Thank you for being a friend.....

Friends are the world greatest blessing in disguise. You never really know the people who will truly be your friends for the long haul, either because we judge or we distrust people's intentions, but surely at the end of the day despite whatever reservations you may have about people your friends are always there for you to make life just a little bit easier.
I am very blessed with a wonderful group of friends. I am a very private, and low key person, so my inner circle is very small, but although small, this inner circle comprises of the most amazing, most compassionate groups of people I know. Through tick and thin, through illnesses and heart ache my friends have always been there to support me, and make me feel special, and for that I feel very blessed.
We often do not take the time to thank our friends, and tell them how special they are to us. I try and tell my friends how much I love them and care for them but perhaps I may not do this enough. Being so far away from home and away from my friends, I thought would make the bonds weaken, but instead my friendships have only grown.
Friendships to me are like an extended family, and I am fortunate to have such a wonderful and loving family.

Fear of Flying

Well as most of you know, I have a very serious fear of flying. I do not know why, I guess because the thought of flying to me is just very unnatural, however, it is the best and fastest way of transportation throughout the world. And this was no exception in Ethiopia. Travel throughout the country is restricted to buses, cars, and air. Well its a big country and if you want to see it the best way is by air from one place to another, and Ethiopia has its share of air travel, and a lovely fleet of propeller planes, which just gave me the creeps looking at them. Everytime I walked the tarmac to my new destination I saw my life flash before my very eyes. The fear just got worse and worse with each flight but somehow I survived. I must say that each time the plane malfunctioned we were switched to a new and "improved" plane which never seemed to make me feel better, and the animated stories provided by everyone...where do I start Jennifer, there is no need to fear there was this one time when the engine blew on flight, and we managed to land safely, Jennifer don't be scared last time I was on the plane there was so much turbulence that everyone was holding on for dear life, and praying, but you will be fine. From those stories you can see how my fear of flying grew worse with each trip. However, I must say that despite my fear, and irrational fear of death just looking at the plane 14 take offs and landing later I am still alive and breathing, and had an absolute wonderful time holding on for dear life on my propeller laden flights from one part of Ethiopia to another.....life is full of surprises......

Jijiga

So as mentioned on my eariler blog I am back in Londontown from my adventures in Africa. I was fortunate enough to be able to go visit my friend who is currently working for an NGO in the Somali region of Ethiopia in a town called Jijiga. I have to say that this was by far the most best part of my trip not just for the simple fact that I could to go to the refugee camps, and see with my own two eyes exactly what is happening, and all of the hardships that the refugees must endure, but also because despite the poverty and heartache, these women, and children welcomed me with open arms, and made me feel like I was no different then them.

Travel to and from the camps was done in the usual NGO white truck, I had always wanted to ride one of these, having worked for UNICEF, and seeing people riding in these cars always made me want to just ride in one, not sure why, perhaps I had a complex of being a knight in white shiny armor, this fantasy was short lived, because all it provided me with was almost a sense of entitlement that I really did not like, but one that I am afforded due to where I come from. Yet despite all these crazy emotions I was able to enjoy the regular life of a resident in the area....
My favorite mode of transportation while visiting had to be the little blue taxi's bajajas...I just loved these things, they were so much fun, but the best part of riding them was bargining with the driver, who always had to charge the foreign aka ferengi price. The best times I had was riding around with my new friends from the area and hearing them get into fights with the drivers saying how they were paying and how it should be habasu price vs frenghi price. I just loved the highly entertaining discourse, it made from some nice entertainment. If anyone is to go into this area I highly recommend this form of transportation, why they are not everywhere is beyond me, they would really make life a whole lot easier...hehehehehehe.

Hello Everyone,

I am so sorry that I have been MIA, but I am finally back from my adventures in Ethiopia, and boy was it a wonderful adventure. Everyday that I spent there I can say I experienced some intense emotions. Whether due to poverty, and injustice, or just due to my inability to understand certain things about culture and what not.

But overall my experiences were amazing, and I am looking forward to my next visit to see my very good friend, and the many friends that I made along the way. Who would have thought that a two week journey could make friendships that will last a lifetime!

I laughed, and then I cried....

