulips and the walls of the Kremlin

I love tulips!

Inside the Kremlin were government buildings as well as several cathedrals. I hadn't realised that there would be cathedrals. They were really beautiful both inside and out. Unfortunately I couldn't take pictures inside, so views of the outside will have to do. The picture of the paintings on the outside is similar to those found on the indside. The paintings covered the walls and ceiling with images of Christ, Mary and many of the saints. These cathedrals were used for religious purposes as well as coronation ceremonies.

Emily and some of the government buildings

The onion domes of one of the cathedrals

Some of the painting on the outside walls

Moscow - the first night

2007-04-29T06:36:00.001-04:00

After finally getting off the train and managing the cab ride to the hostel, we climbed four flights of stairs to the Napolean Hostel. (Located in the building that Napolean actually stayed in when he was in Moscow.) Immediately inside the door to the hostel, guests are greeted by a wall full of old soviet propaganda posters.

We piled into the ten-room beds, showered (after four days on the train we needed it) and set out to do a little exploring for the evening.

Our hostel is located in a really neat part of Moscow and it was fun to walk through the stone streets and see the old buildings. Unfortunately, I don't have any really good pictures of these buildings right now, but here are some funny things we saw during our walk.

We first made our way to Red Square where we saw thousands of Russian military troops. We're not sure exactly why they're in town, but between Yeltsin's death, May day and the Russian national holiday on May 9th, we're in for tons of festivities.

It was really awesome to see them marching so perfectly in sync and in such huge numbers. They also sang/chanted what seemed to be the Russia national anthem - or some sort of patriotic song as they walked. I managed to get a video of that and it was quite amazing!

After crossing the river, we made our way to Sculpture park. This park was recommended by Ben, the Australian I met in Irkutsk. He really enjoyed it and suggested we check it out. We also had the task of adding his "modern art sculpture" to those already there. Jasmin and I didn't find the park quite as impressive as he did, but we did accomplish our task. Here I am with Ben's "sculpture" and the Pinnochio sculpture in the park.

Outside sculpture park was a giant statue of Peter the Great. Supposedly Moscow Russians don't really like it. A Russian friend of Ryan's told him that it was originally designed to be Christopher Columbus as a gift for America. But, America didn't want it (or maybe it was the cold war) and so they re-did the head/face and put it up in Moscow as Peter. I have no idea how much truth there is to this story, but it is interesting regardless. I like the statue.

Our last stop of the evening was Gorky Park. Ryan was very excited about going there because he read a book entitled "Gorky Park" in middle school and had promised himself that if he ever made it to Moscow that he would visit. And there we were. It had gotten a little chilly, so we didn't stay long, but we did have pizza and beer and enjoyed people watching for a while.

the entrance to Gorky Park

On the way home, I used the Moscow Subway (Metro) for the first time. What an amazing maze of tunnels deep below the city. The escalators are extremely tall and the tunnels are long. But, the metro can get you anywhere!

Moscow from a Cab

2007-04-29T06:36:00.000-04:00

I call it.... "My first glimpse of Moscow - from a taxi"

It is my best work.

Ok, it's not my best work.

Those opening lines are dedicated to Ben after his terrible Russian customs ordeal and because he made me laugh for two days solid! :)

Here are a couple of pictures from my first moments in Moscow, Russia.

street tram

beautiful architecture

Pamela's world presence

a view of the buildings through the traffic

wow - five people have a lot of bags