Why do people blog abroad?

Why do people blog abroad?

To keep everyone entertained by their "adventures," "mis-steps," and "life lessons."  I know I'm included in this and thought I would share this all-too-correct post with the few readers I have out in blog land.  I think a lot of it applies not just to aid workers but anyone from my generation going abroad to do ANYTHING.  It may or may not be warranted, but we all do it for the same reason.

On those lines, I haven't really updated in awhile because I haven't had any remarkable things to report, or like the post describes, I'm used to the culture and way of life here (HA!).  Really, I just haven't had much of anything to share since my days involve mostly sitting at a computer in a Senegalese office and the afternoons walking to the market or somewhere else for some exercise.  My housing is still complicated and thus I haven't had anything to post showing my new digs.  And honestly, I just forget to pull out my camera for an easy update.

But, I am in Senegal and will be returning to America in early August to start my MSPH in Health Education and Health Communication at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore!  Very excited and now it's time to find someone or something to help me pay for my graduate degree!

Computers Computers Computers

Opening up a hard drive

So in October 2009, I was pulled in on a project here in Senegal somewhat against my will and due to the very limited time during the end of my PC Service, I never really posted anything about it.  It was basically organizing the arrival of 50 or so computers shipped from America to a town near my site.  The project was put together by a Senegal RPCV named Lettie who had been a PCV in our area and continues to make yearly trips to her old village.  The computers were destined for 5 schools in a town I very much disliked for many, many reasons I won't go into now.  With the help of Batman Farba, we basically uncovered a potential plot by certain members of the community and government to receive all 50 computers but only give a portion of them to the schools and sell the rest for a profit.  It was dramatic and complicated, but eventually the computers found their ways to some schools, even if not all of the schools had places for the computers to be set up.

Check out this website and screen #1: http://worldcomputerexchange.org/ (you also might recognize someone on screen #3

Sane the driver and major help!

Here's some of my own shots from the event:

Jack with computers set up in the
teachers' lounge

A bus full of computers, shipment 1

RPCV Lettie

Pt 2 of the shipment arrived in a rented truck
and the computers literally tumbled out of
the back of the truck...great start!

Counting mice, keyboards, cables,
you-name-it

The full story