Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Daily Archive
February 25, 2010
1. It’s as easy as clicking here!
2. Reading about someone adapting to a new culture, language, job and foods can be quite funny!
3. I will continue to write about disability, education, development issues and on occasion about PNG.
4. How else can you keep in touch with me and all my new experiences?!
5. I cannot think of any better site you could be surfing while sitting behind your computer “pretending” to be working 
6. The new blog will be a permanent fixture and will stay with me as I travel with and after this job.
7. I will move my PNG blog and my Zambia blog in their entirety to the new site for your archiving pleasures
8. It makes me happy when the stat meter tells me people have visited and even happier when I receive comments!
9. I plan to write about my traveling through Southeast Asia during holidays and long weekends and through Europe during my annual debriefings in France.
10. The new blog is named “Letting the World Change Me” however, there is a chance that you also could be changed by allowing me to share my experiences with you.
February 25, 2010
1. Ninety-eight percent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not have access to education, 98%!! (UNESCO)
2. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted in 2006 after four years of negotiations, is the first human rights Convention of the 21st century, and addresses civil, political, social economic and cultural rights. So far, it is ratified by 25 countries (UNCRPD)
3. 50% of children who are deaf and 60% of those with an intellectual impairment are sexually abused (Save the Children Alliance as quoted on CRIN.org)
4. Hunger is the most extreme form of poverty; 1.02 billion people across the world are hungry; everyday almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes–one child every five seconds (bread.org)
5. Poor nutrition and calorie deficiencies cause nearly one in three people to die prematurely or have disabilities (WHO)
6. Every year, more than 20 million low-birth weight babies are born in developing countries. These babies risk dying in infancy, while those who survive often suffer lifelong physical and cognitive disabilities. (WHO)
7. In 1998 the US spent over $8 Billion in cosmetics, Europe spent $50 Billion in cigarettes. Compare that to what was estimated as additional costs to achieve universal access to basic social services in all developing countries: to basic education $8 Billion, to basic health and nutrition $11 Billion (Globalissues.org)
8. In Africa, only 62% of pupils complete primary education and are therefore ready to pursue their studies, compared to an average completion rate of 94% in North America and 88% in Asia . ( UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
9. The average primary school class in low income countries has a 60-to-1 student-teacher ratio (World Bank)
10. 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries (UNDP)
February 25, 2010
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha
Keeping in mind the combination of the end of service procedures for VSO and the pre-departure checklists from Handicap International, a more appropriate title for this blog entry would have been the 8th list of 210 things I need to do before leaving for Cambodia!
Making a conscious effort to live in the moment and eager to begin blogging about life in Battambang, I will speed through this list.
1. Research and read as much as I can about Cambodia, Buddhism, Battambang, the Khmer Rouge, and disability issues
2. Apply for an international drivers license
3. Get medical clearance including blood tests, HepB booster, lung xray
4. Write Chimate Village in Zambia and call my homestay family in Lusaka
5. Visit my grandmother as much as possible
6. Get my brother on skype so I can see my new little nephew as much as possible
7. Sign over power of attorney to my parents
8. Stock up on books, music and movies
9. Renew School Psychology License
10. Visit friends and family across Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina
February 25, 2010
When I first decided to start a blog I was leaving for the Peace Corps. The blog’s primary purpose was to keep my close friends and family up to date with my new experiences. Since then my blogging has evolved and my readers have expanded. While writing my blog in PNG, I found myself writing about social, political and developmental issues (Disclaimer: I am far from expert-analyst status, remember the blog was entitled “Looking Through Another’s Eyes”) But mostly I use blogging as a form of a personal journaling. To remind myself of things- some big, most small-that have made big impacts on my life; to remind me of the lessons I have learned ( most the hard way), the people I have met and places I have been. Which brings me to the 7th List of 10: Favorite travel destinations of mine in ’09 and why
1. Singapore is a busy and clean city with loads of diversity. It has endless shopping along Orchid Road and it is an easy city to explore. Offering lotus flowers and lighting incense at temples, strolling fish markets in China town, eating the most delicious spicy foods in Little India and stopping at Raffles Hotel for a Singapore Sling!
2. Yogyakarta is a wonderful blend of Indonesian culture with the magnificent Borobudur (Buddhist) and Prambanan (Hindu) Temples, delicious vegetarian dishes and Via Via’s off the beaten path tours. I particularly enjoyed the Religion Tour of temples and learning about the religious blends unique to Java. Take time to take a batik course, a traditional art. Enjoy a cup of Kopi Luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world.
3. Langkawi, Malaysia is a great place to relax on the beach (and by that I mean drinking Dutch liquor and having your very wn karaoke party)!!!. You can enjoy inexpensive luxuries like the Red Tomato’s Mexican pasta dish once your taste buds grow tired of the endless plates of Nasi Goreng! And did I mention the all night dance clubs!?
4. Sepik River, East Sepik Papua New Guinea was the most incredible adventure of my life! Crocodiles, canoes, fishing villages, marsupials, carvings, weaving, a culture that must be experienced!
5. Kar Kar Island, PNG, beautiful black sand beaches, lush coconut plantations, and volcano!
6. Goroka, Eastern Highlands PNG is known for its incredible coffee, Asaro Mudmen, and the Goroka festival
7. Hong Kong–top class Asian city! Food, shopping, culture, ferry from Kowloon to Victoria Harbour. Beware of “real genuine copies”
8 and 9. The border crossing between Jayapura Indonesia and Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. The views are stunning, lush tropical trees and the pristine sea. The vibrant colors, the pureness of it all, simply untouched. The traditional villages spotted along the coast. All this contrasted by the adventure of riding with armed guards during the often times unstable border crossing! There is notable contrast between the two border towns, each boast its own version of beauty and beast.
10. Madang, PNG. Not called the “Prettiest Town in the Pacific” for nothing. Singsings, flora and fauna, spectacular reefs and fishes, countless islands with an amazing mountainous backdrop. A must for all adventurous travelers and avid divers!
