Friday, June 8, 2012
Titer test results
Well, I just received a call from my doctor's office with my titer test results.
My vaccination for mumps is not up to date so I will need to go in and get a new Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine this coming week! Oh the fun never ends!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
What's left to do
It's been awhile since I posted an update and I apologize for that! With the end of the school year, things have been hectic to say the least!
Here's an update of what has been accomplished and what is still on the to-do list:
Completed:
All the electronics have been purchased and I have taken some time to get used to how they work and the best ways to share my trip with everyone! All of my shots are completed and up-to-date. That is a big relief as I was worrying about taking care of everything!
I have gotten photos taken and sent off my Visa application.
My school nurse had me get a titer test. This will check to be sure that all of my American vaccinations (the ones you get when you start elementary school) are still working. The results should be in later this week.
I have even had time to ship over some supplies over ahead of my arrival!
I still need to do some prep work before I collect stories so that I will be ready to find the common themes when I return to the states.
I am anxiously watching the counter and am getting very excited!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Start the Countdown!
I received an e-mail from Tracy at Travel Hut and have my flight details! I will arrive at Robertsfield in Liberia on the morning of July 4. Then I will arrive back at O'hare on the 24th! It will be an exciting three weeks and I am really excited.
Now I am starting to gather the electronic equipment that I will need to take with me. I am busy learning about video cameras, microphone set-ups and laptops. There are so many options and choices!
It is also time to start planning what I will share with the teachers that I will be training. Teaching them about technology is out since they don't have electricity or the funds for equipment so all the training I have been doing with my corporation won't work. Time to go back to the basics!
Now I am starting to gather the electronic equipment that I will need to take with me. I am busy learning about video cameras, microphone set-ups and laptops. There are so many options and choices!
It is also time to start planning what I will share with the teachers that I will be training. Teaching them about technology is out since they don't have electricity or the funds for equipment so all the training I have been doing with my corporation won't work. Time to go back to the basics!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
An Exciting Day!
My check from Lily came today! I still can't believe it!
I rushed to First Trust Credit Union and Dawn set up my Rainy Day travel account! She made everything so easy for me! Thanks, Dawn! You rock!
Then we got a call from Tracy Opat at Travel Hut who is setting up the tickets for me. The final arrangements will be made Monday so I will have exact travel dates!
If you are interested in going on the trip with me, send me an email and I will get you more information about travel.
I rushed to First Trust Credit Union and Dawn set up my Rainy Day travel account! She made everything so easy for me! Thanks, Dawn! You rock!
Then we got a call from Tracy Opat at Travel Hut who is setting up the tickets for me. The final arrangements will be made Monday so I will have exact travel dates!
If you are interested in going on the trip with me, send me an email and I will get you more information about travel.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Vaccinations
It is time to start thinking about the vaccinations that I will need before traveling to Liberia. MD Travel Health recommends:
All travelers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure.
Malaria medications
Vaccinations:
Hepatitis A - Recommended for all travelers
Typhoid - Recommended for all travelers
Yellow fever - Required for all travelers greater than one year of age
Polio - One-time booster recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult
Hepatitis B - Recommended for all travelers
Rabies - For travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, or at high risk for animal bites, or involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) - Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given
Tetanus-diphtheria - Revaccination recommended every 10 years
All travelers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure.
Malaria medications
Vaccinations:
Hepatitis A - Recommended for all travelers
Typhoid - Recommended for all travelers
Yellow fever - Required for all travelers greater than one year of age
Polio - One-time booster recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult
Hepatitis B - Recommended for all travelers
Rabies - For travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, or at high risk for animal bites, or involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) - Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given
Tetanus-diphtheria - Revaccination recommended every 10 years
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Big news!
"Congratulations! It gives me great pleasure to inform you that your proposal was selected for funding under the 2012 Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program."
Today begins a 16 month journey that I am very much excited about!
My proposal is to travel to Liberia, collect local folk tales and bring them home to be transcribed. I hope to share the stories with my students so that they can compare them to stories with which they are already familiar.
While in Liberia I also plan to meet with some of the local teachers for a short teacher training session. I am excited to reconnect with family and friends and to enjoy the culture!
I plan to leave in early July and stay approximately two weeks. If you are interested in joining this great experience, please feel free to contact me for details!
Today begins a 16 month journey that I am very much excited about!
My proposal is to travel to Liberia, collect local folk tales and bring them home to be transcribed. I hope to share the stories with my students so that they can compare them to stories with which they are already familiar.
While in Liberia I also plan to meet with some of the local teachers for a short teacher training session. I am excited to reconnect with family and friends and to enjoy the culture!
