Jarvin talking about the NPH Honduras Christmas

My German Christmas

As mentioned in my last post, I spent Christmas this year with a good friend that I worked with on the NPH Int'l medical team. He is from Hänigsen, about half an hour NE of Hanover (in Lower Saxony). A cute little village in rural Germany. The train ride was beautiful (however I had to stand as there were no longer any seats left. I was surprised to discover that they sell more tickets than available seats for the journey. Lesson learned. Reserve a seat for the next trip, which is 6 hours long. I will NOT stand for that journey. Paying 3 Euros is well worth it for that trip.) Anyways, it was a nice ride through the snow-covered countryside.


Day 1: December 23 - Shortly after I arrived, Jan's mother served us a typical northern German meal of sausage, kale and potatoes, which was exceptionally delicious. This was only the second time during my four months in Germany that I've had a true German dish (a little embarrassing, I know). After my stay with Jan's family, I wonder why I haven't had it more often. It's quite delicious. Following lunch, Jan, his sister Kristina, and I decorated the Weihnachtbaum (Christmas tree), and in the evening we went to a Christmas Market in Celle, another small village in the area, to enjoy a mug or two of Gluhwein. That night I was introduced to another version, complete with rum-soaked cherries. Tasty. We then went to Jan's girlfriend's place to set up their tree and hang out for a bit.


Day 2: December 24 - This is the day that Christmas is typically celebrated all over the country. Our day started out by sleeping in until we couldn't possibly sleep any longer (well, maybe Jan could have...) We spent the day just hanging out with his family, and went for an afternoon Christmas walk in the forest near their home. The previous day we had quite a bit of freezing rain, which made for a slippery walk, but sure made the trees even prettier.


In the evening we lit the Weihnachtbaum (actually burned the candles - I'd never seen real candles burning on a tree! quite pretty actually), and then the gifts were opened. Our Christmas dinner was a meat fondue (didn't even know that existed). We cooked beef, pork, turkey, chicken, salmon and shrimp - yes, it was quite the meal! It was of course accompanied by some delicious homemade sauces, potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms and bread.

After dinner we headed to Burgdorf, a nearby town, and met up with some of their friends from high school at the local Christmas Eve meeting point...a bar that gets so crowded that the majority of the people have to stand outside in the snow. Needless to say, we didn't last too long there...


Day 3: December 25 (the REAL Christmas day!) - Following tradition, we went to Jan's aunt and uncle's place in Harz (mountain range in Northern Germany, on a good day about a 1.5 hour drive from Jan's place, however the weather slowed us down a bit...). The family gets together every year on the 25th to share cake and coffee (and wow - this family sure know how to make amazing cakes!). Following the cake, Jan, his sister, one of their cousins and myself took off for the mountains to enjoy some Christmas sledding. I've never seen so many adults on sleds in my life. Man, it certainly was a great time! Then, to finish the day off, we had some more delicious German food - a special bratwurst that is only made at Christmas time (forget the name...), along with potato and pasta salad. And don't forget the bier, schnapps and Schierker Feuerstein (a local drink, comparable to Jägermeister).

The Christmas experience was complete when I got to skype with my family in Iowa. They were all together on Christmas day to have lunch and exchange gifts. It's always so nice to be able to video chat with them while they're together, but of course, it's nothing like actually being there! Really miss you guys!

Auf Wiedersehen 2010, Hallo 2011

Just over one week ago (it feels like at least a month has gone by...) I took my first oral examination in my life to finish up the Core Course (covering Tropical Medicine, Public health, and Epidemiology) of my masters program. 'Twas a bit nerve-wracking, however it went much better than expected, but man am I happy it's over and done with. Our class celebrated with a farewell party last Tuesday, as we all move away to continue with the Advanced Modules at other institutes. We have continued to celebrate having our lives back throughout the week by meeting up for dinners, visiting Christmas Markets, attending Christmas concerts of friends, etc. And as strange as it may sound, I'm loving the snow-covered winter! We've had snow now for a bit more than three weeks. It's been years since I've been around for a full winter season. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to tolerate it, but so far so good! (moving to dark and depressing Bergen might be a different story though)


What 2011 has in store for me...

