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where ever you go, there you are
where ever you go, there you are
Mira que viaje, mae.
Related to country: Mexico

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It’s been about a month or more since I’ve blogged, a month or more since I left Toronto, and a month or more that I’ve been traveling across Central America. Technically there is plenty to blog about, but I’ve found myself at a loss for time. In between planning travel logistics, attending the International AIDS Conference, and finishing off work contracts and school essays I’ve found myself short on blog time. As I set off for the International AIDS Conference last month with my iPhone clutched in hand I vowed to be a model global citizen and blog my experiences to the world. Now over a month later I can look back and acknowledge my idealism. The realities of being an AIDS Conference blogger are tough, combined with the forces of poor internet access, overwhelmed networks, and short bursts of free time that are arguably better spent getting to know the finer parts of Mexico City-- Tepito markets, luchador lockdowns, Volkswagen jitter bugs, rumbling metros with fresh literary treats, magnificent murals, and cafes con leche at the legendary Café Tacuba. Mexico City is one of my favorite cities in the world and it did not disappoint. I spent the majority of the time with my conference crew, some of whom had a better time finding time to blog, like Kate J from Unpacking Development. The conference was an incredible experience, and I attended a number of amazing workshops that are worth mentioning. Focusing my time mostly on youth and harm reduction streamed activities, I learned about the struggles of convincing governments that needle exchanges actually work, the tribulations of providing services for the youth who are most at-risk, convincing youth that harm reduction and peer-education are cool, and the various ways that NGOs are working to change that. I met some pretty amazing dedicated activists and researchers, and it was great to connect with people from Toronto who are usually too busy to hang out.

From the conference Josue and I ran off to some tranquility to try and pound through some work, mainly final subtitling videos and updating the VIVA! Project’s website. Drupal has been a journey in itself (as you can see yourself as an unlogged in anonymous user), but we are finally getting somewhere and the site should be running fine by the end of the month. Between traveling south and finishing off work somewhere on the coast of Oaxaca I get this email from Helena telling us about a conference coming up in September for Ignite the Americas. I had gone to the Ignite Youth Arts Forum last year and it blew me away. I immediately forwarded it to Josue and now weeks later he received his acceptance. Bouncing from one conference onto another, it’s hard to find time to blog, but now we’re finally back in Costa Rica for a week enjoying our home here for the last stretch. After passing through so many countries on our bus journey from Mexico to Costa Rica, I can honestly say that this feels like home and is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Yet I have to say goodbye for now, as grad school is calling. Better get back to those papers, including finishing up my work on new media on mobilerevolutions.org.



August 28, 2008 | 7:55 PM Comments  0 comments

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