Sunday, November 16, 2014

So much to write about, so little time

Actually, let's make that virtually NO time to write! Which is a double shame because not only do I have tales to share that I've started and not finished in the past couple of years (sailing in Greece, New Year's in Granada, England), but as of 6 months ago I've also been traveling a lot more and have plenty more places to talk about!!! 


All this traveling comes with a new job (since May) which is quite taxing, so no more time or energy on weeknights to write, and the few weekends I'm home (which has been 1 weekend in the past 5 weeks, well 2 if we count this weekend) I'm either trying to rest up or find some energy to do some work around the house. *sigh*

But just to give you a taste: since May I've been to Girona (Spain), Mombasa (Kenya), London (UK), Paris (France), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Kigali (Rwanda). Girona, London and Paris just 2-3 days, the others 5 (plus a looong day of travel in each direction). And what's up next? Venice (Italy) and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) in December (those two back to back!), Ivory Coast in February/March, Kazakhstan in March, Uzbekistan in May, Turkmenistan + another "stan" (not sure which yet) in July/August, Senegal in September, Tajikistan in September/October. That's just for work, and is only for events I'm responsible for organizing! Other trips could come up (in the Maghreb region for example) that someone else is organizing and I am asked to go participate in to represent the office... Oh, and I'm also planning to visit my sister in New Mexico some time next summer and I really want to find a long weekend to spend with a friend in Luxembourg! :p

And yes, I know that 3 of those countries are in West Africa (so the word "ebola" has probably popped into a few people's heads): Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Senegal. But no, no cases of the virus there yet (one patient arrived in Senegal last September from Guinea I believe, but he was cured and there have been no other cases since then). I'm also following all the basic precautions "just in case" (i.e. no going up and hugging feverish people who are sweaty or bloody, no working with corpses, no eating poorly cooked wildlife). The chances of catching it are very slim (I'm more worried about malaria). And if I so much as get the tiniest fever after one of those trips: to the hospital quarantine I go (boring but necessary). Anyhow, I'm hoping the epidemic gets under control and calms down and doesn't spread to those countries. Inchallah. The world has finally started to react to the situation and is dedicating more resources to it. Otherwise, yes, if the epidemic spreads to one of those countries then we'd find a solution, organize our even elsewhere. Safety first! As proved by the myriad of shots (vaccines) I had to get before my first trip to Kenya. Which reminds me, I need to book an appointment for the Hep-A booster shot. Ouch! 

So I'll keep writing whenever possible. Not about work, but yes about the places it takes me.

2 comments:

  1. How terribly exciting for you. Have you been to Venice before? I would be excited about that.

    I hope you are enjoying this job. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds exciting, my friend. Keep letting us know where you are and what you are up to!

    ReplyDelete

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