SIGNING OFF-

Back in the old reliable coffee shop in Philly, snow on the ground, bowels settling, and about 36 hours of sleep under my belt.  Amy pointed out I should put a "final thoughts" entry which she's right about.  Only problem is I don't have a specific final thought.

Here are a few thoughts:

  I didn't realize how tired I was until I got home.  I thought everything was fine but I was deeply deeply exhausted.  Partly from the stimulation, pushing myself extra hard to make the  [effort of getting down there]:[what i accomplished] ratio work out in a way that left me feeling good (I felt bad after my trip to amazon bc i felt that ratio was way out of whack and I could have done more good by donating the money i spent on airfair direclty to antibiotics for the Achuar-- felt like a weird type of tourism that left me feeling unwholesome and unfulfilled)

 I am going to focus on this upcoming fundraiser at MUGSHOTS Coffee shop March 16th, 7 pm (plug!)  http://www.mugshotscoffeehouse.com/ (21 and fairmount)

this is how I plan to guard against the "post bar mitzvah blues" that I can so easily succumb to.  even though it probably wont raise too much money it will raise something, and I know exactly where it will go so that will feel good.  But in addition to being a good practical way to use my energy to help a little more, I think psychologically it will be good for me to have a specific place and purpose to consolidate my thoughts on the experience and process them and publically share them rather than simply abruptly transitioning back to philly life without any remaining connection to this powerful experience I just had. 

BTW the money will all be donated to purchase of antibiotics and other key meds from the ProMess WHO depot in Port au Prince and to pay local Hatian medical translators.  The payment of actual wages to these young, hardworking, educated translators who have all been displaced from their career paths and are now volunteering there efforts in the aftermath of this rediculous devastation is a donation many times over...you are providing a crutial link in the healthcare chain---most medical services right now are by non creole speaking "foreigners", you are putting food in the mouths of the translators and their families, and you are providing legitimate employment in a country with 70% unemployement and no "industry" to speak of, furthermore you are empowering a self motivated group of young people who may very well be the future leaders of haitian infrastructure.  so if in reading this you want to donate before the event, there should be a "pete fund" link on the HousingWorks.org website and they are in support and able to earmark any money in this fund to this purpose (thanks Andrew Greene and Charles King)

I am concerned that life here will drown out any long term connection to Haiti and the relief efforts.  Perhaps I'll get boring here or perhaps I will get infatuated with another disaster elsewhere or a new rediculous project.  I would like to find some way that I can continue a relationship in a manageable way with housing works and haitian relief.  the establishment of a Telemedicine consultant system btwn Penn and HW or Gheskio would be great, though bedevelling little details such as  Gheskio is affiliated with Cornell or internet connection is spotty or any of a thousand other tiny details could derail that seemingly simple yet useful project. so any ideas or feedback on that would be welcome

Thoughts on the wilderness training I've had.  They say everything you learn comes in handy eventually.  Having taking a million BOSS and NOLS and Tom Brown classes and all that stuff, having leearned to flint knap (poorly) and make fire by rubbing sticks together all that stuff I can boil down 2 lessons I learned that I think were on my mind daily while I was there.  1) having lived in the desert and alaska with no food, water, shelter matches or gear taught me how to feel very comfortable with nothing.  living in the camp felt pretty plush.  I was never concerned about my physical needs at all.  having the basics Food, Water, Shelter so readily availabe, evertyhing else, Iphone, electricity, clothes, a Chauffeur! all that stuff, really didnt feel like roughign it.  that was learning from BOSS   2) from NOLS, they call it EB meaning expedition behavior. when in camp in cramped or difficult situations, share your food, bring extra water, clean up after someone else do that stuff, it makes everytone get along better.  I tried to do this (acting against my own very powerful lazy tendancies) and was fortunate that my 2 colleagues were both wilderness guides and implicitly did the same and more.  thanks guys

Solitude:  I cant describe it but I want to talk to people and share this experience and catch up on their lives but I also just want to be alone for a while

ok,

this has clearly gone on too long.

signing off--- hope to see you March 16, 7pm Mugshots coffee house  philadelphia;  21 and fairmount