I'll be completing my modules in Bergen, Norway (a research course, one on HIV and another on Tuberculosis), then I will head to London in February were I'll take a course on nutrition and public health, and another that deals with issues faced by children living in difficult circumstances (political conflict areas, living on the streets, orphans, child abuse, child labor, etc.). I then plan to come back to Germany to take a course in Heidelburg on consultancy skills in evaluating health systems and programs in international health. Should make for an interesting and busy four months. But I'm really looking forward to it.

Then, it's back to Honduras to work on my thesis, which has yet to be solidified. But will more than likely be focused on HIV positive adolescents. And, if I'm lucky, maybe a visit to the mid-west before heading down there?? We'll see how my bank account looks when it comes time! I think life in Bergen and London for a few months is going to make quite a dent in my savings account...not the cheapest cities in the world to live in. that's for certain.

But, more short-term...
Tomorrow I take a train to Hannover, just about 2 hours from Berlin. A wonderful friend, and colleague from the NPH medical team (and his girlfriend who I had the pleasure of meeting nearly one year ago in Haiti) has invited me to spend a true German Christmas with his family. I'm not sure what all that entails, but I will soon find out.

Back to Berlin for New Year's Eve, then on to visit more friends (2 doctors i worked with in Honduras in 2007/2008) in Bavaria, then possibly to another dear friend and colleague from the NPH medical team, which just might involve some skiing in the Alps! Hopefully I come out of that alive.

So as you can tell, now that our course has come to an end, I have my life back, and am loving having some freedom to spend time with friends nearby...some that I have not seen for years. Friends from the Core Course...we all grew in many ways over these past few months. I am so happy to have gotten the chance to meet and work with you during this course - even in the group work projects ;) will miss you all as we go our own ways, but I look forward to seeing some of you in the modules and in other places around the world!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, and I wish you all the best in the coming year!
Peace,
Annie

a beautiful way to start a November weekend...

Following my rule of no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, this morning as I left the apartment for class, I searched my ipod for some music to accompany me on the (rather short) journey. I landed upon some Christmas jazz, and out the door I went. Just as I was leaving, big fat snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and I had a perfect walk to class.

A couple of friends and I decided to head to the Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market (just a short walk down the street from the institute we are studying at) after class for a look around the shops, and to enjoy a glass of Gluhwein, a traditional German Christmas drink and roasted chestnuts. I didn't know people actually ate those - I thought it was just a Christmas song! They sure were delicious though! The weather has turned quite "Christmasy" within these past few days, so a trip to the Christmas market was the perfect idea. However, I did realize how badly I need to get a pair of boots. My toes were just about frozen solid in my Converse sneakers...

When I got home I re-heated some of my leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner, then came to check emails. In a newsletter I subscribe to, I came across a link to this article.
The Secret Life: A Portrait of a Sex Worker in Haiti

Just a couple of days ago I received news from my colleague from the NPHI Medical Services team who works in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He told me a couple of weeks ago about the unbelievable amount of sex-workers in Petionville, where our orphanage is located in Haiti (about an hour or so from Port-au-Prince). He said he can't walk down the street without being called by the women (or young women...). In the most recent email, he told me of the much needed break he took a couple of weekends ago, when he went to a hotel near the beach (he's currently located in our home near Santo Domingo). While out to dinner one night, he said the women would just come and sit down at his table...

He tells stories of UN "aid" workers and others, he sees taking up the offer from the women. It certainly makes you wonder...

It's a terrible situation the women are in...that their only lifeline is to sell the little bit of dignity they may have left within them. And then there are the "relief workers" who put fuel to the fire.

So, just something to reflect on today, the day after Thanksgiving. Sometimes it's so easy to forget, or take for granted, all of the blessings in our lives. I started the day today feeling on top of the world. I have so many things to be thankful for - for being born into a life in which I have so many opportunities. I have a loving family, and many close friends. I've received a good education. My work experiences over the years have opened my eyes to many things I never imagined I would ever see. And I saw them because I held my future in my own hands. My destiny was not determined by the chance of having a place to sleep, food to eat, clean water to drink, safety, a place to study, and good teachers to guide my learning.

I have never had to worry about what I will have tomorrow. I have been given the opportunity to determine my own destiny through the decisions I make. So many people in this world don't have the chance to determine their life-path, but it has been chosen for them, by the circumstances into which they were born and forced to live in.

Well, I didn't mean to get all sappy here, but was just thinking about this a bit, and wanted to share with the rest of you. It is so shameful to hear about these stories...that reflect the power that just continues to drive these people into the ground...

Happy Thanksgiving!

