Taking off!

I'll be leaving on Friday morning to Mexico...it still seems surreal that I'll be gone for so long but I'm also looking forward to everything that lies ahead, in particular sampling the 5000 varieties of potato that apparently exist!

My travels will take me first to Chiapas and Oaxaca with Oliver for 11 days, where we'll visit with his family, relax on a beach and go to a festival in Tehuantepec before I ship off to Lima to work as an intern with the International Potato Centre ( http://www.cipotato.org/) on their "healthy and sustainable horticulture production" project in the Andean communities around Huancayo, Peru. While all of my activities and projects aren't yet finalized, I will primarily be working on integrating health into the other activities taking place in the area, assessing the burden of disease in potato farming families related to pesticide use, connecting with other regional organizations with similar aims and working on a food security program.

Some maps of Peru and the area where I'll be in particular

Although I am looking forward to this possibility and to travelling again, I know that I will miss everyone here, and Canada life overall. I'll be keeping you all posted while I attempt to swim in the Mexican surf, sample spuds, try to avoid being sprayed with pesticides, hike up Machu Picchu, and arrive back home safely!

Lots of love to you all,

Bron