Pre-Departure Orientation Day #2

Today has been a whirlwind of a day. We started the day with an introduction to all of the government programs available to me and how I can support those programs. Then, we switched into regional sessions to discuss roles and responsibilities. I actually was able to meet with all of my African counterparts and learn about the "reality" of my project. There are a ton of acronyms in this program, which I am used to in education. So, here is a list of some of the terms I have learned so far:

PAS - Public Affairs Section
PAO - Public Affairs Officer
GU - Georgetown University
RELO - Regional English Language Office (there are three in Africa)
RSO - Regional Security Officer
DS - Diplomatic Security

So, my job is to facilitate communication between Georgetown (who does all the payouts, logistics), the host institution (Uganda Christian University), and the PAO/RELO. The RELO and the host institution writes the description proposals and then the state department approves/denies the project. The project description might have been developed by a different RELO/PAO than who I will meet because they rotate every two years. So, I need to prepare for a possible different job description than what is on paper. There are certain "mission goals" that the embassy is trying to accomplish along with the host institution. I have primary and secondary duties. It seems to me like the most difficult part of my job is going to be balancing all that is asked of me because there are so many things to do. I also learned:

•  The ambassador of the country is like the president. There are protocols that I need to follow when meeting him/her.

• If there is an officer, he/she is American. Officers serve two year terms.

For lunch, I went with the African people to an awesome sushi place. It was $10 for my box lunch and it was delicious. I actually had soup and some kind of salad before this box. Who doesn't love tempora and dumplings?

After lunch,  we discussed the various programs including Peace Corp, State Alumni, American Spaces, and Voice of America. We have a lot of responsibilities with these groups and overall provide mentoring and guidance. We also talked about all of the resources available. There are a TON of resources. I had no idea of all of these organizations and materials were available for me to use - for free! I need to take a look at everything and download all of the stuff I need before leaving next week.

We concluded the sessions today with a security briefing. One of the most important things is our briefing with the RSO when we arrive in country. They apparently have the lowdown on the security and what is happening in the country. Even though I don't work at at the embassy, I have some type of special privileges that cover me as part of the embassy. The RSOs are there to protect and keep me safe. There is an entire team devoted just to keeping us safe. They reminded us of common sense things like keeping your money on your person, walking in well lit areas, watching for unusual circumstances, and varying your route.

Overall, I feel good about the day and all of the information I have learned. I feel prepared already for what is coming ahead, even though I have two more days of orientation. Tomorrow will be mostly about staying healthy while abroad and more stories from former fellows.

Pre-Departure Orientation Day #1

I slept in this morning after a late night with the boys and it felt good to catch up on my sleep after a crazy busy weekend. One of my favorite things about this hotel is that they have a preferred program that you can join for free which gives you awesome perks like free internet, newspapers in the morning, and a selection of morning drinks. I ordered my coffee last night and it was waiting at my door this morning - genius! I didn't quite plan well because I thought I would wake up a little earlier, so my coffee was cold, but I loved the gesture. I will definitely get up in time to enjoy it tomorrow morning.

Registration this morning was from 8:30-11:30 with breakfast from 7-9. I knew I was not going to make it to breakfast, but I made it to registration at 11:15. I received a laptop bag, binder, tourist information about D.C., name tag, t-shirt, and handbook. The orientation starts at 1p.m., so I had some time to kill and was hungry. I headed across the street to a little place called Open City Diner and sat outside to enjoy a chicken Caesar salad and amazing latte. Seriously, one of the best lattes I have ever had! I love that it came with animal crackers and a beautiful design.

The orientation today started at 1 p.m. with an introduction and opening remarks. The take away from the introduction was that as English Language Fellows (ELFs) we are change agents. We have the opportunity to impact foreign policy overseas and build bridges with the people we meet. The projects are not chosen at random, but are targeted opportunities. They are created with the intent to build relationships with people in other countries, particularly youth. ELFs have a HUGE responsibility because we are the assets on the ground which communicate what is being seen and heard in our host institutions. We do have a lot of support from the various embassies, but ELFs should feel empowered to connect the dots between our host institution and the government. It is an awesome and overwhelming responsibility.

