Every Stone

Lots of photos of my farewell dinner, courtesy of the campaign, after the “jump” as those really sophisticated bloggers say.

Really fascinating article on HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan. I cannot imagine how much more dangerous and more difficult working in Afghanistan is, to say nothing of the sector of work. The strong religious aversion to homosexuality is very similar here. A second interesting issue was that of the response to General Pace’s comments on gays in […]

Today we went to an art gallery with A, our gracious host. There was an incredible array of absolutely stunning, authentically Nigerian art but also things from South Africa and other parts of West Africa that were probably stocked as novelties for wealthy visitors — there aren’t any other kind here — who don’t know […]

Three pieces of terrific news from home today. Duke bit the dust. B imed to warn me not to read SI.com because he knows Duke is in North Carolina, and he knows I love college basketball. Thankfully I’m a Carolina girl. The only emotional reaction I’ll have to Duke’s loss is delight. Oh, and, the […]

Wish I had more opportunities to go to the beautiful places in Nigeria (and to show them in my photos). There are many amazing parts of the country I’m only able to read about, not see or go to. The places I go for work are largely in industrial areas and some of the most […]

Chronicles of Skype adventures with sister and friends follow.

“Where are you? Are you in ‘the bush’ somewhere?” I wrinkled my forehead. “Erm, I’m in the capital.” Dead silence, then “What? Well, then, there must be good medical care there.” “I had a sterile needle.” “Don’t some Westerners live there? Don’t they see physicians?” “This is the best clinic in the city.” “Don’t they […]

I have malaria, too. Terrific. Here’s to hoping it’s not drug-resistant. G accused me of being a copycat, but I maintain that we’ve had it for the same length of time and men are simply inherently worse at tolerating pain and sickness. Day 1 — 6:00 pm: First dose of anti-malarials. Hot diggity dog.

Very peculiar scaffolding — it’s actually just a bunch of curved 2x4s: The boys at dinner: On the way to work: By the roadside: Clipping-time: