Getting back in the swing

Well, if anyone is still following this blog after such a long hiatus
in regular posting I applaud and thank you for your patience. I am
back in Samoa (as of Friday last week) and I am trying to get things
rolling again. One month of vacation can really nock you out of work
mode, let me tell you. I would compare it to pulling a truck with a
rope, when it's already rolling though it's tough you just have to
keep your legs moving and you can keep it rolling. When it's at a
full stop it's hard as hell to get that damn thing moving and really
you would rather just hang out and watch all the cool new movies and
TV shows other Volunteers brought back from their vacations.

So I am back at the Red Cross and there is a new problem on the radar
that we have to address. It appears there is a diarrhea outbreak in
the tsunami affected area. This is both unconfirmed and odd.
Unconfirmed because, a) as far as I have been able to find out the
rate on the normal incidence rate of diarrhea is unavailable or not
recorded, b) though some cases have been treated at the local clinic
part of the push for an educational intervention seem to be fueled
also by hear say (i.e. people in the village are saying there has been
more diarrhea) and c) it is odd for this to be happening now, while
just after the tsunami hit there did not seem to be any recorded
increase in cases. Despite all this we are quickly developing a
community based educational program for the families in the at risk
villages. Obviously it can't hurt the villages or the people we
deliver the program to, the down side is that we are taking manpower
and focus away from regular programming and other educational/
community based programs which will undoubtedly suffer or be delayed
until this intervention is over.

I know I still owe you all pictures of the tattoo and I am planning on
getting some up this week. I promise-ish. (please note, the "ish"
officially gets me off the hook if I don't do it. Actually after
further thought I would like to institute that as a permanent rule for
my blog starting now)

It's off to bed and off to work again tomorrow. Quick shout out to by
big bro Dave who got engaged last week and has totally ruined my
travel plans for this year! Congrats and I'll send you the bill for
my ticket! (For those who don't know, the plan is to have the wedding
in April)

Fa a'u uo (bye my friends)