Alive With Sport

No New Year’s resolutions for me… I’m not into that this year. I have however decided that I’m going to make 2010 the year of the Bicycle. Lots of riding – that’s my plan.

On that note, we started the year off right with this ride.

Getting outdoors on Christmas Day has always been a tradition for me and my family. What’s your tradition?

This year we did a short hike up to Dog Mountain up at Seymour. There wasn’t much snow but the trail was still fine. At the top, we got a really cool view of the city covered in fog.

In a holiday season filled with eating, driving and visiting, I always appreciate the opportunity to get outdoors. Here’s some pics from our christmas day tradition.

My new iPhone (or my personal protocol droid, as Torbin has taken to calling it) is quite amazing. I went for a dog walk today and the iPhone tracked our route, distance, and pictures.

My brother is the adrenaline junky – not me.

I’m not sure what’s with all this media attention that I’ve been receiving lately. I think it might have something to do with my ability to say, “Sure, I’d be happy to help!” I’m exhausted from 3 days of talking and filming. I will be glad to get back to some training.

Being a scientist in Nigeria means being very resourceful in finding solutions to barriers… the power goes out 2-4x per day or some days does not come on at all. Scientists here are very practiced at being practical & creative at the same time, a recipe for good science. Only one day did I start to think that the barriers were too big… but then the attitude of the students brought me back around. They work very very hard and are very excited about what they are learning. There are ~20 graduate students, medical doctors, and technicians taking our course. The people that I have met here in Nigeria is what I have enjoyed most. They are full of hope that their country will become one of the top 20 countries in the world. (The goverment has a plan called the 20:20 vision – that hopes to use education, science and technology to raise the profile of Nigeria by 2020). It has been interesting to talk to these young graduate students, to get their own views on the corrupt government and the political problems in the North, and the wars in the Delta (the oil rich region of the country). It is a country with many problems. For example, Nigeria’s children account for 18% of the global under-5 mortality rate. The UN has identified Nigeria as one African country that, if it were to improve and aim to meet the Millienium Development Goals, could make the most impact.

-update written during my recent visit to Nigeria

We’re back from our trip. It was an incredible experience! I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Unfortunately blog updates will have to wait, it’s the first week of school which means life’s gone a bit crazy busy.

Here’s my first Africa update.  I thought you might be interested in seeing what’s in my suitcase…. see photo below.  It should be an interesting experience traveling through customs.  My personal stuff needs to fit in 1/2 of my carry on bag – the other half is the stuff that needs to be on ice (I’m carrying a lunch bag with reagents).