Then, we had sessions about the handbook and paperwork. Those sessions lasted nearly four hours, so you can imagine my enthusiasm for sitting that long, but the sessions were essential and informative. There is so much paperwork to complete. We get $2200 to use for our institutional expenses, but every single penny has to be evidenced on a receipt and any remaining items/money has be donated to our institution when the fellowship is over. One of the program officers said to think of the money as "on loan" to help bridge the gap and build relationships. Fellows in the past have used this money for sending colleagues to conferences, attending conferences, buying electronics for the departments, copying expenses, etc. The goal is to maximize the money so that it will go a long way. Some items are prohibited such as alcohol, flowers, gifts, etc. Apparently you end up spending about 10% of your time on paperwork, so I can't wait for that part of my job.

After the festivities today, there was a reception with food and drinks. There was lemonade, tea, veggies, cheeses, crackers, fruit, and various waiters walking around serving appetizers. This program is a team effort between Georgetown University, the state department, and the various embassies. It was really nice to meet everyone and see how this program all fits together. I was also able to meet other fellows going to Africa. There are 13 fellows in Africa, with about half of them renewing, so there's only six of us who are new. Tomorrow we are supposed to meet as a group going to Africa and get some survival tips and talk about embassy life. I will try to get some hotel pics because it really is a beautiful hotel.

I Love Airports!

I have always been fascinated with airports since I was little. I remember asking my dad to take me to the little airport in Bethalto so we could watch the airplanes land. I also remember a little restaurant over by Lambert Airport where we could watch the planes coming and going. I am not sure why I was so fascinated, but I do know that I wasn't able to fly often, so when I did, it was a rare treat. Most families would rather drive on vacation to save money and have the convenience of their vehicle and my family was one of those. I did have several opportunities to fly to space camp in Huntsville, Alabama in eighth grade and Washington, D.C. for Future Business Leaders of America during high school.

This week I have the privilege to travel to D.C. for a week of orientation and training for the fellowship program. I’ve heard that this time will be both terrifying and exciting. The former fellow told me that more seasoned fellows tell horror stories of being medically evacuated and that the coordinators of the fellowship program take you through some type of security briefing. I think I am most excited to meet other fellows who have been through this experience and who are preparing to go on this experience. I am interested to hear their stories, connect with them, and make new friends.

This morning I flew from St. Louis to Charlotte. The flight left at 7:45, which was a very early wake-up call after going to bed at 2:30 a.m. I have been off all week, but for some reason, I didn’t finish my paper that is due tomorrow until late last night. Who am I kidding? I ALWAYS procrastinate on these assignments. I am a good student and I seem to do my best work under pressure, but it is always at the last minute – no matter how much time I have prior to the assignment. Anyway, the flight to Charlotte was VERY full and as we were boarding, a man asked me if I would switch seats with him so he could sit with his traveling partner. I was delighted because my original seat was next to a mom and child. I love children, but not on a plane. The flight was on time and everything went smoothly. When I entered Charlotte, I was shocked at the number of people walking through the airport. It was wall-to-wall people throughout the terminals. Maybe this airport is known for being busy, but I think it’s the busiest airport I have ever been in and I have been through a lot of airports.

My next flight went off without a hitch albeit very crowded with many screaming children. Reagan International Airport was also very crowded, but with clear signs so I found my way to the baggage claim. I always get nervous waiting for my baggage because I have lost my bag several times when traveling. The worst time was when Aaron and I were in Sicily because we literally had NOTHING with us. We were flying from Palermo down to Sicily and it was a short 45-minute flight, so we didn’t think we needed much. Wow, were we wrong! We stayed in this GORGEOUS place along the cost, but everything was so expensive that we sat in our same clothes for three days. I had no makeup! For us ladies, this was devastating. I didn't want to take any pictures and we couldn't go swimming in our beautiful $300-a-night pool! It was miserable. But don’t worry, my luggage came as planned on this trip.

