Day 1
After much anticipation, here we are in Baton Rouge. Each person we meet seems to have a bit more of the puzzle - Charlie Moldow met us at the airport (he was flying out as we were coming in) and gave some details on where we would be staying and what we would be doing. He also warned us about the military level of the command structure. The woman from ARC (American Refugee Committee) told us about our ride from the airport and where we would be staying tonight. Slowly, it's beginning to have more flesh, but it still seems pretty surreal.
There is a group of us from the U and a group from the Mayo. It's odd that the groups seem to separate so much. Simon Rosser did a nice job of introducing and meeting people at the airport while we waited. When we got here, the U had sent two passenger vans, and the Mayo had rented a bus. Besides the bus being a bit more comfortable than 20 of us cramming into the vans, I also saw it as a way ro connect with some of the Mayo folks. Apparently there is this longstanding rivalry between the two. I guess I'm just enough on the outside that I don't really get it.
It was useful to talk with some of the Mayo folks because their briefing was different from ours. We learned things they hadn't and vice-versa. It was useful to compare notes.
It was useful to talk with some of the Mayo folks because their briefing was different from ours. We learned things they hadn't and vice-versa. It was useful to compare notes.
When we arrived at the tent village here in Baton Rouge it was quite the setup. Imagine the AIDS Ride with nicer air conditioned tent apartments. As with the ride, the food was good, and plentiful. I'll have to watch or I won't fit into my new shirts I ordered when I get home.
The setting is pretty surreal, though. There is a uniformed guard with a rifle, and police helicopters that fly over every so often. We saw a little bit of hurricane damage when we rode in, but I bet that when I look back from the end, today will seem pretty tame.
Note to my trainer - they just came by and told us we couldn't go jogging in the morning -- they're worried about our safety. It will be a challenge to keep up the exercise regime over the next two weeks.
I miss Peter already. I feel kinda bad leaving during the two weeks that his parents are here, but it almost makes it easier. I get the sense that they know anyhow, but two weeks is a long time - especially when we don't speak the same language. I'm glad I did get to meet them - now I don't think the eventual trip to Korea will be so bad... We'll see. Maybe the opportunity to tell them will come up and he'll take it.
Well, I have cell phone internet, and I'm not too tired yet, so I'm going to knock out a few more emails. I'm dreading the inbox when I return if I don't whittle it down a bit along the way.
There is a group of us from the U and a group from the Mayo. It's odd that the groups seem to separate so much. Simon Rosser did a nice job of introducing and meeting people at the airport while we waited. When we got here, the U had sent two passenger vans, and the Mayo had rented a bus. Besides the bus being a bit more comfortable than 20 of us cramming into the vans, I also saw it as a way ro connect with some of the Mayo folks. Apparently there is this longstanding rivalry between the two. I guess I'm just enough on the outside that I don't really get it.
It was useful to talk with some of the Mayo folks because their briefing was different from ours. We learned things they hadn't and vice-versa. It was useful to compare notes.
It was useful to talk with some of the Mayo folks because their briefing was different from ours. We learned things they hadn't and vice-versa. It was useful to compare notes.
When we arrived at the tent village here in Baton Rouge it was quite the setup. Imagine the AIDS Ride with nicer air conditioned tent apartments. As with the ride, the food was good, and plentiful. I'll have to watch or I won't fit into my new shirts I ordered when I get home.
The setting is pretty surreal, though. There is a uniformed guard with a rifle, and police helicopters that fly over every so often. We saw a little bit of hurricane damage when we rode in, but I bet that when I look back from the end, today will seem pretty tame.
Note to my trainer - they just came by and told us we couldn't go jogging in the morning -- they're worried about our safety. It will be a challenge to keep up the exercise regime over the next two weeks.
I miss Peter already. I feel kinda bad leaving during the two weeks that his parents are here, but it almost makes it easier. I get the sense that they know anyhow, but two weeks is a long time - especially when we don't speak the same language. I'm glad I did get to meet them - now I don't think the eventual trip to Korea will be so bad... We'll see. Maybe the opportunity to tell them will come up and he'll take it.
Well, I have cell phone internet, and I'm not too tired yet, so I'm going to knock out a few more emails. I'm dreading the inbox when I return if I don't whittle it down a bit along the way.
posted by Minnesota Medic at 11:57 PM
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