You know you are studying at a school of tropical medicine when invitations to seminars include topics such as:
Molecular phylogenomics of invasive and carriage streptococcus pneumoniae strains from West Africa.
Analysis of T cells secreting single or multiple cytokines by ELISpot and Fluorospot
Semblance of order
Rarely is boredom one of my ailments. Despite my 'tourist' status here in the UK, dis-allowing gainful employment, my days have taken on a semblance of order:
Babysitter. for two young, budding people who live over our garden hedge. Ages 6 & 8, with courageous parents who work as a singer/actor and flamanco dancer.
Information Officer. I am part of a team of volunteers starting to work for the Refugee Services of the Brit Red Cross. My role will involve providing the volunteer caseworkers with basic and current information about the countries from which people come, seeking asylum. Or my work may be to update and collect information about public services available to refugees.
Engrossed student. I really love to learn. So in addition to the Wednesday I spend all day in lectures and lab, I have spent some long hours in the library making headway on the assigned research essay. Being at school on days with all the other Masters and researching students from all over the world whets my appetite for more.
Delighter in Spring.
Babysitter. for two young, budding people who live over our garden hedge. Ages 6 & 8, with courageous parents who work as a singer/actor and flamanco dancer.
Information Officer. I am part of a team of volunteers starting to work for the Refugee Services of the Brit Red Cross. My role will involve providing the volunteer caseworkers with basic and current information about the countries from which people come, seeking asylum. Or my work may be to update and collect information about public services available to refugees.
Engrossed student. I really love to learn. So in addition to the Wednesday I spend all day in lectures and lab, I have spent some long hours in the library making headway on the assigned research essay. Being at school on days with all the other Masters and researching students from all over the world whets my appetite for more.
Delighter in Spring.
Familiarity
Where I come home to:
London has become more familiar.
*I spotted our neighbor boy at the pharmacy
*I recognized a businessman whom I'd rushed past an other day on my way to the bus
*I saw the librarian leave the post office
*The young bilingual mom with two kids on my street was the same crew with whom I'd waited at the bus stop weeks earlier
*I saw the same biker with the same skeleton-shirt flying down the hill
*Met the neighbor, for whom I babysit, on the street corner.
The avenue I take to enter the woods:
House-life here is more familiar or perhaps familial
*barging in for a chat and some laughs and an impromptu brownie party
*learning new games
*sharing the kitchen, bathroom, and tea
*going out somewhere together
Some housemates and I on an outing to nearby azalea gardens today- gorgeous!
Public transport has become more like the back of my hand.
*Yet if I leave my map-book behind, inevitably the route has closures and I wish for my map!
*More than before, I settle into the transit crowd who take their seat and bury in a book, instead of wondering if I should break cultural norm to chat with my neighbor or instead of gawking out the window.
I live near some of the highest hills in London, which afford views back down over the city. This is a part of town we walk to for errands. These pictures, taken a month ago, show the contrast to the more persistent brightness and colors these days!
London has become more familiar.
*I spotted our neighbor boy at the pharmacy
*I recognized a businessman whom I'd rushed past an other day on my way to the bus
*I saw the librarian leave the post office
*The young bilingual mom with two kids on my street was the same crew with whom I'd waited at the bus stop weeks earlier
*I saw the same biker with the same skeleton-shirt flying down the hill
*Met the neighbor, for whom I babysit, on the street corner.
The avenue I take to enter the woods:
House-life here is more familiar or perhaps familial
*barging in for a chat and some laughs and an impromptu brownie party
*learning new games
*sharing the kitchen, bathroom, and tea
*going out somewhere together
Some housemates and I on an outing to nearby azalea gardens today- gorgeous!
Public transport has become more like the back of my hand.
*Yet if I leave my map-book behind, inevitably the route has closures and I wish for my map!
*More than before, I settle into the transit crowd who take their seat and bury in a book, instead of wondering if I should break cultural norm to chat with my neighbor or instead of gawking out the window.
I live near some of the highest hills in London, which afford views back down over the city. This is a part of town we walk to for errands. These pictures, taken a month ago, show the contrast to the more persistent brightness and colors these days!
book stack
Here are the books on my stack. A snapshot of some things running through my head:
What's on yours?
What's on yours?
my new nickname
When Sara lopped off the tree branch and brusquely shoved it into the back of her little red truck before we set off on an all-day journey through Mozambique, I had no idea she was giving me my first lesson in the amazing, resilient moringa oleifera tree.
Innocently, she started a educational revolution by jabbing that smooth-barked nutrient-packed stickling into the soil of every remote community where she partnered with people. Sticklings that flourish in dry,poor soil into a fruitful, flowering reproducible tree within the time it takes to wean a baby. Did I mention it purifies water?
Under the moringa spell, I have been yabbering about this incredible tree to friends in Congo, Niger, US, UK...
