Terminalcoffee discussion

When's that trip to India, sir? How long are you going to be gone? I don't want you just disappearing out of nowhere on us, man...

Don't they have the internet in India?

Fair question!

Kevin could at least send us an e-postcard or something!

thanks for asking. i leave saturday morning returning on the 31st. i just picked up my share of meds to take (about 50#) as i am traveling with mostly doctors and nurses to do a clinic. i am a photog buff so i may try to post some pics to a blog site that i haven't used in awhile) i will look for an internet cafe and check on you all and send a "namaskaram" to the group.

and can i add how much fun i am having being a part of this group. thanks for having me. i know most of my comments are snarky but i am enjoying your company

I wish you well!!

I'm glad you're here, sir, you contribute a lot, and I wish you health and safety overseas.

I assume they have the Internet in India. They have just about all our IT jobs there...

mostly i do projects in pretty rural areas. i have not been to this place before but i have found that even most places have at least internet cafe's.

yeah gus - i may try to get a part time job while i am there. when you call the US Government help line ask for kevin and see what happens?

Snarky is a very good descriptor of your remarks. Nothing wrong with snarky, in my universe anyway.

Safe travels.

Okay, I need background info because this is the first I've ever heard about your travel to India, Kevin.

Why are you going? Are you going with a group or no? Have you done this before or is this your first visit? And why would RA know about it? These are all important for understanding.

I volunteered to organize a medical mission trip for a group of docs and therapists and a documentarian several years back (not knowing just how involved the preparations really are) - LOTS of paperwork to fill out. They were in the DRC for 3 months.

I was just talking to a coworker about pizza yesterday. He's from India. He said they never eat pizza in India because it's so expensive... like 400/500 rupees a pizza, if I recall correctly (that would translate to $25 dollars... ish - easy for him to find/spend because he was an MD there and made 1600 rupees a month, but for most people there it's a luxury) - the ingredients are not readily available and can be hard to find. Get your pizza fix before you leave!

Safe travels and every good wish to you, Kevin!

I have extremely strong binoculars, Heidi, and I keep track on all of you. Clean that kitchen counter, will ya, already, Heidi?

Whatev. You can't fool me! My kitchen counter is spotless, RA. It's one of the few things I'm ticky about - I can't STAND dirty kitchen surfaces and I get weirded out when anything that doesn't have to do with food preparation is left on a kitchen surface (like mail, bookbag, purse, shoes, esp).

i had sorta mentioned this earlier in a comment so that is how RA knew about it. i am going with a group of doctors and nurses to work in a rural place in a clinic. no, i am not in the medical profession they just heard that i had experience in rural projects like this and asked me to go. i have done similar projects in other countries. i have worked in china a couple of times, west africa a couple of times and my primary place to work is Honduras. i was looking at my passport and i have gone there 11 times in the last 10 years to do projects. i will eat pizza prior to going for sure!

I think this guy's shoring up the internet for him:

I see a big red x, Gary. :(

moi aussi

V. cool, Kevin! I've done local mission work - in the rural areas of Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, but that's it. I'd love to do that fulltime out of the country. I looked into the Peace Corps, but got a bit weirded out when the application asked me to list any relatives who've worked for the fed government or are in the military... apparently exclusionary criteria.

Thanks, Gary! Cool pic. Now I can laugh at your humor. :)

re: gary's pic

"hey bro - can ya drop a CAT5 cable down here to me"

Holy SHIT! Somebody get those folks some infrastructure!

Here's a cool development group I heard about on NPR today:

http://www.ibsa-trilateral.org/

South-south cooperation is a really good idea.

My niece is on a two year stint in Senegal for the Peace Corps. The last time I saw her blog she was at 14 scorpions killed, and 1 near miss.

heidi - i just do short term stuff as i can. as i have said, i am self funded and this kind of commitment can cost alot. i do it because i love people. here is a link to one of my fav pics from several years ago

http://www.boilerblues.com/photos/gui...

Heehee, you definitely don't look flowery in that pic, Kev!

http://www.boilerblues.com/photos/gui...

i think i should have used this link

Awesome, Kevin! Awesome.
(i'm jealous)


Safe travels and enjoy yourself a bit while you are there!

Have a great trip, Kevin! I've really enjoyed your humorous comments.
No, really. :D

I know it can be v. expensive. I've had to pay my way on all the mission trips I've done - most of the cost going towards supplies and travel. It's been a long while since I've done it, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat - esp. if someone else is paying my way... and they let me bring Robby along with me.

thanks to all. i will try to post a HEY at some point and update my reading as i have time to read lots on the travel to and from. i am going to start with


and i am taking my crosswords books.