Everyday we are filled with emotions. Some good and some bad. I spent the day worrying about my economics modeling and laughing at the thought of not having to see another model for a long time. I got home and received very unexpected and not so good news, that broke my heart in two.
We walk around everyday, going through the motions, not knowing what the world will bring us...its not fair that cards are dealt the way they are...There are good days, and there are bad days, I guess its how we over come those bad days that makes us better people. In my short yet long life I have experienced a lot, some good and some bad, but there was always the one constant person there to help me through it all, how now do I give back even just a little of all I have gotten from the only constant in my life. I guess I will laugh and I will cry, but in the end I will remain strong and be there for the person I love most in this world....

Travel, Travel and More Travel

Hello All, well I hope you are all well and enjoying the first signs of spring. Although for my fellow New Yorkers I hear that spring came with a little friend called snow, I hope that friend is long gone. As for Londontown, its sun and lovely weather all around. But as I write this I maybe setting up a jink and tomorrow the skys will be gray and cold.
So I am writing to update all on my future world travels. In two short weeks, I will be embarking on a trip to Africa, Ethiopia to be exact. I will be visiting my very good friend Jody. I am very much looking forward to my visit, 1. because I have never been there, and 2. because I get to see my friend in action. A truly amazing person who has dedicated most of her life to helping those less fortunate then herself. She is a hard worker, and a wonderful person who gives her all to all that need her most. I am very fortunate to have such an amazing friend.
Currently she is planning our amazing trip around the country. I will be arriving in Addis, where we will be spending a few days there, and then heading out to the camps to get some work done (well her, and hopefully there is something I can do). We then are planning on going to jijiga, gonder, and finally laibela. I am very excited about my trip not just because it sounds like it is going to be an amazing experience, but because I get to spend some time with my friend. After months of being in a new country (even though I do love it here), and being away from your friends, nothing is better then spending time with the people you love. I am looking forward to catching up, and taking lots of pictures to show you all where my adventures have taken me. Enjoy the sunshine everyone, for spring is slowly blossoming all around us...its new beginning, and new adventures cherish the small moments that make life so special! Sending love your way London Girl is signing off...

Inspector Gadget...

Hello Everyone...Man its been a while. So sorry about that...I have been so disconnected, but many of you know why. But I am back! I want to start off by giving shout outs to my visitors from Orlando, Florida and New York, NY so good to see my home states representin...okay so now onto why ya'll come to this page to read...
So today was one of those days, meeting after meeting, it was so bad I completely forgot about one and arrived 30 minutes late stellar performance on my part. But alas this is the meeting this whole post is all about. So as many of you know the life of a researcher is pretty difficult you spend so much time searching for answers, but many times yielding zero gains. So today at my meeting that I was 30 minutes late for...a meeting I was eager to go to since...I the American Living in London had a major research finding, at least that is what I thought this was going to blow the tobacco trade market right open....okay not really but in my head that is what I was thinking. So I am sitting there divulging my big find. I see him agreeing with me, and then he says good, but you should look into this angle of course no major finding yet again, but he says well looks like you are making progress how does that make you feel. In my head I am thinking like a true researcher, investigator, but what comes out of my glorious mouth nothing other then "Inspector Gadget" yes ladies and gentlemen you are reading correctly "Inspector Gadget" how smart did I sound, this poor man had no idea what I was talking about, but oh well...he moved on, and I am here telling the tale. Yes I did feel like an idiot, but people that was my all time favorite cartoon. I loved loved loved that show. Although, Inspector gadget was not my favorite character, yes he did posses the go go gadget legs, that I would die for and they really only need to make me like 3 inches taller, but no that was not my character my character was Penny. Now she was the true inspector. I loved all her gadgets, and her little sidekick dog, her little notebook, the list goes on and on. I aspired to be like her. So lets see how close I have come to being penny...well lets see I love gadgets, and probably own more then most girls out there, hmm the dog I do not have one, but I am like a walking dog whisper they just flock to me, all I need is the blondish/red hair and the backpack that I would never carry (becaue backpacks are so not me), and I will be set. oh and lets not forget that today I had my big breakthrough if only for a second so I guess I am one step closer to becoming Penny the true inspector after all. Well thought I would share a little funny story or at least funny to me since it has been awhile...But stay tuned because I have major travel tips coming up in the next few weeks, since I have been racking up some miles lately. So I am over and out for tonight, but ya'll come back now!!!!! Go Go Gadget Post, and I am out!