Travel Enriches and Fulfils- A Gift From Me To Me And A Happy 2024!

Travel Enriches and Fulfils

Pulled by the tail-end of the year 2023 and hurled forward by the flag-bearer days of 2024, I barreled through Nairobi, Kampala, Entebbe, Amsterdam, Mexico City, Washington DC, New York, Buffalo, Niagara City, Toronto City, Ottawa City to Rockland and made them my homes away from home.

Travel expands one’s perception and understanding of life surrounding one whether at the immediate or distant vicinity.

Travel is a medium through which one fulfils plans made earlier about a journey. It is a mental, physical, cultural, emotional, spiritual, economic and social exercise. 

How one relates contributes to one’s self-esteem, self-worth, self-recognition and self-preservation. When one travels they have in mind five things: to arrive at a given destination; experience the journey; be able to make the connection between staying the course as well as fulfilling the requirements of the journey such as having all one’s documents in order; noting landmarks and learning from the experiences of travel; and ensuring that the journey adds value to one’s meaning of life.

I started this journey from Kenya’s bustling Nairobi where I took a bus on the 24^th/12/2023. I had to book a hotel room to be nearer to the bus station and it enabled me to check in earlier too even if the bus came an hour after the designated time of departure.

I used the time before the arrival of the bus to strike conversations with potential travel-mates. Among these mates were those who would sit next to during the next 500+ miles to Kampala which would be covered through the entire night. I like to converse and ask about other people when traveling. I intended to break the ice earlier so that once I start asking questions people will feel comfortable talking and sharing experiences.

I got to know many Ugandans, Sudanese, Ethiopians, Eritreans and Kenyans who were going to Uganda for Christmas time using that same bus.

By 6:00 am we were in beautiful Kampala City on Christmas Day.

Earlier on in December 2023, I had made up my mind to travel to Mexico City, Toronto and eventually to Washington DC. However, it was also Christmas time so I had to start small and progress onwards. I enjoy traveling in order to get away, be able to see places and getting to feel the physical world again after being closed up in the virtual or zoom. I have done a lot of virtual interactions that I have forgotten what it means to live in a physical world. I am sure travel will bring back some of that experience.

Christmas came and went. On the 27^th/12/2023, I went to book all my tickets with my favourite flier, the KLM. I enjoy the activities that go on as one makes the booking, waits, pays and gets the satisfaction that any given task has been accomplished.

The thrill that comes with traveling to the airport, getting all the luggage checked in, approved, one allowed to walk through the gates and hop onto the plane.

Travel Enriches and Fulfils:

 

1.      The welcome feeling at Entebbe International Airport; 

2.      The deep hospitality of the Schiphol International Airport; 

3.      The timely and expedient touch of the Mexico City International Airport (MEX); 

4.      The relaxing, laid back and assuring atmosphere at the Dulles International Airport (IAD);

5.      The broadness of Washington DC seen from the sky, so breath-taking;

6.      The memories of the nearness of the cotton fluffy clouds as one takes to the sky form the Schiphol Airport that keep coming back even as I travelled through different cities from Washington DC, New York, Buffalo, Niagara City, Toronto, Ottawa, Rockland and back home to Washington DC;

7. Walking about the different cities and getting to see how they experience life.

8. Comparing the airports and knowing that it is possible to walk-in and out of them intact;

9. Knowing Amsterdam, Mexico City, Washington DC, New York, Buffalo, Niagara City, Toronto, Rockland and Ottawa;

10. Sitting down and writing about this experience.

Indeed travel expands one’s perception. I know so much more than I knew before I embarked in this journey. 

Travel contributes to one’s understanding of life surrounding one, for now I know what it means to live in chilly Toronto, Ottawa and Rockland. I know what it means to travel all night for so many miles and sitting in crumpled space. I know what it means to have luggage fall on one's head (fortunately the overhead stow away space in most of the buses accommodates tiny bags whose weight does not hurt that much). I know so well what it means to be dropped off in a new town and immediately start looking for a tax-cab when your phone no longer works but somehow you prevail. Travel has brought back what I had taken for granted due to all these Zooms and virtual meetings.

 

 

To Toronto To Tell It Over The Mountains

To Toronto To Tell It Over The Mountains

 The bus, the planes, the train, the taxi-cabs and the footsteps can scarcely take me as fast as the pace of the heart.

