Going the Extra Mile..
No relevance, probably to the content, just that I promised to title the next entry this..in exchange for the perfect day, perfect parking spot and seals (not the navy ones) playing in the ocean when we walk by.
The internet connection in the hotel is a hit or miss..I wasn’t expecting to be this dramatic this soon especially while I’m in Santa Barbara, much less at a Hyatt property..but there we go folks..for real, the internet wasn’t working in the villas until today!
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The desk at DRI I've been working at, love the view!
..and no plugging or unplugging of anything 15 times a day (yes!!!) |
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| DRI Lobby - my photography does not do justice to the impact of this picture when you walk in the door |
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| One of my favorite pictures at DRI |
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| Cards and Letters from Donors to DRI on the wall in the breakroom |
So the last couple weeks have been rich in information and learnings. I got to dig deeper into DRI: operations in the US, systems that contain information and facilitate distribution of medicines and the processes that facilitate donation requests and vetting of recipients and so on. Just when I was going to exhale about not having SOPs, bam..they hit me with a vengeance. DRI’s SOPs and processes for engaging partners who receive donations are remarkably similar to our working practices for engaging biomarker labs, although I mindfully try not to jump into conclusions about similarities, differences etc. We talked about the occasional need to guide clinics through developing their own SOPs and processes on patient screening, inventory management etc. and how that is a complex and labor intensive activity..Déjà Vu developing validation SOPs with some biomarker labs (disturbing thought..am I getting nostalgic..ouch..).
Spent some time developing the strategy for the feasibility study, a formidable task considering the diversity of options available at this point, nevertheless, critical to the success of the project and more to DRI’s ability to deliver essential medicines to underserved communities in India. One of the major highlights in the last couple weeks was a very informative conversation we had with another NGO already on the ground making sustainable differences in health care delivery in India (who also happened to have pleasant experiences with PULSE volunteers themselves..boy we are good!!). Never missing an opportunity to find synergies with other organizations, particularly ones with proven track records of making considerable impact on disadvantaged populations, I got to witness the legendary enthusiasm and boundless passion DRI has perfected..the excitement was so very palpable as the conversation progressed (I’m pretty sure there were high fives, even) and the opportunity to collaborate became more and more realistic. The potential to work with them in India will add an element of focus and practicality even, especially important at the early stages of DRI operations in India,..it sure did call for a high-five or two..but I would’ve seal-clapped,..whatever..I’ll live with it.
The work for the next couple weeks is cut out, now that my visa to travel to India came through (YAY!!!). We are looking at more detailed planning for the immediate short term and the months to come: more calls scheduled with key stakeholders and other crucial partners in India, more planning meetings to map out an agenda for the first two weeks in India when couple other folks from DRI will also be there as well as firming up the various approaches and plans for the next six months. And one of my main objectives will be to further understand DRI US and international operations, different platforms being offered to partners and resources and individuals I will need to interface with and lean on while I am in India to progress the study forward. This is shaping up to be more of a challenge than I had anticipated with everyone’s travel schedules, apparently, people here have other things to do, putting out fires all over the world and probably saving a few thousand lives along the way. I am, however, still in shock that all of DRI doesn’t revolve around me...yet.
The coming weeks will be bitter sweet for several reasons – (a) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2, (b) my time with DRI HQ is coming to an end, and so is my time at the Villas, since we originally only planned for me to be here 2 weeks, I’ve had to find new accommodations for the remaining 2 weeks I’m in CA. Santa Barbara, in the middle of the summer, is insanely expensive..at least compared to RTP. It also means my jogging along the beautiful east beach twice a day will come to an end, although, the Goleta beach shouldn’t be too long of a drive from where my new place will be..fingers crossed! On the other hand..India will be in sight..soon. I cant wait to get to Incredible India!!
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| The Villas - Its really not a Villa as much a creatively named apartment building |
On the personal front, rode Amtrak down to LA over the fourth of July weekend to see friends I hadn’t seen in ages..my first time on the train in the US..loved every minute of it! We drove back to Santa Barbara later in the weekend and watched fireworks over the beach. Hands down, the best fireworks show I’ve seen without having to drive anywhere..and this weekend my good friends Will and Kate dropped by for a polo match in town ..they really should stop following me everywhere, its getting to be embarrassing.
I’m starting to miss Country Music and Sweet Tea (the southern belle that I am..obviously), the first of which I’m planning to fix with the QDR app, but the second I may be out of luck. There isn’t enough sugar in the entire state of California to make a glass of North Carolina sweet tea.
Finally, I would really like everyone to notice, btw, how I didn’t use anyones name this post. Especially yours Brett (and please also notice I didn’t mention anything about your swanky car). See..you just have to ask nice. My new colleagues have gotten so cyber shy since my first post. Next post though..all bets are off..especially if I’m in India by that time. Ha!
