Sunday, November 12, 2006
Hello everyone! Just a reminder that I love your comments, so please keep them coming!
Although every experience here feels like a powerful "blog story", I think I have to narrow it down a bit.
I went to my first ubukwe - wedding. The traditions were exquisite. From the hair bands made of sorghum leaves that the bride and groom's mothers' close friends wore out of honor to the mothers "losing" their children to the dowry exchange with poems and dancing performed by the cow caretakers of each family in dedication, as the translator told me, "to the cow species". Still working on getting the pictures on here. If you want to see them from my snapfish account, just send me your email address and I will add you to my share group and then you can see all of my photos so far.
At work, a boy of about 10, Noah, came in with his younger brother, Fabrice and his mother. They all seemed fairly well-educated. I was not quite sure why Noah was receiving physical therapy, but after the 1 hour session, every single adult at my center (including two cleaners) were a part of his session and were contributing to his rehabilitation discussion. It turns out that Noah had no problems before last April. However, he was then presumably poisoned by his neighbor and hospitilized until a few weeks ago, when the hospital released him claiming they could do no more to help him. He apparently had lost use of his legs and arms, with weakening of his muscles. Then, he reports that G-d spoke to him and told him to come to my center, Inkuru Nziza, where he would be healed by G-d. After 3 physical therapy sessions, Noah appears to have no symptoms that indicate any previous illness. His one line discharge note, written by one of the PTs, reads "G-d has healed this boy. Thank you G-d". This may be the strongest argument again atheism yet. Certainly seems to be in the eyes of ALL of my co-workers.
Although every experience here feels like a powerful "blog story", I think I have to narrow it down a bit.
I went to my first ubukwe - wedding. The traditions were exquisite. From the hair bands made of sorghum leaves that the bride and groom's mothers' close friends wore out of honor to the mothers "losing" their children to the dowry exchange with poems and dancing performed by the cow caretakers of each family in dedication, as the translator told me, "to the cow species". Still working on getting the pictures on here. If you want to see them from my snapfish account, just send me your email address and I will add you to my share group and then you can see all of my photos so far.
At work, a boy of about 10, Noah, came in with his younger brother, Fabrice and his mother. They all seemed fairly well-educated. I was not quite sure why Noah was receiving physical therapy, but after the 1 hour session, every single adult at my center (including two cleaners) were a part of his session and were contributing to his rehabilitation discussion. It turns out that Noah had no problems before last April. However, he was then presumably poisoned by his neighbor and hospitilized until a few weeks ago, when the hospital released him claiming they could do no more to help him. He apparently had lost use of his legs and arms, with weakening of his muscles. Then, he reports that G-d spoke to him and told him to come to my center, Inkuru Nziza, where he would be healed by G-d. After 3 physical therapy sessions, Noah appears to have no symptoms that indicate any previous illness. His one line discharge note, written by one of the PTs, reads "G-d has healed this boy. Thank you G-d". This may be the strongest argument again atheism yet. Certainly seems to be in the eyes of ALL of my co-workers.
# posted by Julie @ 5:55 AM 
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Juls,
Here I am --- first commenter again. 'Guess that's because you just told us on the phone that you had posted another blog entry!
All the stories you tell us on the phone are so amazing --- and I only see a fraction of them on the blog. I hope you are keeping notes of all this stuff to 'remind' you of your various contacts and experiences. If I were you, I'd be having a difficult time keeping up with all of it.
Your project sounds really exciting, and it's nice to hear YOU so excited about it. Keep us posted on your progress.
Talk to you soon.
Love,
Mom
Here I am --- first commenter again. 'Guess that's because you just told us on the phone that you had posted another blog entry!
All the stories you tell us on the phone are so amazing --- and I only see a fraction of them on the blog. I hope you are keeping notes of all this stuff to 'remind' you of your various contacts and experiences. If I were you, I'd be having a difficult time keeping up with all of it.
Your project sounds really exciting, and it's nice to hear YOU so excited about it. Keep us posted on your progress.
