Because I have been sitting at home ever since I got back from visiting campus. While in the ATX/G-Town area I received my last shot for Typhoid Fever. I also received prescriptions for Doxycyline (SP?) and Cipro. The D is for Malaria. The reason it is not a quinine is because the strain of Malaria that is found in Mali is the strain that is resistant to quinine.... yeah my thoughts exactly. The Cipro is for any type of bacteria that I may happen to pick up. I have enough for three boughts. I also picked up some special bug creams that contain 20% DEET, but these creams are special because they won't soak into my skin and give me cancer. I also bought a spray for my clothes that will last through 6 washings!! All my books have come in. So now I have to read three books before I leave, on the 30th. A friend of mine was recently told by a professor to hide M&M's in a book to 'discover' while they were reading. I think I am going to do that with Animal Crackers!!! While I read and drink tea. I have been drinking a lot of tea lately... mainly Tazo teas, because they are delicious. And they aren't as strong tasting as coffee. It has been hard getting to sleep at night because I am not doing much during the day.
Funny story I got distracted when writing this post and am finishing it now
So on Saturday we will by most of the things that I need... There isn't too much but it is the bulk of things that I am taking... More later.
~Thaddeus
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Set-Backs and Grandmother's
So the company that I booked my flights with called me the other day telling me that one of the airlines had canceled the last flight of my trip so I and my Stepmom spent a whole day on the phone with the booking company trying to get it straightened out for the same amount of money or close to it. Well we thought we had I would be spending a day in a hotel in Dakar and arrive in Bamako a day late, but still early enough in the day to stay get connected with the group. I received an e-mail with my itinerary, but it included the flight that my booking company had told me was canceled. So I looked up on the Airlines website what flights were flying that day between Dakar and Bamako... there is only one and it has a connection in Togo... which is on the eastern part of the southern coast of west Africa. SO tomorrow we are going to call the booking company and see what the deal is!!
On some good notes, my Grandmother has sent me ahuge map of South Africa which of course includes Mali! and she and my Aunt are buying me a skirt and a blouse for use in Mali! My family is being very supportive of my trip especially in the preparation stages!!!
I am getting more and more nervous as my departure date approaches. So to take my mind off of it I am watching all the Star Trek movies in order! It is super fun and also an interesting look at colonialism, and therefore privilege and oppression!!! My trip to the Austin/Georgetown area will help in that also. I am going up to get Malaria pills, antibiotics and bug sprays and creams. Also to talk to some of my professors and visit with all of my friends that I miss so much!!!
That is all for now!
~Thaddeus
On some good notes, my Grandmother has sent me ahuge map of South Africa which of course includes Mali! and she and my Aunt are buying me a skirt and a blouse for use in Mali! My family is being very supportive of my trip especially in the preparation stages!!!
I am getting more and more nervous as my departure date approaches. So to take my mind off of it I am watching all the Star Trek movies in order! It is super fun and also an interesting look at colonialism, and therefore privilege and oppression!!! My trip to the Austin/Georgetown area will help in that also. I am going up to get Malaria pills, antibiotics and bug sprays and creams. Also to talk to some of my professors and visit with all of my friends that I miss so much!!!
That is all for now!
~Thaddeus
Friday, January 1, 2010
Progress!
Passport!
Roundtrip Tickets!
Visa!
So I am pretty much ready to travel official papers wise but still need to get a few things, like appropriate clothing, and last minute medicines for typhoid and malaria. Also I am trying to get my asthma under control but am not really having much luck considering that I have to remember to take some of these medicines several times a day.
I have a huge list of required books that I need to read before hand and to get while I am there. Funny thing is that when I looked for the dictionary that SIT recommended to me I found to copies on Amazon one for $200 and one for $635.
I also got a pair of shoes but they hurt only on my left foot. This is because my left foot is significantly larger than my right so the right foot is a little loose, and the left fight is a little tight... story of my life.
Also I received two watches for Christmas! I had ordered one for myself and then my grandmother gave me one so if I get tired of one then I just switch them!
Also I got a new computer that is so much better than my old one!! I mainly got it because it will be super light and not take up much room so that I will be able to take more things with me to Mali. This computer also uses less energy and has an advertised battery life of 12 hours. I think that it will live up to that because I often use my computer for short spurts and then not need it for awhile, with this computer I can put it to sleep and not have to worry about the battery running out of juice or the computer getting mad at me for not shutting it down completely. It is very freeing!
For those of you who don't know (I don't know how many of those don't know) I go on an annual camping trip to Big Bend where we sleep in tents, cook on fires and propane stoves, and do not shower for a week. This was a nice little prep course for Mali though not anywhere near as intense as Mali will be. I figured out what my hair did after several days of no showering. I also figured out how badly I smelled after four days without a shower. One difference is that in Mali the temperature will be in the hundred and teens, whereas Big Bend was in the forties and below most of the time. Also I have been doing this trip with these people for 10 years and now that area really well, OH and everyone speaks English!!! I think that this is the scariest thing for me, that it will be super difficult for me to communicate with people there. I am planning on studying french for the next few weeks to stay up on it and maybe learn some of the things that I was supposed to last semester.
Well that is all for now! If you have any questions feel free to comment and I will answer them in my next post!
~Thaddeus
Roundtrip Tickets!
Visa!
So I am pretty much ready to travel official papers wise but still need to get a few things, like appropriate clothing, and last minute medicines for typhoid and malaria. Also I am trying to get my asthma under control but am not really having much luck considering that I have to remember to take some of these medicines several times a day.
I have a huge list of required books that I need to read before hand and to get while I am there. Funny thing is that when I looked for the dictionary that SIT recommended to me I found to copies on Amazon one for $200 and one for $635.
I also got a pair of shoes but they hurt only on my left foot. This is because my left foot is significantly larger than my right so the right foot is a little loose, and the left fight is a little tight... story of my life.
Also I received two watches for Christmas! I had ordered one for myself and then my grandmother gave me one so if I get tired of one then I just switch them!
Also I got a new computer that is so much better than my old one!! I mainly got it because it will be super light and not take up much room so that I will be able to take more things with me to Mali. This computer also uses less energy and has an advertised battery life of 12 hours. I think that it will live up to that because I often use my computer for short spurts and then not need it for awhile, with this computer I can put it to sleep and not have to worry about the battery running out of juice or the computer getting mad at me for not shutting it down completely. It is very freeing!
For those of you who don't know (I don't know how many of those don't know) I go on an annual camping trip to Big Bend where we sleep in tents, cook on fires and propane stoves, and do not shower for a week. This was a nice little prep course for Mali though not anywhere near as intense as Mali will be. I figured out what my hair did after several days of no showering. I also figured out how badly I smelled after four days without a shower. One difference is that in Mali the temperature will be in the hundred and teens, whereas Big Bend was in the forties and below most of the time. Also I have been doing this trip with these people for 10 years and now that area really well, OH and everyone speaks English!!! I think that this is the scariest thing for me, that it will be super difficult for me to communicate with people there. I am planning on studying french for the next few weeks to stay up on it and maybe learn some of the things that I was supposed to last semester.
Well that is all for now! If you have any questions feel free to comment and I will answer them in my next post!
~Thaddeus
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