I plan to leave in early July and stay approximately two weeks. If you are interested in joining this great experience, please feel free to contact me for details!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Greetings from Liberia,
We are already working and planning for your trip to be a very special time.
For the nurses: We have arranged for you to work at the Women's and Children's free clinic/hospital
They have a malnutrition unit/ICU/labor and delivery(most are by C section because midwives deliver normal births) and surgery for other types of pregnancy related needs.
We also hope to have it arranged for you to work in a regular communiy clinic in the neighborhood.
For the teachers: We are arranging for a free teacher training workshop to be held in a new school(to be dedicated on March 3rd) and open to any interested teachers. It would be good to have some sort of idea about what you want to do and we will give them a certificate of completition for their resume.
What to bring:
Capri pants, slacks, jeans are all acceptable attire except for church. then you need a dress with cap sleeves, sandals are appropriate for dress as well. The local attire has changed alot in the past 10 years. Nurses, you may want to bring some whites with you. I know they wear them in the hospital but may allow you just to wear scrubs which would still be very comfortable. Same with shoes - comfort is the key. Lots of stairs and concrete floors.
A water bottle is a necessity, I like the Rubbermaid ones with the screw on cap and flip top lid. They don't spill and are still easy to use. "Bottled water" can be purchased in the bottles but it is almost $1.00 per bottle. However, we purchase bagged water packaged in plastic bags and the transfer it to our water bottles. A plastic bag of "bottled water" sells for about 10 cents.
You will need a current passport and a visa to enter the country. You can go on the Liberian Embassy website nd complete the visa form to send in. It generally only takes a couple of weeks but allow a month to be on the safe side.
We will have beds, bedding, mosquito nets and towels for you here. So you don't have to worry about weight on those.
You may want to include; Insect repellant (I like the towelettes really well)
After bite itch relief - you will get bitten by something - even ants.
Lots of patience - things do not move quickly here in Liberia.
YOu will be staying with us in our home in one of the communities in Monrovia called Barnersville.
It is a very typical environment and you will be right in the middle of the community. The homes around us are varied from woven mats, corregated tin, dirt block and concrete block. They people are very friendly and will enjoy practicing their English with you. Tell them when you don't understand them and ask them to do the same. I still have o do that with Timothy at times. Your ear will get tuned to them before long.
More to come, and we await your time with us.
Anne
We are already working and planning for your trip to be a very special time.
For the nurses: We have arranged for you to work at the Women's and Children's free clinic/hospital
They have a malnutrition unit/ICU/labor and delivery(most are by C section because midwives deliver normal births) and surgery for other types of pregnancy related needs.
We also hope to have it arranged for you to work in a regular communiy clinic in the neighborhood.
For the teachers: We are arranging for a free teacher training workshop to be held in a new school(to be dedicated on March 3rd) and open to any interested teachers. It would be good to have some sort of idea about what you want to do and we will give them a certificate of completition for their resume.
What to bring:
Capri pants, slacks, jeans are all acceptable attire except for church. then you need a dress with cap sleeves, sandals are appropriate for dress as well. The local attire has changed alot in the past 10 years. Nurses, you may want to bring some whites with you. I know they wear them in the hospital but may allow you just to wear scrubs which would still be very comfortable. Same with shoes - comfort is the key. Lots of stairs and concrete floors.
A water bottle is a necessity, I like the Rubbermaid ones with the screw on cap and flip top lid. They don't spill and are still easy to use. "Bottled water" can be purchased in the bottles but it is almost $1.00 per bottle. However, we purchase bagged water packaged in plastic bags and the transfer it to our water bottles. A plastic bag of "bottled water" sells for about 10 cents.
You will need a current passport and a visa to enter the country. You can go on the Liberian Embassy website nd complete the visa form to send in. It generally only takes a couple of weeks but allow a month to be on the safe side.
We will have beds, bedding, mosquito nets and towels for you here. So you don't have to worry about weight on those.
You may want to include; Insect repellant (I like the towelettes really well)
After bite itch relief - you will get bitten by something - even ants.
Lots of patience - things do not move quickly here in Liberia.
YOu will be staying with us in our home in one of the communities in Monrovia called Barnersville.
It is a very typical environment and you will be right in the middle of the community. The homes around us are varied from woven mats, corregated tin, dirt block and concrete block. They people are very friendly and will enjoy practicing their English with you. Tell them when you don't understand them and ask them to do the same. I still have o do that with Timothy at times. Your ear will get tuned to them before long.
More to come, and we await your time with us.
Anne
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