This morning I realized that this is my first year without a true turkey dinner! Even in Honduras I was able to celebrate with the other foreigners. I was never disappointed in the amount of delicious food we were always able to whip together, often with limited access to the “necessary” supplies and ingredients. However, things are a bit different here with no fellow Americans to spend the day with! I did however meet up with an Italian friend (another student in the master’s class) for a coffee at Starbucks (mocha praline soy latte – highly recommended. It’s like liquid Nutella heaven.). What a perfect way to give thanks – thank you America for spreading Starbucks to Germany, and locating one just a few minutes’ walk from my apartment. And thanks Starbucks for created such a scrumptious (and low fat I’m sure) drink.

I have just begun to boil my potatoes to make our family’s traditional dumplings. They informed me they will not be eating them this Thanksgiving, because I’m not there to make them. That is sad news. I will have to eat enough for all of us. That is good news. The dumplings will be accompanied by a sausage (please see the photo to the left of the terrible package they came in. I'd really prefer to not see the animal on the package.) instead of turkey, sauerkraut (as usual) and corn (instead of the delicious green bean casserole my family will be eating). I’ll miss the pumpkin pie! But I guess I already had my desert for today.

I will soon have the pleasure of meeting with my family as they prepare to sit down for their Thanksgiving lunch (many thanks to technology for allowing me to skype with my family and “sit” at the table with them today, even across the ocean!) After they eat, we will try to meet online to play the German card game that has been passed on through the generations of the Kautza family – sheepshead (the photo to the left is of us playing cards on our computers. hilarious, i know). Thanks Yahoo games for allowing us to meet online to play cards across the globe!

(Potatoes now off the stove, mashed, and cooling in preparation for the formation of the tasty balls of dough they will soon be transformed into.)

Oh, and most importantly, thanks to Professor Vogel for not being able to make it to the institute to continue expanding our knowledge of health economics. I really don’t think I would have been thankful to discuss more about accounting and bookkeeping. So, thanks for the day off of class, and please be nice when grading my essay. THAT I would be thankful for.

Now, a quick rundown of what’s been happening ‘round these parts.

Nina, a good friend and colleague from the NPHI Medical Services team came to visit a couple of weekends ago. She finished the masters program I am currently in this past December. Yes, she's the one that got me into this mess. =)

Friday night we went to a classmate's house for an amazing Ghanaian dinner that his mother prepared for us all. Thanks to Edmund's momma! Saturday morning we slept in nice and late, and walked around the city a bit to pass the time. We came home to make a delicious pasta dinner, then headed to the Jamie Lidell concert, followed by some dancing at La Havanna Club.

We had a lazy Sunday, and got out of the apartment just in time to make it to the East Side Gallery just before the sun set, to enjoy some wall artwork, where the Berlin wall used to stand.

The day was topped off by making baleadas and micheladas with a couple of friends from class.

This past Tuesday I went with a few friends from class to the Nina Hagen concert, which proved to be quite an interesting experience. She is a crazy older German singer, turned Christian. We weren't quite sure what to expect, but it was a nice evening. From what I've heard online and from friends here, her voice used to be quite amazing. I was a bit disappointed at the concert...she sounded like the female version of Tom Waits. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Tom, but just wasn't expecting her voice to be so scratchy. Oh well.

Let's see...what else has happened since the last post.

We've had another exam, with results (that we still haven't received) that will likely turn out just like the first exam. Our third exam is quickly sneaking up on us, and the final oral exam only a week after that one. Thesis outlines to write, advanced modules to settle on, which will carry me to Bergen, Norway and London, England for a few months beginning in January and lasting through early April. Exact dates yet to be determined.

I can't believe how quickly time has gone here. It seems like just yesterday that we were all sitting around the circle playing our silly "get to know you" games, or dating games according to the course coordinators. Strange. It's crazy to think that we have less than a month left together!

Oh, I also purchased the album "Zaz". I heard about her from a couple of classmates that went to see her last weekend. I'd recommend checking it out. Umm - her music is in French, so I really don't know what she's singing about, but it's nice music!

Now, time for bed.

Be careful all of you that will be taking part in the Black Friday shopping. Try not to be stampeded. I will be sitting in class, learning about essential drugs, intellectual property, and techniques on how to do literature reviews. Can't wait! And snow is in the forecast! So at least maybe there will be large, pretty snowflakes to watch again out the window?