 My soul finds peace and contentment in the caring parents have for their children, in the caring God has for all of us, it is felt and it is powerful.

 The trees hold fast to the ground through the firm roots and sheer weight of the stems. They hold on so fast and never left go.

 There you are smiling, talking, listening, hearing and begging time to stand still. Yes stir up or awaken the love until it pleases.

 Remember when we walked around looking for the nearest Tim Horton for a hot drink? Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.

 What can we do to replace love? No one can offer money in place of love. Just be happy with love and make it work. If you do not know, now you know. 

Walk the talk and follow the steps many have taken for this is your show.  Nourish the yearnings of your heart. Rest your head on each other’s shoulders, kiss, hug, laugh and be merry.

 

Rejoice and be happy in the Lord, extol God’s love that way you will be bathed in love and rightly will they love you.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Has Been Developed With the Most Sophisticated Protocols, Be Assured The Vaccine is Safe

 We have been asked to provide sources assuring anyone about the safety of the COVID-19 Vaccine. We are only going to share outlines, but we hope you will follow the links provided.

In this blog we share with you five thematic areas:

1.     CDC statement on safety

2.     Defining  vaccine protocols and parameters of transmission

3.     Parameters for defining a pandemic and country response

4.     Establishing structures of safety

5.     Daily activities

CDC has assured us that they take time to study the nature of the virus that way it is possible to map out which medications, vaccines, or drugs to use as antidotes.

According to CDC "When there is an emerging pathogen like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, CDC expertise lies in our ability to study the new pathogen to understand how it is transmitted, and translate that knowledge into public health action. Since first learning of the cluster of cases in Wuhan, China, CDC has rapidly advanced the science around this new human pathogen, SARS-CoV-2. CDC has been both on the forefront of understanding this new disease and led the nation’s efforts to protect Americans from infection. Currently, over 6,700 CDC employees have been engaged in the agency’s COVID-19 response, and over 1,200 of these staff have been deployed to nearly 200 different locations in the United States and abroad. CDC staff have conducted rapid investigations of outbreaks that identified highest-risk priority populations and settings. Understanding specific population-level vulnerabilities and how infections spread in various types of settings has been instrumental in the development of guidance that will help keep the American people healthy and allow critical infrastructure services to be provided safely. For example, after data emerged that contrary to expectation, SARS-CoV-2 could be transmitted by people without symptoms, CDC recommended that people wear masks around others who do not live in their households, especially in settings where it is difficult to maintain a distance of six feet. There is increasing evidence that masks help prevent people who have COVID-19, including those without symptoms, from spreading SARS-CoV-2 to others."

The fear that the COVID-19 vaccine has been hastily made can be explained. Not all haste leads to waste. In some cases, haste is informed by knowledge and safety-based standard operating protocols (SOPs).

CDC defines COVID-19 as a new disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. This new disease, officially named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO), is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In dealing with a multi-agency approach has been adopted.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working closely with other government partners in this response. Congress passed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020; the Families First Coronavirus Response Act; the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act; and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. These laws have provided additional resources, authorities, and flexibility. Within HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Assistant Secretary for Health, along with additional components not represented today, play critical roles in the response to this public health emergency. All in all, a vaccine safety chain comes into existence.

The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Safety is a top priority while federal partners work to make a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine(s) available.

So be assured, the vaccine is safe. There is a vaccine that will stop COVID-19 in its tracks.

All pictures sourced from Google

Advocacy Network Africa, a Non Profit, To Serve Black Africans, Latino and Caribbean refugees in Greater Los Angeles

 We are an organization established to provide strategic information that new Americans, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers can access easily. 

We noted a paucity of support organizations targeting Black Africans, Latino and Caribbean refugees in Greater Los Angeles and we want to make this our niche.

We do this through blogs and other social media platforms.

We want to contribute to online voices enhancing the ability for local host communities to catalyze participation in life promoting activities for all people.

With COVID-19 spikes we hoped that we could strengthen messaging targeting new Americans refugees and asylum seekers.

Through this platform we hope to reach out to many beneficiaries who may be in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Useful Information for Asylum Seekers, New Americans, Immigrants and Refugees In California Concerning COVID-19

 

COVID-19 Must Not Win, A Los Angeles Based Activist Joins the Campaign

Tom Rogers Muyunga-Mukasa is an expert community organizer. Tom is able to work effectively in a Laboratory, clinic or at the grassroots. This versatility was gained over so many years. We caught up with Tom and this is what he told us. 

