Just a few short weeks to go....

So, an update to the below…we have now had about 40 new cases of polio in the last few weeks since I posted, so while this is still good, it is not ideal. We are still getting really close, and we basically have until May to prove we can do it, and hopefully it will happen!

Nigeria is somewhat on track and the experts are saying that Nigeria will actually eradicate before India, but the difference being that in India the government will just call on the military and they will go and force families to immunize children (the problems in India are not about compliance, as the families accept vaccines, it is just the population is soooo huge that it is hard to get every child, in every small village…). So, we’ll see what happens!

In some exciting news, I will be home in Canada for at least a month before I have to take off again for a little bit! It will be nice to be home for winter and of course Christmas. It will also be nice as after nine long months (for my brother and his wife), their new son, and my new nephew should soon be making his way into the world! So, will be nice to see him, as it will be awhile again before I see him. Good thing with babies, the first few years they hardly recognize you, so as long as I head home once a year or so, he should know who I am.

In other exciting news, looks like will be out supporting the India polio project from time to time! A great opportunity came up that I just can’t pass up at this time, so instead of settling down, getting an office job and whatever else, I have decided that my “African adventure” will just need to be extended to my “Asian adventure”!! It won't be a permanent thing, but from time to time, I will spend a large chunk of time over there, and if anyone wants to see polio eradication campaigns, you are welcome to come visit and I can bring you out with us! India is truly an amazingly beautiful country that everyone should see once in their lives!

Rainy season here has yet to end, and in fact is the worst on record! The storms are massive, with amazing lightning and thunder…but it is very temperamental. Just the other day we were playing tennis, and literally we were completely dry, continuing to play on the court, and not 20 feet from us, it was a total and absolute downpour. We sat there watching it, getting ready to get off the court, but the rain never moved towards us, and so we continued playing another 30 minutes before it finally started, and then stopped almost as soon as it started! It was very amusing! But, this is not good, as the rains have destroyed every crop that is planted for dry season, so while things like papaya, carrots, and other things that like the rain have done well, these things have run out, and the dry season crops like millet, yam, potatoe, etc have all been destroyed and cannot be salvaged…so what does this mean, it means a huge famine is to come, as there won’t be any food to feed the people. Even me, in safe Abuja, who has money to buy fruits and vegetables, cannot find the food to buy, there is literally nothing to buy, and Nigeria does not import fresh foods…so it is a lot of canned goods and pasta. So, to echo my brother’s comments, please pay very close attention to the upcoming Climate Change meeting scheduled for early December in Denmark. This is serious, and to see it first hand in its full magnitude, really makes you question the stance of our world leaders, and the countries we live in!

Anyways, enough for now. Hope to see some of you over the holidays!

Take care, Andrea