During my time here, I had made arrangements to see my ex-husband Wagner and one of my really good friends from my doctoral program, Neil. Wagner is in his fourth year of urology residency and often has a crazy schedule during the week so we made plans for today. He met me at the train station and we headed to the hotel to drop my stuff off before meeting up with Neil. The hotel is really nice and seems quite expensive (more on that in another post). After dropping my stuff off, we headed to Walter Reed Navy Hospital to pick up Wagner’s car to meet up with Neil in Baltimore. He can store his car there for free because he works there instead of trying to find street parking by his house. I also noticed the really cool bike stations around town, which apparently costs $75 a year. When the taxi dropped us off at the hospital, there was some type of security issue, so one of the gates was closed. I was surprised when the soldier saluted Wagner as Captain, but he just shrugged it off. Wagner joined the Army as a way to get rid of his medical school debt and also to advance his career.

This is a trip!

Wagner driving his little BMW - very scary!

Once we got Wagner's car, we headed to Baltimore to meet up with Neil. Neil is one of my very good friends that I met last year at our doctoral residency last fall. He had been a huge support system for me over the past year. We regularly Skype and he gives awesome advice. Neil is heading to Afghanistan (DOD) for the next year and just "happened" to fly into Baltimore the same day as I flew into Washington. I know God put us together at the same time, in the same place. Neil's girlfriend is also already in Afghanistan so they will be together until December.

I forgot to snap a picture of Neil and I, but I made him send me a picture. He is such a ham! We had dinner at a place close to his hotel and talked together for a while and Wagner read for his surgeries scheduled for tomorrow. I really enjoyed my time with both of the guys and appreciate their friendship.

Tomorrow is the first day of orientation and I need to get some sleep so I am prepared for it. What a great day! Hope you had a great one too. Good night!

CDC's Mission - Scare Jamie Straight!

I made the mistake of checking out the book, CDC Health Information for International Travel 2014, from the library to read before departing on my trip. This was a very stupid move on my part because I am already paranoid about getting sick and this book just increased my fear. I am not a fan of drugs and almost did not get the vaccines (except some were required).

Maybe I should fill in the background about my health history...I've NEVER been sick. Well, I did have dengue fever when I lived in Puerto Rico in 2001 and a blood clot in 2010, but other than that, I've had nothing...no surgery, no broken bones, nothing. And I am a huge, huge baby. When I get sick, I want my mommy to cook chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles and take care of me. I want to soak in a hot bath with a glass of orange juice next to me on the ledge. That is not going to happen in Uganda...well, maybe by Skype! So, needless to say, I am nervous about getting sick, especially stomach issues that will deter eating. I LOVE to eat! Most people think my motivation to be very active is to remain healthy, but really it is to eat! I am very sure this is my parent's fault, but I love to cook and eat everything. Other than peas and egg yolks, I love almost all foods. Having a tolerable stomach and adventurous spirit, I have eaten off the streets in Haiti and from several little old ladies all over the world. But I know that people get sick. In fact, when I met with the former fellow, Becky, last week, she was just recovering from schistosomiasis - an waterborne larval cercariae found in contaminated bodies of freshwater and enters by penetrating the skin. That's right, penetrating the skin. So, if I go swimming or wade through FRESH water, I could get this parasite. Awesome!

My favorite thing about this book is that it has these little maps that show the epidemic levels of various diseases. Just in case you don't know where Uganda is, it is bordered by South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Lake Victoria. If you look for the Lake, Uganda is the little country above it in east Africa.

Now, on to the stupid little maps. Apparently Uganda has a bulls eye right over it with the nearly the highest percentage of almost every disease.

So, as you can see, Uganda is in the hepatic-intestinal and urinary risk.

Malaria

Hep B - At least it is in high intermediate (not worst)

Hep E - I know, I've never heard of this either. Of course Uganda is highly epidemic!

HIV - 15%-25% of population

Hep C - highest

So, to prevent all illness and stay healthy, my best friend suggested I get this probiotic. Apparently Joe thinks that it help me. So, today I am off to buy every preventive medicine I can find to stay healthy. Any tried and true suggestions?

Preparting for Departure - Part 1

First, I have to apologize to those of you who sent me your email address so that I could email you when I post. Although I have the list, I haven't set up the gmail group yet, but I will add that to the list! This week has been all about preparing for departure and my orientation next week. I fly to D.C. next Sunday to meet with all of the ELFs (English Language Fellows) for about five days. This training is supposed to equip me with what I need to know during my stay in Uganda. When I return, I will have one week and then I am off on my adventure. So, I need to maximize my time this week to get things done.

