tracy kidder

i know, i know. i go to too many talks and why did i call this "tickle my life" when it's not actually very funny? i guess what it comes down to is that i may never again be surrounded by the opportunity to go to so many unique talks and before college burns me out, i might as well go if i have time. also tracy kidder is just really cool for all that he is most certainly a better author than he is a speaker (this is not to say that what he had to say was not interesting - it was). anyways, he talked about burundi and village health works and before there was a fundraiser dinner where students swipe in and money gets donated (this is definitely one of the cooler/nicer things that the college does). food was yum, especially the pink bean soup. the other thing that the dinner made me realize was that i know nothing about africa. i dont' even know it's geography let alone it's massively confusing history of conflict. that's now my winter study project for all the free time i anticipate having (yes, that's added on to an already long list of things to do). in any case, the project is extraordinary in that it has such a large indigenous support base and tons of local volunteers, most particularly women. when a belgium road company said that it would cost thousands of dollars to expand the road leading to the clinic that was built, the locals, upon hearing of the dilemma, said that no money would be paid, they would do it themselves. and they did. it gives me hope that there are people who have the passion and willpower to really make positive change no matter the adversity faced. and it gives me hope that not everything done in philanthropic attempts to make the world better is fruitless. so contribute if you have the ability, money in africa goes an awful lot farther than it does in the us.


(and total side note, in case you're wondering, the tickle comes from me being ticklish and not in any way from the content of my ramblings)