Las Mercedes, Caracas, Venezuela, February 2024

It's a very busy February here, and I'm spending the long Carnival weekend in front of my computer working, rather than celebrating and dancing away on the beach like many residents of Caracas. No complaints though! Things are good and interesting despite needing to read dozens of various project proposals that our partners are sending us for consideration. I find studying project proposals to be educational most of the time. You're forced to take the time to read in detail all sorts of analyses and arguments, which ultimately gives you a broader understanding of the environment you work in. So, as I said, no complaints - it's an inspirational task that I'm undertaking.

Last week was stressful. I had my regular medical check-up at the hospital, which included a colonoscopy. Although I didn't find the procedure troublesome, I was a bit worried about the results. Luckily, everything seemed to be fine, and the doctor commended me on my efforts to undergo regular check-ups. I'd like to echo her sentiments to all of you. Please make sure you do your preventive/screening health procedures, even if they seem scary sometimes! By the way, I was so impressed with the service I received at the Santa Paula Clinic in Caracas. The team there was very friendly and professional, for which I am very grateful!

I've already purchased my tickets for the conference in Washington DC. Now, it's time for actual preparations to ensure the trip is as useful as possible. I'll be having a series of meetings with various organisations this and next week to get a full picture of what to expect, which should help me prepare better for my own advocacy messages.

While I have some familiarity with the US, this will be my first trip to Washington DC. I won't have a lot of time, but I should manage to carve out some free hours for exploring the city. I wonder what advice you would have for me regarding what's worth seeing, apart from the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument?

Obviously, I'll be reporting back to you from the US trip in my posts, and this will include a new photo gallery as well. Stay tuned if you're interested!