Talk to you soon.
Love,
Mom
# posted by 
: 3:40 PM
: 3:40 PM
Hi Julie it's Lian the pictures have a big story to it. Why did the boy's neighbor poison him? I thought these people were supposed to be nice. I have another question. Why did you want to have a new room when it already has cockroaches in it?
goodbye,farewell,and I hope your trip is great!
love,lian
goodbye,farewell,and I hope your trip is great!
love,lian
# posted by : 7:28 PM
: 7:28 PM
hi juls
now i'm curious about all of your other stories and i want to hear them. maybe you can write a book one day!! thanks for sending the pictures. i looked at them not knowing what at abukwe was and i was trying to figure it out. was there a picture of the bride and groom? still curious about what kinds of food you are eating....you know where my mind always is.
we are still planning our trip. have to go to the travel doctor and get lots of shots, can't wait. hopefully i will get through it consciously. although if i pass out that might be for the best. love you!
love gay
now i'm curious about all of your other stories and i want to hear them. maybe you can write a book one day!! thanks for sending the pictures. i looked at them not knowing what at abukwe was and i was trying to figure it out. was there a picture of the bride and groom? still curious about what kinds of food you are eating....you know where my mind always is.
we are still planning our trip. have to go to the travel doctor and get lots of shots, can't wait. hopefully i will get through it consciously. although if i pass out that might be for the best. love you!
love gay
# posted by : 8:29 PM
: 8:29 PM
Julie-
I miss talking to you so much. I am thoroughly frustrated with our International calling plan. Every time I try to call you, it says the number is invalid, even though I double checked with your sister a couple weeks ago to make sure I have it right. Since then, I have contacted the company who claim they are working on the problem. Needless to say, I am working hard on this, and if it doesn't resolve I'll just buy a card myself. I want to hear your voice!!! Argh!
Anyway, things here are good. Was in Cincinatti last weekend for a peds therapist skill building course. I dragged Ron along, and he kept himself busy while I was at the course. We stayed with Emma's parents who were actually out of town. Very sweet of them.
Really enjoyed your pictures, and it was so nice to see you in some of them. You look great, happy, and immersed in the culture. Keep up the good work. I miss you so much!!! Love, Rach
I miss talking to you so much. I am thoroughly frustrated with our International calling plan. Every time I try to call you, it says the number is invalid, even though I double checked with your sister a couple weeks ago to make sure I have it right. Since then, I have contacted the company who claim they are working on the problem. Needless to say, I am working hard on this, and if it doesn't resolve I'll just buy a card myself. I want to hear your voice!!! Argh!
Anyway, things here are good. Was in Cincinatti last weekend for a peds therapist skill building course. I dragged Ron along, and he kept himself busy while I was at the course. We stayed with Emma's parents who were actually out of town. Very sweet of them.
Really enjoyed your pictures, and it was so nice to see you in some of them. You look great, happy, and immersed in the culture. Keep up the good work. I miss you so much!!! Love, Rach
# posted by : 8:36 PM
: 8:36 PM
Hi Juls,
Thanks for sending the pictures, and for all of your vivid postings of course! It was so nice to see your smiling face again in your picures. Lian enjoyed your them too. Hope you got a kick out of her posting (above)...she's got lots of questions for you! Miss you much!
Love, Ten
Thanks for sending the pictures, and for all of your vivid postings of course! It was so nice to see your smiling face again in your picures. Lian enjoyed your them too. Hope you got a kick out of her posting (above)...she's got lots of questions for you! Miss you much!
Love, Ten
# posted by : 1:30 AM
: 1:30 AM
jules - wow - the images fill in my vision of you there. thanks for posting them. noah doesn't have any symptoms ? what type of poison ? why would someone do this to him ? you seem to be so well acclimated; meeting people, participating in community and enjoying yourself as you learn about the culture and people...and well adapted to the challenges - bugs, lack of water, hiking on rocky trails, language barrier, total belief in g-d, trust, to name only a few ! i hope your experiences continue to be so fulfilling. love, bev
# posted by : 5:19 AM
: 5:19 AM
jul-bul,
ditto to all the comments above! Like Gay, i was confused looking through the pics until you clarified.
