Back to the blog and see that Matt has done an entry all about me, myself and I. Touched, I am, truly touched. What's new at my end..... Oh yes - Im STRANDED in Spain! Jolly dee, hip hip hurrah. Just posted off my passport for a tanz visa (after sending a torrent of threatening emails to volunteers lagging behind in the application process, I felt like it would be hypocritcal not to get on it myself) and am sitting here on the other side of the channel (plus a few miles) crossing my fingers for a swift return of said document. Though I love Madrid, Im getting the outa-africa blues, plus its about time I started eating less tapas and beer and more plantane. I already gained a stone....... So, let's all hope that the Tanzanian embassy is feeling particularly efficient over the next few days.
And Matt, no more waiting around! You're meant to be the organised one!
I bring you a new and exciting topic: MUSIC! I can promise you now, dear volunteers, that even the most hard core hater of RnB will come back from the trip CONVERTED to usher, nigerian rap, neyo and Boyz2men. Yeh, that is spelt with a Z. Even you heavy metal fans will not escape. After a night or two in the infamous moshi clubs (that's right, there are discos) you're all gona be loving it. The best bit? The lyrics are so profound - it's just like poetry. In the words of Akon:
'I see you in the club. You're gettin' down. I want to get with you.'
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling that.
Got to be off, Chris Brown is calling.
How for now
Saturday 29 May 2010
Friday 28 May 2010
Bloggers start you engines!
Today our 5 volunteer bloggers got emails from me with details on how to get access to their First Aid Africa Blogs. Over the next few weeks we should see posts appearing from Kathryn in Malawi, Fiona, Clare, and Rebecca in Tanzania, and Kerri in Kenya!
On other notes REALLY need to get my visa application in, however good news I've been reminded of the east africa pact which means that my single entry Kenyan tourist visa allows me to hop over the border to Tanzania and back without the need for a new visa, go figure. However YAY! no need for transit visas seeing as I'll be spending some time in Kenya visiting friends once the First Aid Africa trip has wound itself up.
On other notes REALLY need to get my visa application in, however good news I've been reminded of the east africa pact which means that my single entry Kenyan tourist visa allows me to hop over the border to Tanzania and back without the need for a new visa, go figure. However YAY! no need for transit visas seeing as I'll be spending some time in Kenya visiting friends once the First Aid Africa trip has wound itself up.
Thursday 27 May 2010
The Journey to London - BOOKED
Something that could have been overlooked....I need to be in London (LHR T3) for my flight to Dubai then on to Nairobi! However fantastic news, Swiss International Airlines must have had some special deal going because I've managed to pick up my return ticket in August for only £50 more than the economy flight o_O! No complaints though so when I've spent the better part of 24hrs making my way from Africa back to Europe I get to enjoy lounge access (YES!!!) and increased baggage allowance (lots of goodies from Africa) in London before my trip back to Switzerland, I wouldn't say that I'm now looking forward to my flights back....but this sure does make them bareable :-)
Wednesday 26 May 2010
Maddie joins the blog :-)
Long over due really. But Maddie has finally joined the blog and will be keeping you all entertained with her unique and quirky style of writting. Head over to the about Matt & Maddie page (look up a little...now a little more, now to the left a bit ..there it is) to read a little blurb about us, written by the wonderful Maddie.
I should probably also mention it's not really Maddie's fault that it took so long, it might have slipped my mind to give her access whilst I was busy setting up the other First Aid Africa blogs for summer 2010. As you might have noticed (or not, as I think there might be only 1 reader of the blog by this point) loads of links have started appearing on the blog page. Please have a looky (in the future, because they arent writting yet) at the adventures our volunteers are having in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania. You'll find the links on the right hand side.
I should probably also mention it's not really Maddie's fault that it took so long, it might have slipped my mind to give her access whilst I was busy setting up the other First Aid Africa blogs for summer 2010. As you might have noticed (or not, as I think there might be only 1 reader of the blog by this point) loads of links have started appearing on the blog page. Please have a looky (in the future, because they arent writting yet) at the adventures our volunteers are having in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania. You'll find the links on the right hand side.