Blog Interviewer:

Tom briefly tell us your experience in the corporate world.

Tom: 

My experience in other areas enables me to be the right candidate for this job. I have worked in both Massachusetts and California since 2012-2020. 

BI: 

COVID-19 eradication campaigns are multi-faced. How can you convince a likely employer to choose you for an opening in their company?

Tom: 

I am competent, professional, and aware of the demands of the job. I shall be fully available to offer high quality assistance. I am patient and friendly with excellent communication skills, able to follow instructions and perform a variety of tasks to ensure quality life goals for the clients. 

BI: 

Can you give our readers a snap-shot into the hands-on experience?

Tom:

I have worked variously at the grassroots: as a Community Liaison connecting senior immigrants to health care services under the San Francisco General Hospital Refugee Program; HIV Prevention Committee Member under the UCSF-SGF HIV Prevention Program; Member of the Africa Advocacy Network serving San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco and Sacramento; as a Front-Office Manager under the Mercy Housing serving the Youth, families and Long Term Housing Services; and part-timed with the AIDS Foundation as a Housing Case Worker for LGBTIQQ Living with HIV in San Francisco.  

BI: 

I noticed you have experience which enables you to acquire a multi-cultural sensitivity. How have you turned that cultural sensitivity around to benefit society?

Tom:

Over the weekends I worked as a Care Giver Nurse at a long-term care facility with the Institute on Aging (IOA). I worked as the President for Best Buddies Club to raise consciousness around autism and down syndrome on Campuses. 

BI: 

This experience enabled you to rise up the ranks of the corporate world. How have you turned your expertise into a campaign against COVID-19?

Tom:

Until 11/06/2020, I was the Procurement and Logistics officer managing funds or resources provided to UNICEF-USA in Los Angeles. My task involved working with vulnerable children, link them to care, social services and provide consumables. I have been supervising over 10,000 homes which we have provided with anti-COVID-19 supplies regularly.  

BI: 

Were any other skills called for in your work? If so how can you tell the likely employer or a reader of this blog how you juggle the skills for effective outcomes.

Tom:

I am skilled in research, data-analysis, problem-solving and problem-posing techniques. I have the right leadership skills and the experience of managing responsive interventions targeting the homeless, children and families, Black, LatinX, Indigenous, LGBTQ, and other marginalized communities in California and Africa. I am a very careful but quick learner, team-player, skilled in design-thinking and execution of project plans, build and deepen relationships, and support the management of the team’s mission for reducing COVID-19 transmission.  

BI: 

If you were to be employed or involved in managing a COVID-19 eradication program. Assure the potential employer.

Tom:

I shall come with my recruitment skills, I am committed, a results-oriented person, able to work independently; organized, detail-oriented, flexible, a problem solver, and can plan around and through ambiguity. I can contribute to the fight against COVID-19. So, if you are out there and need a person with my kind of credentials do not hesitate to write to me on the following email:trm10@stmarys-ca.edu.

BI:

Thank you Tom. Our readers, you never know Tom could be the best-fit your organization needs at this time. These are very strange times.

St. Mary's College of California Political Science Student, Gives Back To An African Community

It was a late afternoon and the clouds were gathering over Mount Kenya.

Nyeri is one of the County Government towns in Kenya.

It is lovely and in it, one finds women, men, young adults and adolescents hard at work.

I am glad, I managed to be taken around the different places and saw how dedicated to work people are.

This was part of my research and community immersion session that started in August. I am now about to compile all my reports. But, through it all I am so happy I managed to meet so many people who are so friendly.

I did research into Drug use disorder and how interventions are sought. Or, whether services exist. I then developed a plan to support communities to engage in understanding the threats paused by drug misuse. I hope to continue with more stories.

Towns or cities, open up many potentials I realised.

For Nyeri Town, the potential is seen in the rapidly increasing housing estates.

Did you know Lord Baden Powell was buried in Nyeri. I read about his works and times in Zimbabwe. Then, it was still called Rhodesia. South Rhodesia to be precise.

There is so much to catch up to in Nyeri. But, for me visiting that artisan workers and other hard working people was a climax of it all.

I hope you will, one day, come and visit.