Noah's story just goes to show you how much faith has to do with physical well-being in general. Like belief that you can and will get better, no matter what the cause.
we've been busy, went to scott weinberg and hunter's wedding in louisville this weekend. had lunch w/ aunt maxine, who it was very nice to see.
now we are back! can't wait to hear more stories.
besides your asparagus, is there anything else you want us to eat in your honor for thanksgiving?
thanks,
jennie
ditto to all the comments above! Like Gay, i was confused looking through the pics until you clarified.
Noah's story just goes to show you how much faith has to do with physical well-being in general. Like belief that you can and will get better, no matter what the cause.
we've been busy, went to scott weinberg and hunter's wedding in louisville this weekend. had lunch w/ aunt maxine, who it was very nice to see.
now we are back! can't wait to hear more stories.
besides your asparagus, is there anything else you want us to eat in your honor for thanksgiving?
thanks,
jennie
# posted by : 11:04 AM
: 11:04 AM
hi juls-
missing you lots reading this...and i was listening to NPR earlier today and they were talking about a study that looked at faith and healing in HIV (difficult to study since there are underlying factors that affect how much faith is a factor in people's lives). I also went to another one of the Pediatric International Health meetings tonight (rememeber the one we went to last year about Goma!)...it was really interesting. two UCSF residents presented the work they did on HIV in Africa with the Baylor Int'l Pediatric Aids Initiative. One of them did a rotation during residency, so i'm thinking about looking into it as a possibility. It's a pretty interesting program -- have you heard of it? One of them was in Botswana, the other in Lesotho. They believe in treatment of HIV first (sustainable though), then research.
well, i have to go to bed -- on call tomorrow. miss you lots!
love,
allie
missing you lots reading this...and i was listening to NPR earlier today and they were talking about a study that looked at faith and healing in HIV (difficult to study since there are underlying factors that affect how much faith is a factor in people's lives). I also went to another one of the Pediatric International Health meetings tonight (rememeber the one we went to last year about Goma!)...it was really interesting. two UCSF residents presented the work they did on HIV in Africa with the Baylor Int'l Pediatric Aids Initiative. One of them did a rotation during residency, so i'm thinking about looking into it as a possibility. It's a pretty interesting program -- have you heard of it? One of them was in Botswana, the other in Lesotho. They believe in treatment of HIV first (sustainable though), then research.
well, i have to go to bed -- on call tomorrow. miss you lots!
love,
allie
# posted by : 10:52 PM
: 10:52 PM
Hey Juls!
It was so good to talk to you yesterday!! I dont have too much to report since I told you everything on the phone. I just designed a complimentary line to the foam blocks which actually could be kinda fun. They would work with them or separately. I will send you images as soon as I draw them up. I am excited to go back to the east coast this weekend...although I somehow think that my parents are more excited to see each other than they are to see me....I love my bizarre family! Ok...gotta run and finish formatting newsletter #3.
I MISS YOU!!
jess
It was so good to talk to you yesterday!! I dont have too much to report since I told you everything on the phone. I just designed a complimentary line to the foam blocks which actually could be kinda fun. They would work with them or separately. I will send you images as soon as I draw them up. I am excited to go back to the east coast this weekend...although I somehow think that my parents are more excited to see each other than they are to see me....I love my bizarre family! Ok...gotta run and finish formatting newsletter #3.
