Monthly Archives: July 2010

I would be curious to know what those of you who have been to Africa think of this saying I saw on a wall…  “when an African in happy, he laughs.  When an African is sad, he laughs.” Thoughts?

How is it going?  Better than expected.  People have been more than willing to open their doors and talk with me, allowing me to have 3 – 10 interviews with government officials and NGOs in each district.  This is excellent. … Continue reading →

This is some sort of a spin on some famous political science work — and it is true here.  All knowledge is *incredibly* local.  For example, even when I was running in the very neighborhood where my backpackers was located … Continue reading →

Many of you know that my in-laws, Cate and Wayne, spent two and half years in Togo, West Africa, doing Peace Corps.  As a part of that experience, they coined the term “WAWA”: West Africa Wins Again.  WAWA is used … Continue reading →

I have now spent three birthdays in Africa: my 21st on Zanzibar, my 26th in Uganda en route to Rwanda, and my 29th in Kazangula district in Zambia.  While the first couple where a bit more difficult, this one passed … Continue reading →

Water is powerful.  And when you see thousands of gallons of it crashing over a 2/3 of a mile stretch of land down at least 20 stories, one cannot help but be completely awestruck.  Victoria Falls certainly qualifies as one … Continue reading →

After my full weekend of boat cruises, elephants, lions, and Victoria Falls (more about that later) I was not sure my second weekend in Livingstone could come close…  but it did :). I had been trying to figure out a … Continue reading →

So, my favorite “African” animal is the elephant.  I love the skin, the trunk, the size of the eyes, the care for their young, the mourning that they do when a family member dies, the familial sensibility in the group…  … Continue reading →

I arrived in Livingstone from Lusaka at the beginning of July.  The main purpose for going there was to get approval from the Provincial Health Office to do interviews at the District-level.  I expected to be there for less than … Continue reading →

When I return to San Francisco, I have signed up for a triathlon and am hoping to do a half-marathon as well.  That means that I have to maintain some sort of fitness!  Before leaving, I bought a few Jillian … Continue reading →