And now it has turned into the topic of my research essay due in several weeks. My librarian gasped in delight when I asked for help in my search. He grew up eating Moringa pods in Sri Lanka. So the next week when I arrived at the library, there were a few moringa 'drumsticks' (that's what the pods look like) waiting for me!
Have a look (photo taken in Niger)...
http://www.treesforlife.org/our-work/our-initiatives/moringa/moringa-tree
My classmates have started calling me 'Moringa'.
Innocently, she started a educational revolution by jabbing that smooth-barked nutrient-packed stickling into the soil of every remote community where she partnered with people. Sticklings that flourish in dry,poor soil into a fruitful, flowering reproducible tree within the time it takes to wean a baby. Did I mention it purifies water?
Under the moringa spell, I have been yabbering about this incredible tree to friends in Congo, Niger, US, UK...
And now it has turned into the topic of my research essay due in several weeks. My librarian gasped in delight when I asked for help in my search. He grew up eating Moringa pods in Sri Lanka. So the next week when I arrived at the library, there were a few moringa 'drumsticks' (that's what the pods look like) waiting for me!
Have a look (photo taken in Niger)...
http://www.treesforlife.org/our-work/our-initiatives/moringa/moringa-tree
My classmates have started calling me 'Moringa'.
Up to no good
Yes, I am eating very well. All too quickly lost my African skinny.
Doing the local tourist thing- the famed millenium bridge and St Paul's.
Heading back in history, at Henry the IIX's controversially lavish palace. Traveled back home by river boat on the Thames.
Not afraid to be lost...
I love multi-lingual scrabble! Voici, une amie favorite en londres.
...and hanging out with superstars who visit me on their vacation! I'm so lucky!
.JPG)
Let me know if you need anything translated...
Everything is old here- even grapevines planted in 1796 that still make fruit. This one also made the Guinness World Record for being the looooooooongest vine in the world.
During Easter I took an innocently forbidden photo, which I share with you now...
And three other pass-times include
1) looking out the window (we have an incredible back garden) or escaping to the wood
2)baking bread (for the first time)
3)and oh yeah...studying. Actually that's why I'm here!
4)and wearing green pants.
Doing the local tourist thing- the famed millenium bridge and St Paul's.
Heading back in history, at Henry the IIX's controversially lavish palace. Traveled back home by river boat on the Thames.
Not afraid to be lost...
I love multi-lingual scrabble! Voici, une amie favorite en londres.
...and hanging out with superstars who visit me on their vacation! I'm so lucky!
.JPG)
Let me know if you need anything translated...
Everything is old here- even grapevines planted in 1796 that still make fruit. This one also made the Guinness World Record for being the looooooooongest vine in the world.
During Easter I took an innocently forbidden photo, which I share with you now...
And three other pass-times include
1) looking out the window (we have an incredible back garden) or escaping to the wood
2)baking bread (for the first time)
3)and oh yeah...studying. Actually that's why I'm here!
4)and wearing green pants.
contente et triste
This evening my fingers found the comfort of a borrowed guitar, my voice found the comfort of a melody for a sad heart.
My dialing fingers found the kind reception of a sister at the other end of a call.
Today my spirit felt the rush of risk-taking toward an encounter that left both of us certain of the Divine, giving life to our briefly crossing paths.
My tongue savored the mingling of green and fruity flavors.
My eyes nodded off with the challenge and relaxation of learning by written word.
I give thanks for my small room, for the simplicity and limits.
I am thankful for reasons to go places, to be about.
I am thankful for my body and how it works.
I am thankful that I need others, how it leaves me inextricably part of the human web.
I am grateful for the acts of listening, of forgiveness. Two of the most powerful...
I am grateful for the One who makes forgiveness and redemption possible, that the cycle has been broken.
I am grateful for the capacity to dream and look ahead, to be drawn on by hope and anticipation, for the promise that time passes.
I am grateful for deep sadnesses of the heart, and for the blooms of joy that spring up alongside.
I am grateful to be alive.
My dialing fingers found the kind reception of a sister at the other end of a call.
Today my spirit felt the rush of risk-taking toward an encounter that left both of us certain of the Divine, giving life to our briefly crossing paths.
My tongue savored the mingling of green and fruity flavors.
My eyes nodded off with the challenge and relaxation of learning by written word.
I give thanks for my small room, for the simplicity and limits.
I am thankful for reasons to go places, to be about.
I am thankful for my body and how it works.
I am thankful that I need others, how it leaves me inextricably part of the human web.
I am grateful for the acts of listening, of forgiveness. Two of the most powerful...
I am grateful for the One who makes forgiveness and redemption possible, that the cycle has been broken.
I am grateful for the capacity to dream and look ahead, to be drawn on by hope and anticipation, for the promise that time passes.
I am grateful for deep sadnesses of the heart, and for the blooms of joy that spring up alongside.
I am grateful to be alive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)