winter at the samuel p. avery boathouse

we spent a weekend in the wonderful town of westport, ny a few weeks ago with some very good friends. it was great to be up in the adirondacks in the winter (despite the lack of skiing i did at whiteface). i thought it was pretty incredible that we were able to stand on lake champlain with the ice fishermen--where we would have had to use a boat 6 months ago, we were able to walk on the ice. dudley has become one of my most special places--so many wonderful memories over the last few years-- i feel very fortunate to be part of the gang there (thanks tim).

standing in front of the samuel p. avery boathouse, my former place of business.

yes, that is my friend todd ives swimming in the water.

does it get any better than this?

feels like home in washington dc!

i'm currently in washington for the annual fletcher school career trip--and walked through our old neighborhood in between panel sessions today. what a spot! we were so lucky to live right smack dab in the middle of the city. so many good restaurants, so easy to meet up with friends..tim's walk to work consisted of an entirety of five minutes--we could walk anywhere for that matter, to the white house, museums... it will probably be the only time in my life that i will live NEXT DOOR to an embassy. although this "graduate school" stage in the game is good for many reasons-- i miss it!

the starbucks where our whole adventure started- where we first found our apartment!

2035 p street! (couldn't see if the futon was still on the roof)

snowstorm in cambridge

i was scheduled to begin orientation at the fletcher school today--my first day of school! sadly, the snow got in the way. everything in boston seemed to be closed for the 14+ inches of snow that fell. it was nothing like the "snowpocolypse" in d.c. last year, and i was amazed with how quickly the cambride dpw plowed those roads--but it was fun to walk around town and watch the big dig out!

harvard square

tim broke out the skate skis in the morning!

looks like that tree might need to go--but in cambridge, of course, there is a public hearing scheduled to discuss the matter in depth. UPDATE: Indeed this is the case: http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter87/Section3



bahama mama

i'll be the first to admit that nassau isn't the most cultural of places to travel to. cruise ships, senor frogs, the atlantis, coconut drinks, rum tasting, parasailing...nothing truly "bahamian" about that. our day in nassau in january, however, was wonderful. blue skies, warm weather, clear water, a beautiful beach...and a yard glass at senor frogs to top off the experience. it was my third visit to nassau, and instead of critiquing the tourist destination, we enjoyed it-- it was worth it! 

holidays in vermont

we were lucky enough to spend 4 days in peru,vermont over new year's with tim's family. a welcome change of scenery from busy nairobi. it is amazing that time can fly by so quickly, with so little on the agenda. i had no complaints--and enjoyed every minute of it!

back to skiing--x-country at least!

downtown manchester, vt, near the equinox hotel (the best bloody mary around!)

new years eve drinks at the mill tavern, londonderry,vt

defending foreign assistance

i found myself having to defend the small amount of the u.s. federal budget that goes to foreign aid over the holidays (one half of one percent!). i saw this line from jfk on usaid.gov--and thought i'd print and keep in my wallet for times when i find myself having these "fun" conversations. he says it better than any of my horrible attempts.

"I realize that there are among us those who are weary of sustaining this continual effort to help other nations. But I would ask them to look at a map and recognize that many of those whom we help live on the 'front lines' of the long twilight struggle for freedom—that others are new nations posed between order and chaos—and the rest are older nations now undergoing a turbulent transition of new expectations. Our efforts to help them help themselves, to demonstrate and to strengthen the vitality of free institutions, are small in cost compared to our military outlays for the defense of freedom."

—John F. Kennedy, Special Message to the Congress on Foreign Aid, March 13, 1962

meeting dumbo

this morning, i visited the sheldrick wildlife trust, right outside of nairobi national park. hip hip hooray for tourism. will write more later, but wanted to post these photos of these cute guys!

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp

nairobi -haven't seen much of it!

there's been a lot of conference rooms and hotel rooms on this trip to africa, and photos have been limited. here are some of the pictures i've been able to get so far...

 i've been thinking about turning into a vegetarian. i wonder why.

we were listening to a PPT presentation at a local organization--while cute kids were playing soccer.

working over dinner at the pool. at least there's beer?

windfarm in amsterdam

took these photos flying into amsterdam. i first saw the windfarm, and then saw the goal plant behind it. quite the environmental shot, if i do say so myself.

 

victoria falls

i'll be traveling to nairobi for a 2 week trip for work this weekend, and have been thinking about my first trip to africa- the trip was responsible for getting me into this international development stuff in the first place, after all. our professor (a minister) guilted many of my fellow students into attending church in livingstone on a sunday...but brea and i had other plans. we spent the entire day at victoria falls...relaxing and enjoying one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

we took so so many photos-below are some of my favorites.

sunset on the zambezi river the night before.

we stayed at nyala lodge in livingstone- it was affordable, but very nice...a good mix of camping and a hotel...with the coolest waterfall showers! http://www.africanencounters.com/nyala-lodge/