The first post...

This is my first post on a blog (aside from class assignments through the Human Investigations Program), and I am having a bit of a "dear diary" moment...

I am setting up this blog to follow the adventures that are sure to come during a trip to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.  I am guessing that the majority of people who read this know me or my travel companions, so it feels a bit formal to create introductions.  Formal, yet necessary.

So, my name is Kristina.  I am in the final few months of my Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship training in Portland, Oregon.  My travel companions are:  Nameeta - my co-fellow (we have become Kristeetha - a name reflective of the assumption that we are actually literally joined at the hip) and Sue - our wonderful and brave (she's leaving before us and making sure everything's as ready to go as possible for us) attending.  We are going to Tanzania to work at the National Hospital to care for children with cancer and work with the local doctors and nurses to improve care for children with cancer in this area.  I think, then, that this blog should come with a bit of a warning.  It could be sad at times - as working with children with cancer can sometimes be.  But, it is, I think, more likely to be filled with hope, laughter, unexpected adventures, and moments of innovation- what working with children with cancer more often is.

As I said, Sue will be leaving one week before me and Nameeta.  Sue has been to Tanzania before and has worked with many of the people that we will meet during our time there.  So, likely many of the first few posts will be from Sue (if I successfully invited her to be an author).

In the mean time, I will document some of our preparations.  Thus far, the only thing I've really done to prepare is to create this blog.  Perhaps not the most efficient use of my time?  I should be at Target buying underwear, granola bars, and new earphones (the only three things I've managed to put on my packing list) or going to REI to get my bug spray and mosquito net...

k