I MISS YOU!!
jess
# posted by : 1:27 PM
: 1:27 PM
hey jul!
hope you are having a better day today, it was great to talk to you this weekend!
i have no voice, so it is ok that we didn't reach each other on skype yet!
can't wait to talk again this week with the family :)
jennie
hope you are having a better day today, it was great to talk to you this weekend!
i have no voice, so it is ok that we didn't reach each other on skype yet!
can't wait to talk again this week with the family :)
jennie
# posted by : 12:12 PM
: 12:12 PM
Hi Jules,
Hope all is well with you. Both of your recent experiences sound so amazing! I was just thinking about how those of us with the most privilege seem to have the least amount of faith. Strange that that has become the case. Everything is going pretty well here, although there has been some stress at work. I am really looking forward to the Thanksgiving weekend. My parents are coming to LA, but unfortunately Michele will be with David's family. I guess both of our families will be missing important members this year. I am thinking of you and I will call again after Thanksgiving.
Lots of love, Laurie
Hope all is well with you. Both of your recent experiences sound so amazing! I was just thinking about how those of us with the most privilege seem to have the least amount of faith. Strange that that has become the case. Everything is going pretty well here, although there has been some stress at work. I am really looking forward to the Thanksgiving weekend. My parents are coming to LA, but unfortunately Michele will be with David's family. I guess both of our families will be missing important members this year. I am thinking of you and I will call again after Thanksgiving.
Lots of love, Laurie
# posted by : 12:29 PM
: 12:29 PM
Hi Jules - Sorry I have been such a bad comment-er/emailer/skyper. I have been in major work mode, which generally makes me totally flaky in all other aspects of life! There is not enough room in my brain for it all...
So, things sound amazing - are you having fun? I loved the pictures. Thanks so much for sending those along. I keep running in to Joe (it is a little wierd actually), so I have gotten an update from him too.
Things here are good. I am transitioning to my new job (which I think I told you about), which is awesome. In true Rachel fashion, I somehow ended up in an arrangement that has had me working 1/2 time at each job for the last month plus. It is over next week, thank god! Other than that, everything is status quo.
Sorry I couldn't figure out the Skype thing. Not sure why you couldn't find me. I will look at it again.
Miss you!!!
Rachel (D)
So, things sound amazing - are you having fun? I loved the pictures. Thanks so much for sending those along. I keep running in to Joe (it is a little wierd actually), so I have gotten an update from him too.
Things here are good. I am transitioning to my new job (which I think I told you about), which is awesome. In true Rachel fashion, I somehow ended up in an arrangement that has had me working 1/2 time at each job for the last month plus. It is over next week, thank god! Other than that, everything is status quo.
Sorry I couldn't figure out the Skype thing. Not sure why you couldn't find me. I will look at it again.
Miss you!!!
Rachel (D)
# posted by : 5:03 PM
: 5:03 PM
jul
when can we talk on skype? its seems im the only person that hasn't talked to you. i think i am 11 hours ahead of you. will be away this weekend with jon's p-rents. went on such a beautiful walk today you would have loved it. sheep were blocking part of the trail though. they got startled when they saw me and just stopped and stared but when i told them it was ok, they went back to chewing grass.
happy thanksgiving! can't wait to talk to you soon hopefully, maybe i will try to txt you. can i use the number you posted a while ago?
love
gayleah
when can we talk on skype? its seems im the only person that hasn't talked to you. i think i am 11 hours ahead of you. will be away this weekend with jon's p-rents. went on such a beautiful walk today you would have loved it. sheep were blocking part of the trail though. they got startled when they saw me and just stopped and stared but when i told them it was ok, they went back to chewing grass.
happy thanksgiving! can't wait to talk to you soon hopefully, maybe i will try to txt you. can i use the number you posted a while ago?