Peace.

the awesomeness that is my sister...

well i have nothing really noteworthy to post about. so instead, i will pass along to all of you readers out there (i often wonder how many there really are?!?) a website of an amazing project my sister started with youth in her community. check the blog for details! Youth Art Team

my sister's personal blog is on my list of favorites on the right side of my page ("liberate blog"). i encourage you to check it out as well!

life flying by...

time for another update?

Just a few days after my last post, I celebrated my 29th birthday with friends from all over the world. In the afternoon we got a tour of the German Parliament building. The photo above was taken at the top, which is supposed to have a beautiful view of the city. However, of course the day we went it was cloudy and rainy. The festivities continued with a party back at my flat, where I heard a number of versions of "Happy Birthday" and a variety of other songs in a lot of languages I have yet to master. We kept ourselves entertained for hours singing, dancing, and playing some pretty hilarious games (I think Su takes the cake on giving all of our abdominal muscles a workout from laughing so hard). Turns out our group is loaded with many talents. Some of you should form a group and go try to make some money from all of those tourists here in berlin =)

Last weekend our class returned from a four-day "field trip" to Geneva, Switzerland, where we visited a number of international organizations working in the health field to hear about their work. Allow me to give you a quick tour.

World Health Organization: Where the magic happens. View from the rooftop of WHO

The Global Fund: To fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
(No, we didn't visit Ralph Lauren)Taking in the sights of the water of Lake Geneva...









Celebration the last night with the Charite gang



Killing time walking around the old city before heading to the airport


We also visited UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, and UNAIDS. I won't bore you with more photos.

Master of Procrastination

I think I would do just lovely with a thesis on that...

With just over one week of the core course under my belt, I am already trying to find a way to put off doing what I should be doing - be it studying, trying to plan out which advanced modules I would like to apply for, or continuing to develop my research question for my thesis. I have found the perfect thing - updating my blog.

Our class is going well...quite an interesting mix of people. Our class consists of mainly doctors, with a couple of pharmacists mixed in, along with one of each of the following: biologist, parasitologist, dentist, nurse (that would be me!), and a social scientist. There are 32 of us, coming from a total of 20 different countries - Argentina, Austria, Bosnia, Burkina Faso, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, and of course, USA.

Thus far we've been filled full of theory - discussing research methods, international health in general. Tomorrow we dig into more of the medical stuff, starting out with Malaria.

I continue to be frustrated with the language, and I continue to have horrible run-ins at the super market. For example, just last week I was yelled at by a man terribly upset with me, for trying to be respectful of the man in front of me. I had just unloaded my arms (there were no carts available, so I was carrying my things), placing my items onto the conveyor belt. I held them back just for a couple of seconds while the guy in front of me unloaded his cart. Up walks the man behind me, yells some terrible sounding at me, throws (yes - THROWS) one of the little plastic divider things in front of my things (when I put my things down I couldn't yet reach them since they were way up by the cashier). he then shoves my stuff to the side, knocking a few items to the floor (he is unconcerned by my things now laying at my feet). He then places his things on the belt and continues to mutter in German. People can be so pleasant! I always love the shopping experience here...










(Yes, we were those people taking pictures on the U-Bahn...)

Last Friday the coordinators of our program invited us to a dinner out - the best Thai food I've had in a long time! Some of us decided to head out for a drink at the Oktoberfest tent that had been set up in the city. However, upon arrival (at something like 10:45pm) they had already closed down. Who closes an Oktoberfest tent that early?? Well anyways, we made do at a joint on the corner instead.

Well, that should do for now.
Peace.

Hallo aus Deutschland!

In Henri Nouwen's book, "Gracias!", a journal of the time Nouwen spent living and working with the poor in Peru and Bolivia in the 1980's, he discusses how it is good for people to be forced back into a child-like state of learning. He discusses how when you set yourself in a position of uncertainty, in a setting far outside of your comfort zone, it is as though you have become a child again, and you are forced to learn in a child-like manner, asking all of those "why" questions, and wondering how, what, when and where...

It challenges the mind, body and spirit to grow in new ways when you place yourself in unfamiliar settings. Moving yet again to another country, where they speak a language that is so foreign to me, and the way of living is so different than what I have become used to, has been a beautiful challenge, and opportunity to grow.

