Home

I've been back in California for nearly 48 hours now, readjusting to the new time zone and managing re-entry shock. I am staying at my sister's house in San Leandro until the weekend when my house will be vacated. Maybe once I get there, I will feel like I am home again.

Although, I won't be posting much to this blog in the next five months, stay tuned for some short films that I will be making soon on my trip to Tanzania and Rwanda which I will post here. Also, I will post information on some of the charitable organizations I am supporting from time to time as well.

Thanks for taking an interest in my travels!

Geneva and the WHO Solidarity Fair

I arrived in Geneva yesterday evening just in time to help my friend Maria and some of her WHO colleagues decorate the WHO lobby for the 13th Annual World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Fair. Maria founded this event to set up a fund to assist WHO staff members when they find themselves in emergency situations. These can range from losing one's job or suffering a reduction in hours to health problems causing loss of work. The Fund lends money to staff in need who later pay back the Fund when there are able to do so. The fair is great fun with lots of fabulous food from around the world, music, and crafts. Most of the crafts support NGOs in the developing world and the Solidarity Fund takes a 20% cut. They typically raise around $13,000 through this event. I am on photography duty (taking a wee break here as I wait for more favorable lighting conditions -- it is mighty sunny in Geneva today).

Ali and I spent my last weekend in Morocco with two friends touring the wonderful city of Chefchaouen. This town is nestled in the Rif Mountains and reminded me a lot of Tangier in the late 60s. Lots of hippy types and a wonderful Medina with touts around every corner offering to sell hashish. Well, they don't hustle to women or older people it seems, but our young friend Nate got a 7-10 offers a day. The town consists of white adobe structures, many of which are painted bright blue and soft purple. The Medina is small enough to get around without getting lost and it is very hilly as well. We did some hiking both days (one quite strenuous) ate well, and laughed a lot. Anyone going to Morocco should definitely put Chefchaouen on the must-visit list.

It's hard to believe that I will be home in less than a week. A few more days in Geneva and then one in Amsterdam and off I am homeward bound. Fabulous.