love
gayleah
# posted by : 10:18 PM
: 10:18 PM
(This is the continuation of a posting that ended precipitously, when I hit some wrong key. I'm not sure that the first part ever made it to the blog, but I'll pick up from where I left off anyway, and if the other part didn't post, I'll try to remember what it said and tell you when next we speak ...) Anyway ... the movie was Casino Royale, with the new James Bond actor (Daniel Craig, I think) and it was really good. Then we went to dinner at a mediterranean plaee which was very good. Friday, Daddy insisted on going to Michican Avenue, so he and I went and everyone else hung out at Jennie's, walked around her neighborhood, etc.) We went to a play Friday evening in Jennie's old neighborhood, then out to dinner (sushi). Karen picked Allie up at the airport and brought her to the restaurant to meet us. She (Karen) wasn't able to join us for dinner, though. Jason and I stayed up late watching Shrek 2. Saturday was all about the food ... which was excellent. We took lots of pictures, including video in which we all sent you messages --- we'll have to try to figure out a way to get that to you. After dinner, we had a rousing game of poker. Most of us punked out around 10. Today we just sort of hung out. Had pumpkin-chocolate chip waffles for breakfast. Took a lo-o-o-o-ong walk. Came back and had leftovers for lunch --- Karen and Dickie joined us. It was nice to see them. I took a nap in the afternoon. Everyone else played mafia, then poker. I heard it was fun. The Millers left late afternoon. Jennie took Allie and Jason to the airport around 7. When she got back, we went out to dinner and are now hitting the sack. (Is this enough every-day details for you?)
Hopefully, things have settled down there --- at least from what we can tell from the news on the web. We're missing you and thinking of you all the time. We'll call tomorrow (Monday) when we get home --- it should be early evening for you.
Love,
Mom
Hopefully, things have settled down there --- at least from what we can tell from the news on the web. We're missing you and thinking of you all the time. We'll call tomorrow (Monday) when we get home --- it should be early evening for you.
Love,
Mom
# posted by : 9:22 PM
: 9:22 PM
Julie-
I feel like such a bad friend. I think about you so much of the time, and have no good excuse for not writing/commenting. I will not attempt to make one, but will apologize and promise from here on out to check in often. Look at how much I missed out on, not reading your blogs over the past few months. Well, today, I caught up on it all. You are truely the most amazing person I have EVER met. There is no one as wonderful as you are, at least not that i know of. When looking at my myspace account today (I am sure you have heard of myspace...well actually, you, maybe not). Anyways, one section asks who your heroes are. I had already put my students and Angelina jolie (naturally) down, however, after reading your blogs, I will now add you. You really are one of my heroes (and have been for quite some time). You are everything I talk about being. I talk about making the world a better place, you do it and live it on a daily basis. Your experience sound truely amazing. You see more each day than most of us will probably see in a lifetime. My life...not too exciting. Just working and trying to put much of my attention on the kids and improving my program. Also in the process of getting scuba certified. May go to Key West over New Years to take my open water dive test, and begin diving. Can't wait to hear more. I miss you!
Much love and respect,
alisa
I feel like such a bad friend. I think about you so much of the time, and have no good excuse for not writing/commenting. I will not attempt to make one, but will apologize and promise from here on out to check in often. Look at how much I missed out on, not reading your blogs over the past few months. Well, today, I caught up on it all. You are truely the most amazing person I have EVER met. There is no one as wonderful as you are, at least not that i know of. When looking at my myspace account today (I am sure you have heard of myspace...well actually, you, maybe not). Anyways, one section asks who your heroes are. I had already put my students and Angelina jolie (naturally) down, however, after reading your blogs, I will now add you. You really are one of my heroes (and have been for quite some time). You are everything I talk about being. I talk about making the world a better place, you do it and live it on a daily basis. Your experience sound truely amazing. You see more each day than most of us will probably see in a lifetime. My life...not too exciting. Just working and trying to put much of my attention on the kids and improving my program. Also in the process of getting scuba certified. May go to Key West over New Years to take my open water dive test, and begin diving. Can't wait to hear more. I miss you!
Much love and respect,
alisa
J dawg,
Steve Munno had some good advice; if a mosquito is in the sleeping net, make sure you wake up to get it because if you are too sleepy to smush it, the next morning you'll have a little Mt. Vesuvius on your face. Smart little bastards.
J
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Steve Munno had some good advice; if a mosquito is in the sleeping net, make sure you wake up to get it because if you are too sleepy to smush it, the next morning you'll have a little Mt. Vesuvius on your face. Smart little bastards.
J
# posted by : 5:31 PM
: 5:31 PM << Home