Here's what I have done so far:

• Apple purchases - My MacBook was four years old and my Ipad three, so I know it was time for an update on Apple products. Missouri has an amazing tax free weekend every year and Apple always gives something away with purchases for teachers/students. So, I bought a MacBook Air and an Ipad mini. I am waiting for cases, so I haven't really broken them in, but I love, love, love both purchases. And I also have $150 credit in the apps store, so I can play all year! 
  
• Met with the former ELF  and her husband in Alton last Saturday. I can't believe the fellow that was in Uganda last year lives in Carlinville, IL - about 30 miles from where I currently live. What are the odds? I loved meeting with her and getting the "scoop" about my job. She gave me a lot of helpful advice and answered all of my questions. She also had lots of pictures to share with me through Facebook, so it was exciting to actually see where I will be living and working.
• Caught up with an old high friend - I really enjoy catching up with high school friends and it was so cool to meet up with Mandy when she came through town. It is amazing how much life we have all already lived. So thankful for those moments!
• Renewed my license plates - This was a fairly painless process, but I did have to dig through some receipts to find my proof of paid property tax. You would think that Missouri could somehow digitize this process. I also had to get new plates because they couldn't find mine, which I think is weird, but I have changed my name a few times over the past few years, so I guess that's what happens. Thank God my parents are storing my car so my dad will deal with all of those details.
• Extended my library card - The library is St. Louis city is AWESOME! We have access to digital material and they have an amazing amount of online content. Even magazines are free to borrow on my Kindle. There's only one problem - you have to renew your card on your birthday every year by showing a piece of mail or driver's license to prove you actually live in the city. For me, this would come up next March and I wouldn't be here to prove residency. I could not even wrap my head around not having access to a library while I am gone. So, I called the library and they said come in, it should be no problem. I went into the library and  I told them what I wanted, but the socially inept library worker looked at me like I had the plague. Surely I am not the only one who has asked this question. So, he gave me the number to customer service downtown and I proceeded to call them. Long story short, they made an exception and I have my library card extended through next June...yeah! Now, I can stay current with all of the awesome new books - when I have internet!
• Inquired about Vonage service - I have a DOD (Department of Defense) friend who lives in Kuwait City who has been giving me a lot of advice during this whole preparation process. We are going to actually be in the same time zone, so at least I will know one person on that side of the world. I really wanted to have a U.S. number so that my family and friends could get a hold of me. Truth be told, it's more for my parents than for me. I want them to be able to call me and I don't want to pay an arm and a leg. Vonage uses an adapter and an internet connection to allow me to call anywhere in the world from a U.S. number. So, I called them today and will order the service before I leave. They have a thirty day money back guarantee, but it starts from the date of order, so I'll wait to order it during my last week. The adapter is free, but I'll have to pay about $36 a month. Definitely worth the money for my family to have some peace. 
• Made dinner for my sis/brother-in-law - If we are facebook friends, you know my sister had a baby last week. I am absolutely in love! She is the most perfect baby I have ever seen and I know that I am not biased. Seriously! Check her out - super adorable. Anyway, I made lasagna, cookies, salad, and bread to help them out. I can't imagine the responsibility it takes to raise a child. I am so lucky to be able to hold her, snuggle with her, and then go home and sleep peacefully. My sister and brother-in-law are already amazing parents to little Ella and I can't wait to see her grow and change through Skype this year. I'm sad that I will not be able to see her in person, but I know we will be able to remain connected.
  
   
• Checked out reading materials - I ordered some reading materials to help me be more informed about my upcoming adventure. I saw them in the circular that the library writes each month and thought they might add to my knowledge base, plus give me some good reading material while sitting in the airport next week. Have you read any of them? Any other great suggestions?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I still have a lot to do this week. Here is my list so far. I know the list will get longer and longer when I get back from the orientation. Did I forget anything?
  
  • Haircut
  • Spend time with baby Ella
  • Organize and label stuff
  • Ship boxes of school supplies to embassy
  • Load all of my music onto Itunes
  • Update my blog address list
  
  

Visa has arrived!

I received my visa in the mail yesterday. Yeah!

