Destination: Cote d'Ivoire

“WHAT do you do Phoebe?? You are never in the country!”  Let me provide an answer:  I am a Training Specialist on a USG funded project which procures HIV test kits, ARVs, OIs, lab commodities, etc. and then donates them at no cost to the focus countries under PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).  Want to know more? http://www.pepfar.gov/about/index.htm

As with all things funded by the USG they would ultimately like to see sustainable change which means decentralizing the procurement of these commodities to the staff in the aforementioned focus countries.  It is my job to train these staff members on USG Regulations – the FUN FAR and AWESOME AIDAR!  I am not going to provide links to these to ensure my readers remain awake.  Anyha, I 100% love my job.  I love working with people, I love traveling and I love everything that is involved in being a trainer.  It has taken me to places I never thought I would ever see in my lifetime:  Haiti, Vietnam, Japan, London, Amsterdam, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and now Cote d’Ivoire.  I am blessed beyond words:   I am working in a field that helps saves / improves the quality of life for those living with HIV / AIDS, I am traveling at no personal cost and I am blessed by those I meet – learning about them personally, their traditions, their culture, enjoying their savory foods and sweatin’ it out to their vibrant, soulful dances.  This is definitely an appropriate time to say “Praise Him!”  (reference When NOT to thank Baby Jesus in swaddled cloth ... ). 

I leave in less than 24 hours and here we are on a cold and rainy Friday early morning (about 2am) ...  and have procrastinated beyond belief!  I JUST literally finished unpacking from my ATL trip, did laundry and begin packing for this trip *shame on me* I am very excited about this trip because Cote d’Ivoire is a new country to me!  I am looking forward to getting to know a new culture, a new dance, trying a new dish and maybe expand my French vocabulary.  Right now my French vocabulary consists of “oui,” “bonjour,” “champagne”, “bon a petit,”  “ménage a trois” and of course the chorus to Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade”.

If you are a person who does not travel much and rely on the news to determine your opinion about a country then allow me to “open your eyes” to facts beyond the civil unrest that has been replayed over and over again on the news:

FACTS about Cote d’Ivoire

• Abidjan is NOT the capital of this country.  It is considered the “principal city” as it is the economic and political capital of the country.
• While French is the official language there are over 60 native dialects spoken. 
•  35 – 40% of the country worships as Muslim while another 25 – 35% worships a form of Christianity.  
• Cote d’Ivoire gained their independence from France on August 7, 1960. 
•  The country is rich in natural resources such as oil, gold (INSERT ANGRY BLACK GIRL COMMENT:  that explains why the Whites invaded – always tryna take something that ain’t theirs *smh*), cocoa (I can look forward to some yummy chocolate!), timber, rubber, rice and corn. 

But for anyone who knows me, you know I am looking forward to learning a new dance, lots of eating and lots of ice cold drinks er preferably with alcohol in them.  I always try the local beer and only in Nigeria was I disappointed in the local beer (I was quite a HUGE fan of the beer (Prestige) and rum (Barbacourt) in Haiti).  Well on the social front I have several “contacts”:  I have two past training participants who know I love to dance and then there is my colleague with whom I am traveling.  She grew up in this country and as she is in her mid-20s I expect to sleep very little, dance and sweat very much.  In preparation I will be packing the following:

Over 30 Tryna Party with a 25 Year Old Packing List

1.       Gummy vitamins with energy and immunity support

2.       8 12oz sugar-free redbulls

3.       Airborne

4.       Fiber One granola bars

5.       Core Rhythms Program DVD (20 minute and 60 minute workout)

Throw in the necessary toiletries, some work clothes, some booty poppin’ jeans, some cleavage complimenting shirts, work shoes, sandals and sexy wedges and viola I am packed!  

It seems so easy as I type it out … and yet I have barely started …

I must bring this entry to and end so that I can finish packing or go to bed.  Either way I leave tomorrow - destination:  Cote d’Ivoire.