llrishel.com

So this is winter...

llrishel — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:41:02 -0800

It was the anniversary of our accident, and four out of the five of us were members of that "double-flip" club, and there I was sitting next to Jeff, who together we have the worst bush taxi luck on record, and we don't want to say anything out loud because already two others had had to pop some Xanax to get thru the pass. And the only reason I am not freaking out is because the snow is only piling up on the countryside but NOT sticking to the pavement. And then it was.

Done! and preparing for a new sort of culture shock.

llrishel — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:42:18 -0800

I don't know yet how I am feeling about it all, the 2 years, the leaving, the coming home again -- am a little numb really, like it isn't real yet and won't be until I'm there. I warn you all now that I don't know what to expect of myself once back. They tell us we will be truly uncomfortable in our own country for awhile, which yeah I've been through before but not for this long, and not to a place like Africa, so who bloody knows?

New Year Update and the power of African healing!

llrishel — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:21:37 -0700

New Years was spent on a beach with a bunch of Rastafarians, drinking rum out of fresh coconuts, sprinkling hedwig glitter over all the party-goers and the bar staff (much to their delight), dancing around a bonfire to the beat of the djembes, running into the ocean at midnight with a bottle of champagne... Great way to start the year, which I have decided will be my year of miracle. I have a sticker on my water bottle that proves it, and people keep asking what is going to happen. I don't know, but you just wait and see...

A bookmark that changes with each diary post?

cute_cousin — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:13:57 -0800

How to create a bookmark on your web-browser that will update every time a new post is made.

Travel to Mali, and packages received

llrishel — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 14:52:44 -0800

Looking forward to seeing very good friends and happy to receive many packages! Also, recently a new born was named after....wait for it...our favorite "devil worshiper."

Training turns into a reminder that it's dangerous to travel

llrishel — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 13:47:51 -0800

We didn't hit a tree, but we rolled, we think about 1 3/4 times.

Training people to think

llrishel — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:46:33 -0800

October and November were mostly spent planning and finalizing, and fretting about, my 4-day training of local community health agents. Since I ...

The Patriarchal's hypocrisy

llrishel — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:17:48 -0800

General update with thoughts on Sexuality, Self-esteem and it's relation to self as commodity, apathy, and the hypocrisy of the male dominated society.

Alive and kicking!

llrishel — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:15:00 -0800

Emails and Technology, such a luxury!

Almost 1 year since the beginning

llrishel — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 16:27:04 -0700

Thank god I'm busy; Togo is not like Morocco

Morocco

llrishel — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 16:28:07 -0700

Ah, dreamy Morocco; I think I could live here.

3 month catch-up: World Cup, packages, and life/death in Togo

llrishel — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:09:23 -0700

World Cup fever here in Togo; packages received; looking forward to Morrocco; life and death in Togo

It's Laura's birthday soon...

cute_cousin — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 16:50:41 -0700

So I was thinking that it would be good to remind you all to wish her well. Her email address ...

Hey all, the Blog is up and running, so please check it out and post comments!

llrishel — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 11:56:19 -0700

Dear Everyone,

This is a note to apologize profusely for having invited you all to subscribe to my site for the ...

Laura has phone connection all week

llrishel — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 15:56:19 -0800

Text mesage:

Hey hey i have reception for a week! No email just phone we are in a conference...Love Laura

Phone # is 011 228 997 1223

The business of volunteering

llrishel — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 20:12:04 -0800

I realized that in my last message I forgot to mention some of the positive stuff that's been happening in village. So I will now, since I have a second chance.

Politics, packages, party-plans, and ....(p)bugs...and what it really means to be a Vampire Slayer!

llrishel — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 16:51:02 -0800

Politics, packages, party-plans, and ....(p)bugs...and what it really means to be a Vampire Slayer!

...sex too young "weakens the brain"

llrishel — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:36:35 -0800

A snapshot of the cast of characters, more adventures in travelling, and the state of health care here in Togo...

The Catechiste, the Sorcerer & the Fundamentalist Christian

llrishel — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:29:44 -0800

a woman's body was found, dead, smack dab in the middle of the soccer field, early this morning.

Christmas, 2005

llrishel — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 08:50:25 -0800

24 December 2005

Oy vey, near the end of a long email yesterday, and the power went out. Now ...

It's Official

llrishel — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 17:59:00 -0800

Hey, this is just a quick email to say that it's official, we swore in on Wednesday night at the Ambassador's mansion. Highlights were televised and on the radio -- Seriously!

Swearing In Ceremony

llrishel — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 08:56:12 -0800

10 December 2005

So, okay, we left our training sites early Wednesday morning, to come down to Lome for ...

"Just" a day in the life....

llrishel — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 12:18:28 -0800

I don't think I've recounted any bush taxi stories yet.

More on the conditions in Togo

llrishel — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 10:12:11 -0800

I get the sense that Togo is probably a nice place to live for 2 years or so, but not necessarily to visit, say, as a tourist. I was struck by that very early on, realizing that only my most adventurous friends should even think about it.

Logistics of voluneteering and first impressions

llrishel — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 08:43:51 -0800

My village is in a beautiful location, a lush plain with rolling hills, and I have a great house on the southern end of the village.

Togo, the first few weeks

llrishel — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 10:24:17 -0700

Wow. where to start: It seems like forever since leaving Philly, yet its only been about 3 weeks.

keepsakes

llrishel — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:41:22 -0700

Sand in my aloe vera from Ozette. Many crossword puzzles. Candy bars. Pictures printed from the party and with family. ...

Orientation done & we fly off tomorrow!

llrishel — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 15:42:59 -0700

Wow. What a great group of people I've been with the past couple days! I hooked up immediately somehow with the ...

And so it begins...

llrishel — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 22:08:17 -0700

Hey! I'm in Philly and thrilled to have internet access and a computer in the lobby -- and even MORE ...