I am not sure what happened to the passport pictures I sent, but I guess they are kept on file somewhere. This visa only allows me to stay for three months because it is a tourist visa. Apparently, this is the initial visa I need for entry. Then, once I get to the university, I will work with them to apply for a work visa that will extend my time to ten months. I don't really like the uncertainty that having a three month visa brings, but I need to remember that I'm not the first one to do this job.

I have finished all of the vaccines and have not had an side effects. I feel lucky because I know that not everyone could tolerate so much medicine in their body at once. Most of the bruises are gone too!

I am becoming more and more anxious about my departure. I still have no flights or itinerary, but I am not the one in charge of arranging transportation. My travel plans are at the hands of the state department and they arrange this type of thing ALL OF THE TIME. I just need to remember everything will be fine and will work itself out in time. I have a feeling that my planning tendencies are going to be challenged over and over again during this experience!

More to come in the next few weeks!

Immunizations and Visa...check!

Today was my immunization day or as I like to call it D-Day. I have been dreading these vaccinations from the time I made the appointment in June. I knew that I needed six immunizations and I usually shy away from pain or needles. In fact, I have never really faced any severe pain, so the thought of getting this immunizations has been haunting my dreams. I tried to argue with my doctor about the necessity of all of these vaccines, but he was very persuasive. If so many people live without them, can't I? I guess not. So I arrived at the office in plenty of time and proudly announced my name and appointment time. The lady told me I did not have my appointment on the record books. I assured her I did have an appointment and started filling out the paperwork. She proceeded to tell me they were out of the the typhoid vaccine which I told her was no big deal because I was getting the oral vaccine anyway. She told me that the doctor wasn't in the office today, but that she could call for approval of the oral vaccine. I sat down and filled out the paperwork. When I returned the paperwork to the other receptionist, she asked me if I was sure that I had an appointment and I told her that I did and even received a reminder call. Apparently Barnes Travel Care does not provide reminder calls and she told me to double check if I was in the right place. I realized about a minute later that I was in the wrong place. You see, vaccines are very expensive and when I found out I needed a million of them, I started investigating prices. I called several places and changed appointments when I found cheaper prices. So, after a dose of humble pie and admitting to the ladies that I was a disaster, I called the St. Louis County Health Department and realized that I had missed my appointment with them. Barnes Travel Care is in the city off Manchester and the county health place was in south county about 20 minutes away. The representative said she could still take me, so I hopped in my car and headed over to the correct place. Once there I was ushered into a little office and spent about half of an hour talking with the nurse and making sure I had all of the appropriate vaccines lined up. Then I paid for the vaccines (which was $389) and went back to receive my vaccines. When I came back to the office, the nurse had this lined up for me:

The vaccines on the left went into my left arm and the right in my right arm. The nurse said she wanted to share the wealth! I have to say the nurse was fabulous. She mixed humor with pain while delivering the vaccines lightening fast. The oral typhoid vaccine seems to have a few more steps, but I couldn't fathom receiving another injection. My arms already feel like they are going to fall off. In the end, I got the following:

After the appointment I received a my CDC vaccination pamphlet that is required to apply for my visa. Apparently this is a BIG deal. The last photo is the biggie because it is the "official" vaccination stamp. I can't apply for my visa nor get into Uganda without it. I also received information on traveler's diarrhea and what to eat/not eat. I guess fresh fruits and vegetables are off limits as well as meat that is not cooked well done, but when I told the nurse I was going to be there for 10 months, she told me to follow the guidelines for at least the first month. She also informed me that I might get flu-like systems in 7-10 days for the yellow fever vaccine and the same symptoms for the typhoid vaccine once I start it. So, basically I am going to have the flu for two weeks just in time for my month of vacation...awesome!

After my immunizations, I went to Walgreens to get passport photos and then to the post office to apply for my visa. I placed my passport, vaccination record, passport photos, $50 money order, and application in the envelope along with an express envelope for them to return my documents back to me. I felt anxious about sending my passport to the Embassy of Uganda in Washington, D.C., but it was a necessary evil. I love having a passport. I have always had a passport. Even when I changed my name several times, I still applied for a new passport each time. Yes it was expensive, but the opportunity to travel whenever I felt like it was priceless! I should receive my shiny, new visa sometime next week. Things are getting real!!