Tuesday, August 31, 2010
thank you Mother Nature
for your beautiful works of art that wash up on the shores of La Réunion. Here are the beauties I came back with this past weekend.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Update on Madagascar
All of you out there unfamiliar with the proportion of the politcal problems that have added up over the past year and a half should watch this short documentary. When Alex and I lived over there, it was already the 12th poorest country in the world. I wonder where that ranking has sunk to now. Madagascar has always been close to our hearts and when the current govt took over, we feared the friends we left behind would fall deeper into poverty. It's heartbreaking, frustrating, and outrageous all at the same time.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Kiva, round 3
With our first Kiva loan already 100% paid back, and our second one 50% paid back, it's time for us to do it again.
In this Group:
Tasleem Muhammad Qasim, Mujahid Parveen Muhammad Yameen
Tasleem is the resident of Multan City. She moved there after her marriage. Her home is a small one with three rooms where she lives with her husband and six children. Her husband is 58 years old and has a scrap business in the local market. He works 10-12 hours per day to earn income for his family. Tasleem’s children could not complete their education and had to start working with their father to financially support the family. Her eldest son has his own business which he started two years ago by receiving his first loan from Asasah.
Tasleem is a housewife as well as an embroidery artist. She makes beautiful embroidered clothes on order for her neighborhood clients.
She has applied for a loan from Asasah for her husband who wants to expand his scrap business. With the loan, he will buy scrap to sell at his shop. He has five years' experience in this business and he is sure that he can improve his financial condition with the help of an investment. Tasleem is in her third loan cycle. She has proved to be a very responsible loan user and always attends meetings on time.
In this Group:Location: Multan, Pakistan
Activity: Recycling
Tasleem is the resident of Multan City. She moved there after her marriage. Her home is a small one with three rooms where she lives with her husband and six children. Her husband is 58 years old and has a scrap business in the local market. He works 10-12 hours per day to earn income for his family. Tasleem’s children could not complete their education and had to start working with their father to financially support the family. Her eldest son has his own business which he started two years ago by receiving his first loan from Asasah.
Tasleem is a housewife as well as an embroidery artist. She makes beautiful embroidered clothes on order for her neighborhood clients.
She has applied for a loan from Asasah for her husband who wants to expand his scrap business. With the loan, he will buy scrap to sell at his shop. He has five years' experience in this business and he is sure that he can improve his financial condition with the help of an investment. Tasleem is in her third loan cycle. She has proved to be a very responsible loan user and always attends meetings on time.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Australia, not quite as we imagined.
Sydney had it's coldest winter in 50 years these past months. "Lucky us" I was thinking, as we arrived to our hotel in the middle of it. A hotel whose heating system wasn't working properly. Not used to the chill creeping into our bones, we hopped on a quick flight to Cairns after one day of sleeplessness and hibernating in the city.
Up in Cairns, we quickly acclimated to the weather and time. Perhaps a bit touristy, but no matter since we could actually walk around in tee-shirts and flip-flops. Also, since we booked last minute, we got a huge deal on an incredible apartment for the week. It was close to the center of town, but a bit too long for monkey, so we improvised this grocery cart in place of a stroller.
It was also close to a huge play area for young kids, so we took advantage of that several times.
On one afternoon, I slipped away as the boys were napping, and checked out the Cairns Regional Art Gallery and the Contemporary Art Gallery where I picked up a cool red kangaroo leather cuff.
A decorated Ukulele exhibit.
Plate lunch exhibit, made out of any materials except actual food.
We toured around a small wildlife area. Ahem, on top of a hotel.
Alex and I had also planned for the three of us to spend a day out on the Great Barrier Reef, but Luc became a little sick the morning the boat was leaving, so Alex went, and Luc and I watched Australian cartoons for part of the day. Even the programming on TV in Australia reminds me of America. Lots of loud commercials, reality shows, and constant news coverage.
When we stopped back in Australia again, the weather was much more gracious the second time around. Walking around outside was still chilly, but we could do it, as long as the sun was out. The walks around were slow, so the monkey's little legs didn't tire out too quickly, but we still managed to see the Opera House, the Rocks, Chinatown, a fabric store (ok, that was just me!), the Sydney tower, and Manly beach.
Although, if you ask Luc, he was way more interested in that stick he found on the ground.
Up in Cairns, we quickly acclimated to the weather and time. Perhaps a bit touristy, but no matter since we could actually walk around in tee-shirts and flip-flops. Also, since we booked last minute, we got a huge deal on an incredible apartment for the week. It was close to the center of town, but a bit too long for monkey, so we improvised this grocery cart in place of a stroller.
It was also close to a huge play area for young kids, so we took advantage of that several times.
On one afternoon, I slipped away as the boys were napping, and checked out the Cairns Regional Art Gallery and the Contemporary Art Gallery where I picked up a cool red kangaroo leather cuff.
A decorated Ukulele exhibit.
Plate lunch exhibit, made out of any materials except actual food.
We toured around a small wildlife area. Ahem, on top of a hotel.
Alex and I had also planned for the three of us to spend a day out on the Great Barrier Reef, but Luc became a little sick the morning the boat was leaving, so Alex went, and Luc and I watched Australian cartoons for part of the day. Even the programming on TV in Australia reminds me of America. Lots of loud commercials, reality shows, and constant news coverage.When we stopped back in Australia again, the weather was much more gracious the second time around. Walking around outside was still chilly, but we could do it, as long as the sun was out. The walks around were slow, so the monkey's little legs didn't tire out too quickly, but we still managed to see the Opera House, the Rocks, Chinatown, a fabric store (ok, that was just me!), the Sydney tower, and Manly beach.
Although, if you ask Luc, he was way more interested in that stick he found on the ground.