Of course it is frustrating coming to a country where I can't even say, "hello, my name is annie". I hate being "that person" that goes to a country without having studied their language even the slightest bit (the most I studied prior to coming was maybe 45 minutes while sitting in the Des Moines airport getting ready to board the plane. and by "study" I mean listening to a German phrase book CD).

As I struggle at the baggage claim in Berlin trying to figure out how to unlock one of those suitcase carts, I hear a knock on the window just in front of me. I look up and see my friend, Nunja waving happily on the other side. It was so great to see her - I didn't know she would be waiting at the airport for me! Once I finally had collected all of my bags, I went out to meet her, and out jump two more friends, Eike and Jan, from behind a post. What a lovely surprise. It was such a blessing to have them all here with me for my first couple of days so they could give me my "how to survive Berlin crash course"! They taught me things like, "stay off the red bricks on the sidewalk or you'll get run over by a bike" and "don't take it personally if people don't smile at you and don't seem very welcoming." Oh, and they also helped me get my reduced-fare student transport pass (with my hilariously terrible and overpriced photo) - I'm pretty sure I never would have been able to figure that one out on my own. Que complicado...

Oh, and the maps and chocolate Eike gave me as a "welcome to berlin" gift have come in quite handy over these past couple of weeks! Can't get enough of that German chocolate...good thing we don't have a scale in my apartment.

There have been several moments over the weeks when I have returned back to the child-like feeling Nouwen talked about in his book. They say it's good for you...

Immediately upon arrival to Berlin, we came to my apartment in Neokolln to drop my things off (a very Turkish part of Berlin), then we headed out for my first meal in Germany - PIZZA. Then we hit the city to see the sights. We went to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Also spent some time walking through the Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe. We also strolled through Alexander Platz to see the World Time Clock.

That was about enough for one jet-lagged day. But then the second day, we slept in until about 11am, then Eike had us over to her place for some true German food - sausage, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. It was heavenly.

For the past week and a half, I've been partaking in intensive German courses with some fellow classmates from the Masters program. It has been just that - intense. But, I'm at least beginning to learn a language that I once found impossible to understand. After having 7 days under my belt, I decided it was time to venture out and try to fix my cell phone so I could use it here. I was a little skeptical when I went to the hole-in-the-wall electronics store, and the guy took my phone and said, come back in 30 minutes. I was a little nervous that between my minimal German, and his minimal English, there had been some miscommunication. I thought maybe I'd never see my cell phone again.

So, after pacing the hopping street for a bit, I went back to the store and sat outside to wait for the next 15 minutes to pass. I whipped out my German dictionary, and started to study. The guy from the store came out and offered me a seat at the counter inside, so I took him up on the offer.

He offered me a baklava, and reminded me that it was "sugar fest day". The end of Ramadan - a reason to celebrate for sure. He then surprised me with a tea from a Turkish bakery next door, and then followed by a candy. When he started to explain his background (he's Pakistani) and he asked me if I was afraid of Pakistani people, I started to feel a bit bad about being skeptical of leaving my cell phone with him...

One hour and 50 minutes later (yes that's right - I timed it), he finally told me that they were having difficulties unlocking my phone, and that the technician was going to have to look at it on Saturday. (remember, it initially was only going to take 30 minutes...) I was meeting up with some friends that night, so rushed back and threw myself together just in time to meet them only 10 minutes late.

So, that's about it for now. I expect things to pick up quite a bit this next week, with the beginning of the course. So if I go into hibernation mode again, you know this is why.

Much love to you all from Berlin! (a beautiful, warm sunny day here today! got to spend some time in the park studying German. was lovely.)

Moving on...

Well the time has come for me to say goodbye to NPH for a bit, and take a leap into uncertainty yet again. Last Friday was my last official day "at work", and I have just one more week here in the good 'ol USofA before heading to Berlin, Germany to study for a masters degree in International Health. (http://internationalhealth.charite.de/en/) I will be studying full-time, and therefore it should take about one year to complete the program. I'll spend the first four months in Berlin for the core course, then will be traveling around a bit to complete my required modules, which will be focused on HIV/AIDS.

In July I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria. The conference was one week long, and gave me a taste for what I'm in for with my move to Europe. It was inspiring to be surrounded by 19,000 other participants from 181 countries, all working towards the same cause. The experience got me really excited about continuing my studies in this area.

I have one week left here to enjoy time with family and friends before taking off again. So I leave you with this. Hopefully I'll have a chance to update the blog following the move.

Much love to everybody.