"Rivals the porch in Grenada"So, this has been a pretty slow week for animal sampling... One of the problems with having randomized selection is that we go where the randomly selected GPS point is... and sample whether there are animals or not... We were pretty close to a few places that had a ton of cattle and some pigs, which would have been perfect, but it is what it is. We managed to finish 11 people today in record time (including one 88-year old man and two 75-year old sisters... incredible). Its really interesting for me to see the human side of the public health/food safety issue. All the diseases we are investigating in the people are diseases that are zoonotic (can be passed between people and animals). Seeing the wide reaching effects that these 'minor' (ie- not AIDS, cancer or any of the other big ones that get a lot of research money and interest) diseases can have on people is very enlightening.
"This ape wants to kill me"
Sadly, there is not much I can offer to the human-medical part of the team except sample processing. My grasp of Swahili is 'limited' and my even then its sometimes secondary to the local Luo/Luiya language...(which, interestingly enough, is the people from which Barack Obama draws his Kenyan heritage). The road from Kisumu to Busia actually passes by Obama's grandfather's home. They really do love him here. The local people seem to smile extra once they find out that I'm from the United States. That revelation is usually followed with the 'where in the US are you from?' question. Unless you answer with California, New York City or Washington DC, there is little chance of anyone actually knowing where you are from. In fact this afternoon on the way back to the office from the field, we passed a coach bus plastered with Michelle Obama's picture. And the number and variety of businesses that are in some way alluding to Obama is startling. From Senator Beer and Senator Butchery to Barack Obama Teacher Training Center and Obama Travel Company... Its all there.
A couple more interesting facts about where I am in Kenya:
-Celine Dion's career is alive and well here in Kenya. A Celine Dion song from YEARS ago was on the bootleg CD playing in the Land Cruiser today and I was the only one that didn't know all the words and that didn't really want to hear it again.
-Bootleg/Counterfeit football(soccer) jerseys are pretty popular. I am sure real ones would be more popular, but since they aren't available, people will settle for a pinstripe Arsenal kit, a green Man Utd jersey or blue Liverpool jersey with Liverpool scrolled across the front rather than Carlsberg.
-The max number of people you can fit on a motorbike is 5 people. Yes, while in most places things like safety and the law would prevent more than say 2 people from riding the same motorbike, here its totally kosher.
-The max number of people you can fit in a 12-passenger van is 25(22 with luggage). This is accomplished most of the time by not closing the sliding side door, having people hang out of the door and by stowing cargo(including animals and people sometimes) on the roof. I really need to snap a picture the next time I see one loaded to the hilt.
-Bicycling here is an important means of transport. Not just of people around town, but also of goods over long distances. Some of the bike loads that I have seen pedaled around here are the most amazing feats of balance I have seen since I saw Cirque du Soleil in Vegas...
"Rush hour"
Well, its time for me to sign off. Gonna relax at home after a long day before dinner and the Germany-Spain game. Enjoy a couple more photos since the internet isn't crawling today
"Grasslands tick control department resting in a tree before the start of a long day"
"Just saying, I'm pretty sure you're too old for that..."
"Stark contrast"
"One more step and I will literally rip your arm off"
"This ape wants to kill me"A couple more interesting facts about where I am in Kenya:
-Celine Dion's career is alive and well here in Kenya. A Celine Dion song from YEARS ago was on the bootleg CD playing in the Land Cruiser today and I was the only one that didn't know all the words and that didn't really want to hear it again.
-Bootleg/Counterfeit football(soccer) jerseys are pretty popular. I am sure real ones would be more popular, but since they aren't available, people will settle for a pinstripe Arsenal kit, a green Man Utd jersey or blue Liverpool jersey with Liverpool scrolled across the front rather than Carlsberg.
-The max number of people you can fit on a motorbike is 5 people. Yes, while in most places things like safety and the law would prevent more than say 2 people from riding the same motorbike, here its totally kosher.
-The max number of people you can fit in a 12-passenger van is 25(22 with luggage). This is accomplished most of the time by not closing the sliding side door, having people hang out of the door and by stowing cargo(including animals and people sometimes) on the roof. I really need to snap a picture the next time I see one loaded to the hilt.
-Bicycling here is an important means of transport. Not just of people around town, but also of goods over long distances. Some of the bike loads that I have seen pedaled around here are the most amazing feats of balance I have seen since I saw Cirque du Soleil in Vegas...
"Rush hour"
"Grasslands tick control department resting in a tree before the start of a long day"
"Just saying, I'm pretty sure you're too old for that..."
"Stark contrast"
"One more step and I will literally rip your arm off"
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