You know you're old when...

I was recently in Bangkok, Thailand. While there I visited a tourist attraction I have never been to before. Thailand boasts the largest crocodile farm in the world. I haven't been to any others, but I can tell you this one is definitely large! We decide to see the croc wrestling show while there. That is when this happened.

Yes, that is a grown man with his head inside the mouth of a crocodile. The kids in the audience ooh'd and ahh'd. They stood up to get a closer look. They were fascinated by what they saw. I had one thought, "that man is wearing a wedding ring...he probably has children. I do not want to witness them loosing their father." I never would have had a thought like that when I was young and didn't consider the consequences of choices. In those days, I just lived in the moment and was wowed by such courage. It was a moment when I realized I'm just not as young as I used to be.

Have you had a moment recently that made you realize you're a grown up?

Ode to Emily Yost

I met Emily in 2007 at a birthday party in Boone. At the time I was looking to hire someone to help me write some curriculum for the field. I had met with a couple of people and had not been wowed by anyone. My boss was encouraging me to hire a young woman who had interned with our testing center for six months, had earned a master's degree in public health, and was very sound technically. It sounded like a logical choice, but I wasn't convinced she could write curriculum. I believed that was a special skill and I was willing to wait until I found the right person.

So, back to the birthday party...I strike up a conversation with Emily. She had graduated with a teaching degree a couple of years ago, she took a few months and traveled the world with friends backpacker style, she was currently working in the mail room on a temporary contract, she had zero experience in public health. Her resume might have seemed like a gamble to some...it did to my boss. But I was convinced she was right for the job. It was my belief that I could give someone some resources to read to improve their technical proficiency, I could not instill them with the skill they needed to do the job.

Emily was fabulous! She was such an assett to the team. In one year, Emily created multiple curriculum. She edited and revised a manual related to marital faithfulness, eventhough she's single she brought great insight to the project. She wrote a manual related to youth behavior change and edited teaching tools and a manual related to adolescent reproductive health. She created a manual to help parents speak with their kids about difficult issues like sex...and the list goes on. Beyond her productivity, Emily brought a passion to the work that is unprecidented. I also loved having her personality as part of the team, she is creative and simply a joy to be around. She always comes in with a smile and is full of positive energy.

So, with this glowing endorsement you are probably wondering why much of this is written in past tense. Due to financial difficulties within my department I was not able to renew her contract. Telling her was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do as a boss. She didn't deserve to be unemployed. She had more than proved herself as valuable. I told her a couple of months before the end of her contract so she could begin looking for alternative employment, but given the state of the economy the options were limited and, rightly, she wanted to be selective and choose something that would advance her newfound ambitions in international health. I supported these efforts as best as I could through professional networks and prayed this would turn in to an opportunity for her to live her passion in Africa to help people in need.

Many people in a similar circumstance would use looming unemployment as an excuse to slack off. Emily worked harder, trying to get it all done before the end of her contract. She even offered to work past her contract term without pay.

Many people in a similar circumstance would grow bitter at the abruptness of the announcement and the reality of their looming unemployment. Emily leaned in to her faith and trusted God for the outcome. This cost her. She had to leave a city she loved, friends she adored and move back in with her parents for a few months. I never heard her speak unkindly about her circumstance. The character she displayed through this experience was inspiring.

Fast forward to today. Emily has been accepted in to the internship program. There were over 300 applicants for 10 spots. Talk about competitive! Emily will begin serving in Liberia the end of this month. I believe God granted her the desires of her heart because she was faithful in the process.

I had scheduled to take today off because I've been traveling like a mad person lately and need a day of rest. Today is Emily's send off. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I want to be there to see her standing in front of the crowd getting ready to go on one of the greatest adventures of her life. I want to hold her hand and pray with her that this journey will bring her further in her career and closer to our Savior. I have no doubt that Emily will be an assett to the team she is about to join. If I ever have a chance to work with her again, I would choose to in a heartbeat.

Emily, girl, I know you read this blog sometimes. I want you to know how special you are to my heart. I am cheering you on from the sidelines and I'm always here to offer whatever help I can. You will be in my prayers as you embark on this great adventure. I will see you in April when I come for a visit with our church partner. You are a champion!

Soap box: words matter!

I believe that words matter. I consider the selection of words an art form...that's why I like reading Toni Morrison so much, because she has such an artistic use of language. I am distrubed by the decline in quality use of the English language. I was willing to overlook the spoken venacular, but written language is different and should be treated respectfully.

Imagine my disgust when I saw this. I took this photo with my cell phone. In case you can't read it the sign says, "Filet 2 4 $3.00 4 lent"

I hear that college students are using this kind of code in papers they submit for class. I am so glad that never happened when I was teaching, I would have failed them for sure!

In case you're wondering, as I write this I feel like I should have my hair pulled back tightly in a bun. I should be wearing reading glasses that balance precariously on the tip of my nose. I should be wearing a button up sweater, long skirt and comfortable shoes. You know the woman I am talking about. You can picture her in your mind.

Regardless of the stereotype, I still think words matter. So I ask you, is use of code appropriate in a public advertisement? I think not! What's your opinion?

Winter Wonderland

I mentioned my recent travel delays in an earlier post. The last flight of a very long journey was cancelled due to weather. We had the largest dumping of snow in one time in our area in recent years. Here is a picture of our front yard. We live in the basement apartment and trudge through the snow to get to our front door. When I arrived from the airport I stepped in the fresh snow and I swear I sunk quickly with snow to my knees.

This is the road leading up to our neighbors home. The little blue ant did not do well on these roads. For the first time I realized why so many people have SUV, four wheel drive vehicles here...it isn't just a status symbol in the mountains, but in times like this it is a necessity.

Myanmar mystery rash

Just about every person who traveled to Myanmar developed a rash. It started with a few red bumps, those few bumps turned in to many bumps...for some it became severe in one area, for others it spread all over the body. The onset happened in the delta, the sight of the recent cyclone. Eight of ten travelers were stricken with it. Once the crew returned to the States the rash disappeared.

I was one of the lucky ones who remained rash free throughout the trip - but don't measure things by me. We could go out to eat, everyone else will get food poisining symptoms or diarrhea and I will feel fine. I have a stomach of steal. We will be driving bumpy roads in the no frills land rovers, bouncing around in the back while we face sideways on the seats, everyone else will get motion sickness, but I feel fine. I take my good health for granted, but I do think these are just ways God physically created me in order to do what he has called me to do. Not that you have to have characteristics like a stomach of steal to do this work, but it helps.

So, back to the rash. Are there any infectious disease doctors out there that have heard of this? I'm really curious about this mystery and wonder if there is someone who can explain it.