Tuesday 25 May 2010
Flights Confirmed!!! & Fundraising Building Momentum
It's Official! Flights for Tanzania Team 2 have been confirmed! Also means that 8 of my team (and half of Team 4) get to play hide and seek with me around London Heathrow Terminal 3! Details of the game will be posted to respective participants in the near future.
Tanzania Co-Ordinator, Harry, is now in country and things are getting sorted an a fantastic rate, vehicle check, place to live check, placements mostly check. Harry is such a star!
Plans coming together for our arrival in Nairobi as well with transportation being arranged from the airport to a hotel right by the bus station, where we'll take our coach to Moshi. Looked into the possibility of taking the volunteers to the Carnivore for dinner in Nairobi, then had the brutal realisation of remembering just how expensive it is!!! Soooo maybe another time when everyones no longer a student....(and everyones decided they want to eat meat!)
It's now high past the time for Visa applications to happen, it's all very well sending reminders out to the team, just need to get it done myself! Must get all the paperwork and pictures sorted (should probaly get the work permit ones done whilst I'm there as well) by the end of the week.
On the fundraising side of things I've found being on Industrial Placement in a foreign country to make it rather challenging, however fantastic means of fundraising from around the world; Easysearch.org.uk! If you choose to search the web with http://faafrica.easysearch.org.uk/ then you'll raise money for us for every search you make :-) not only do you get great search results (from Bing, yahoo, Ask.com) but your helping us at the same time. 2 weeks ago we raised £2.48 in 7 days (508 searches) if we keep that up all year we can buy 1800+ bandages to send with the project to East Africa! O you can also use the easyfundraising search box I've added to the buttom of the blog which will take you directly to the search engine page, but best course of action, BOOKMARK it, or make it your homepage. Thank yoou :-)
Maddie showed me this great documentary recently (Welcome to Lagos), which was shown on the BBC in about april, unfortunately this means it's no longer availiable on iplayer, however I suggest searching for it on a popular video side and you might get lucky *wink* *wink*. Anyways the purpose of showing me the footage was to propose we look into doing something similar of the Moshi and Himo area. This will be a great little side project for our limited free time and one that integrates well with our joint interest in photography.
Can't believe its only a month and a few days till lift off now!
Tanzania Co-Ordinator, Harry, is now in country and things are getting sorted an a fantastic rate, vehicle check, place to live check, placements mostly check. Harry is such a star!
Plans coming together for our arrival in Nairobi as well with transportation being arranged from the airport to a hotel right by the bus station, where we'll take our coach to Moshi. Looked into the possibility of taking the volunteers to the Carnivore for dinner in Nairobi, then had the brutal realisation of remembering just how expensive it is!!! Soooo maybe another time when everyones no longer a student....(and everyones decided they want to eat meat!)
It's now high past the time for Visa applications to happen, it's all very well sending reminders out to the team, just need to get it done myself! Must get all the paperwork and pictures sorted (should probaly get the work permit ones done whilst I'm there as well) by the end of the week.
On the fundraising side of things I've found being on Industrial Placement in a foreign country to make it rather challenging, however fantastic means of fundraising from around the world; Easysearch.org.uk! If you choose to search the web with http://faafrica.easysearch.org.uk/ then you'll raise money for us for every search you make :-) not only do you get great search results (from Bing, yahoo, Ask.com) but your helping us at the same time. 2 weeks ago we raised £2.48 in 7 days (508 searches) if we keep that up all year we can buy 1800+ bandages to send with the project to East Africa! O you can also use the easyfundraising search box I've added to the buttom of the blog which will take you directly to the search engine page, but best course of action, BOOKMARK it, or make it your homepage. Thank yoou :-)
Maddie showed me this great documentary recently (Welcome to Lagos), which was shown on the BBC in about april, unfortunately this means it's no longer availiable on iplayer, however I suggest searching for it on a popular video side and you might get lucky *wink* *wink*. Anyways the purpose of showing me the footage was to propose we look into doing something similar of the Moshi and Himo area. This will be a great little side project for our limited free time and one that integrates well with our joint interest in photography.
Can't believe its only a month and a few days till lift off now!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)