Holy Nervous, Batman

So, I have my ticket, I have my waterfilter, I have my antimalarials, I have my sleeping bag, and my safari outfit. But where is my courage? I keep telling myself that it's only a year of my life, and one that I have the wealth and mobility to escape from if I so choose. But at the same time, this impending trip to Africa is the most significant event of my life so far. My stomach is churning, but there are also butterflys of excitement. I know I won't believe it until I get there, no matter if my suitcases are nearly packed and I have the yellow fever vaccinations seering through my veins. 13 days to go. I hope you'll all stick with me on this trip, as I certainly hope I'll have some good stories to tell!

AIDS 2006

It's AIDS 2006, the International Aids Conference, in Toronto at the moment. Go! Go now! Imagine all of a sudden being surrounded by tens of thousands of people working for the same positive change you are!

I have been working at the CPAR exhibit in the Global Village section (booths, etc, lots of NGOS) and have had the chance to check out some of the sessions as well. I know that it's 'just a conference' but there's something about the fact that there are 24000 people (and that's only official delegates) together concentrating on two simple issues: LIFE and DIGNITY. I'm ashamed to admit it, but the intensity of the entire convention has made me cry on several occasions. To me, it feels like there are representatives from every inch of the AIDS landscape, from all points of the compass and all generations. The thing that is the most exciting is that there are also representatives from each APPROACH to alleviate the crisis- the grandmothers selling their crafts to afford to send their charges to school, the NGOs promoting treatment, counselling, and education, and those targeting the underlying POVERTY of AIDS, the Government and Corporate delegates working on policy and research...

This higgledy piggledy blog indicates just what an overwhelming experience this conference is for me- it leaves me utterly unable to convey the enthusiasm, hope and learning that the conference is providing me. All I can say is Hurrah!