Dec 18,2005

I will be on leave for the next 3 weeks, but I will have plenty of updates upon my return…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
May the New Year bring happiness, health, innovation, and optimism to all!

BHP End of Year Party (Dec 10)

Lots of food, people, music. What more can you ask for?

Traditional Batswana food

Tug of War

Eric, head of the data management center and "heavy-weight anchor" for the tug of war.

Harvard Visit (Dec 5-9)

Tshedimoso Team (from left to right) Florence, Kenneth, Busi, Charlotte, Rabya, Erin, Skhatele, Melissa (me), Phana.
MIA: Vladimir, Elias, Lemme, Eric

Zanzibar Vacation Continued...(Nov 25-29)

"Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit."
– E. E. Cummings

The one thing I’ve learned from creating a blog is that, with the exception of my Dad, no one reads the text. And although I’m channeling my efforts in that direction, I can’t help but write a little bit about Zanzibar…

Zanzibar, Tanzania: Zanzibar comprises of a pair of small tropical islands (Pemba and Zanzibar or “Unguja”) just north of Dar el Salaam with about 800,000 people. Zanzibar, also known as the spice island, lies off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. It’s famous for once being the commercial centre of East Africa and the last place to abolish the slave trade. Apparently, they are also renown for their door architecture, with the left side of the door representing a woman and the right the man- this confused Esther and I immensely as we weren’t sure which side was left or right, depending on whether one stands facing the door or walking out the door. But I digress. Zanzibar’s main industries are spices, tourism, and it is the only home of the Zanzibar Red Colobus monkeys (which we didn’t see because we were late for the plane). To summarize, it’s a beautiful, green place that’s definitely worth a visit!

The fisherman who sold us our lunch (fish and calamari).

The fish from the nets.

Zanzibar (Nov 25-29)

What is this spice? Answer at the bottom.*

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Zanzibari sunset

Esther before the seasickness set in.

The fish we...bought from the fisherman (because we didn't satch anything deep sea fishing).

Fishermen with their catch early in the morning.

An enormous Manta Ray caught in a fishing net. Apparently they can be tasty when salted and dried.

Esther and I in snorkeling gear- ready to be fed to the sharks!

This is a coffee bean!

"Look at me- I'm an endangered turlte!"

*Nutmeg! The waxy red stuff is removed and the nutmeg is underneath.
More to come…