Sgt. Gironda and Me

Jo-Anne Swensson

So I am starting my research here at home. I went on my first ride-along Sunday with one of St. Petersburg PD’s Sergeants to track how much fuel is used, how many miles are driven, and to try to determine the amount of carbon emissions released per vehicle per shift. We spent the 10-hour shift responding to calls, driving around the City checking neighborhoods, businesses and providing support to her Officers.

This was no episode of cops, but there was running after bad guys, several arrests made, and our police dogs responded to two different calls to help search for bad guys. Continue reading Let the research begin…

Maria Booker

I can’t believe that I have been here for over three weeks, and I still really feel unaccomplished. I don’t know if it’s the Ghana reporting structure, the culture shock, or the overwhelming heat that is affecting me, but I know that this is completely out of character for me. Usually when I need something done, it’s done about a month before it’s due. I am actually quite frustrated with myself, because I am supposed to be studying for my LEED exam too while I am here, and that isn’t getting anywhere fast either. I think that laid back Ghanaian culture is in my veins now.

Continue reading Accra, Ghana – Day 24 (06/08/11)

“(Down) Under the Weather!”

Joy Ingram

I wish I could say this has been a GOOD week, but I can’t remember the last time I was this sick without throwing up (would that be “throwing down” here?)!  I mentioned it last week, but had no idea I’d be WORSE this week!  Whatever it was turned into bronchitis and required antibiotics and still isn’t gone.  I still feel as if I can’t breathe, and I think my lungs are close to dislodging from coughing so hard.  On top of that, it has been cold and particularly rainy in Sydney this week.  I’ve been unable to do much sight-seeing (although further down you’ll read my feeble – and I do mean “feeble” – attempt to take back the weekend) and I am somewhat behind on my project, but that just means that I will have to work “harder and smarter next week”….Did I really just write that?  Oh, dear, I AM sick…..

Continue reading Sydney, Australia – Week 2 Down Under (5/29/11 -6/4/11)

Maryhelen Shuman-Groh

Several of the guys who work here live in Roseau. They told me that when the cruise ships come in, by mid-day, they have little or no water pressure. Additionally, rates for water just went up. One man’s bill went to over $100EC (~$40US). I am having difficulty finding recent figures on average income here – almost everything available is from 2001-2005 which means it does not reflect the recent world economic crisis. I suspect the water bill is a big chunk of income. Continue reading Additional water conversations

Maryhelen Shuman-Groh

I decided to go diving – of course!  You didn’t think I would spend time on a Caribbean island and not go diving, did you?

From the dive boat

Continue reading Some of the Water Issues Here

Maryhelen Shuman-Groh

I’m staying south of the capital city of Roseau the seat of government and all the related offices.  Getting around this side of the island is fairly easy with mini buses running regularly.  They are $1.75EC from here.  You wait on the road and signal them as they approach.  If the vehicle isn’t overflowing, and sometimes even if it is, they stop and you climb in.  Whoever is stuck in the ‘door’ seat gets to jump in and out with every stop.  It is a wild and woolly ride in the packed minibus to town where everyone unloads in the area known as Old Market.  I am obviously the ‘visitor’ on the bus. Continue reading Adventures in Getting around Dominica

Co-Founder of Hotmail Pic( Naveen Singha) Dinner at the Newton Food Center

Shannee Green

This week has been spent talking to local citizens and getting a feel on there perspective on water. When I went to the PUB last week, I asked why I couldn’t purchases cases of bottle water and I they notified me that everyone drinks Tap. So I decided to ask local residents how they felt about there tap water and if that was their source for drinking water. My first courageous soul was a taxi driver and he was not happy with the water he said that when he puts the water in the bottle and drinks it throughout the day, It has an odor. He believes its going to kill him one day, but he complained the whole taxi drive about the water and his superstitions, I politely smiled the whole trip and shook my head politely in an understanding manner. My next taxi driver, said that he has been drinking the water for many year, since he was in the military and that he believes the water is safe. He mentioned the desalination plant and the reservoirs. He said that the birds go to the reservoirs  to drink the water that was once ocean water. His discussion was calming as he went on to tell me about elephants and how people shouldn’t mistreat them. Thus far, I personally think the water is safe. It does have a distinct odor that I hate after showering and my face is breaking out, which I hate because I never had problems with pimples before. I’m trying not to blame it on the water, but …….. I’ll keep an open mind. Continue reading Singapore Week 2

Maryhelen Shuman-Groh

Arrived at 7 p.m. last night – only about 5 hours later than expected but 5 hours past my wall.  I was up 4 to catch my flight and as usual didn’t sleep well the night before as I’m always paranoid about missing my flights.  That’s especially true of getting to places like Dominica where only one flight leaves from San Juan every afternoon.  In the past traveling from Boston, we always had to arrive a day before the Dominica flight. Continue reading Dominca

Maria Booker

My research is finally underway. Yesterday, I met with an entomologist from CSIR water research. I thought that the objective of the day would be to visit one community, and we would visit other communities on different days, but when I got to her she told me that we were going to kill three birds with one stone and visit the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to see if we could get access to the malaria reports that I need, then visit Chorkor, an indigenous community, and then visit Agbogbloshie, an informal settlement. Continue reading Accra, Ghana – Day 15 (05/31/11)

Maryhelen Shuman-Groh

On Friday, 5 days before departure, I received an offer to intern with the national water company.  I am now scrambling to rewrite my proposals and modify my packing to accommodate more ‘business’ clothes.  I will still be meeting with the folks in tourism and conservation with whom I planned my original trip but that will be in addition to whatever work the formal internship arranges.  Unfortunately, I won’t know what that work will be until I get there. Continue reading Change of Plans, Friday, May 27th