Ok, so I had a ton of posts ready to go before I left for Colombia. I had thought that I would be coming home this past Thursday, the 22nd. As these things go, I was convinced, it didn’t take a lot of arm twisting, to stay an extra two weeks and jump into Ecuador for a couple of days. I would almost apologize to you, my loyal readers, but I really don’t think I can or should. I mean, i’m unemployed and having an incredible time.
I have though had some issues with staying here longer. Honestly, the biggest draw back is that I will not be able to keep current with my blog. My reading has pretty much been reduced to a few pages a day. For once in the past year or two the one thing I have been able to do without fail has been over shadowed by my desire to be where I am rather than try to escape from my surroundings in a book. This also means that until I return there will most likely not be anymore book reviews. This will be the first time since I started this blog nearly a year ago that I will not post a review and it’s incredibly troubling for me but again, I cannot complain about being in S. America. And, that said, I am quite confident that you will be able to deal with it. I promise as soon as I get back you will have reviews as well as some other forms of entertainment from yours truly.
On another front, I have been taking videos daily of my exploits. Some videos of my surroundings but more in a diary form. Unfortunately internet here is not exactly great so trying to upload these videos has not been very easy. Therefore once I return and have a chance to sit down at the computer for about 2 days solid you should be able to follow my trip from the day I departed until the day I return home.
I´m not exactly going to take time from my adventures to do extensive research on whats happening in the world of literary events that are coming up but I have one gem for you this week.
Monday, April 26th
@ 12pm
- Rebecca Skloot, author, will be at North Gate Hall Library on the UC Berkeley campus discussing her book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Just recently someone had brought this book to my attention and after reading some of the feedback regarding it I´m quite excited to read it. The event, put on by The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and other University groups, is free and will most likely be very entertaining. The book itself revolves around Ms. Lacks importance to science as her cells have been crucial tools for the development of the polio vaccine, uncovering secrets of diseases, aided in in vitro fertilization as well as many other medicinal research uses. The story goes on to tell the story of the Lacks family and how they have been used and not sufficiently compensated or acknowledged. Ms. Skloot is a established science journalist and has had an established career in the world of writing.
As my interest in journalism as a career has grown over the past year I was greatly looking forward to attending this event but of course, as you now know, I will still be in S. America. I had also imagined this event as being a perfect place to talk to current Berkeley J-School students and possibly faculty and learn more about the program. Alas, It looks as though I will have to wait until I return to attend one of their information sessions.
Alright ladies and gents, hold your horses, I´ll be back soon and you will be inundated by not only book realted information but my S. American travels as well!
