Stride with Haiti-Disaster Relief

Hi folks!

Inspired by close friends' pleads in Haiti, here's an idea my friend Lindsay has put together- http://stridewithhaiti.blogspot.com/ for Partners in Health who have been providing effective healthcare in Haiti for almost 25 years (have you read Mountains beyond Mountains?).

She thought of 'Stride with Haiti' Tuesday and since have been pitching it to several running/biking retailers around Austin, with the finale of the Austin Marathon committee Friday- great feedback so far & will know the Austin involvement by Tuesday b/c of the time sensitive funding needs.

Please pass blog to any friends around the world that may be inspired by PiH's relief in Haiti to get something going in their town.

The fault I am studying in Jamaica is an extension of the Enriquillo fault in Haiti, and because of this disaster being so prominent in the news right now, Matt's project in Jamaica has just received funding for the next couple years. I feel frustrated that my funding to do field work comes in the aftermath of such a tragedy. I'm trying to help the Jamaican people be better prepared by understanding the hazards they face, but it comes at the high cost of seeing how Haiti is struggling.

I'll be going to Jamaica in March for field work. Before that, I want to feel like I've given enough back to the people of Haiti.

Peace,

Katie

Haiti Earthquake was my Fault

Although the specific risks of the fault zone near Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, may not have been known until recent years, the region has a long history of major earthquakes, including the earthquakes that destroyed Jamaica's capital, Kingston, in 1692 and 1907, that also occurred along the Enriquillo fault, which extends hundreds of miles through the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica. These are the earthquakes I am studying, and a magnitude 7 or 8 quake would be nearly as damaging in Jamaica as in Port au Prince. This earthquake was perhaps timely for my continued funding, since we're waiting to hear from NSF if they'll continue to fund our work. It doesn't hurt to have sudden political interest in our work.

In more cheerful news, I just returned to Austin after a four day stint in Richmond. It was a last-minute trip to get some more sediment analysis done before classes started here. I got a lot of work done, ate Shannon's awesome cooking, and met Meg's 3-month-old son, Henry, who is a very happy baby. I got caught up on all the committee gossip, including the latest ridiculous things Amy M has said.

My classes start today, and I'm looking forward to them. I need a little more structure in my days than I had the past month, it is too easy to just keep pressing the snooze button if I don't have to get to an early class. I'll be studying basic programming languages used for geologic modeling as well as Marine Tectonics, a class co-taught by a slew of geophysicists who don't really get the concept of lesson plans. Fun.

My goals for this new semester are to actually start using the yoga mat I bought myself for christmas, and to show up at work on a regular basis, especially on Wednesdays, when there is free food. And have more dinner parties.

Ahem.

PEOPLE! write on the blog! i need reading material. jeez.

ps nothing exciting is happening in my life. i just work until really late at night.

pps okay it's a little more exciting than that, like when my team decides to sleep in a pile (see image. they were inspired by watching the movie "Where the Wild Things Are" a few months ago; most of them didn't really like the movie but were nonetheless attracted to the concept). but i want to hear about you all more than i want to tell you all about me.