VACCINATIONS - HOW MUCH?

I called my new physician to schedule my required vaccinations for travel to Kenya and he referred me to a clinic that specializes in such things. Due to my age, and being on the edge of changes in some vac requirements, I had to get caught up to ensure I was protected against everything including Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertusis, Yellow Fever, Meningitis, Hep A and B, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Typhoid.

Seven shots later (I have to go back for a couple more), the bill came to $865 bucks. I'm glad I passed on the Rabies series, which would have added another $1,000 to the total.

Fortunately, IBM is paying and my manager was great at approving. Still, I'm shocked at how expensive these are, and wonder if I'm being taken advantage of...

MY FAMILY'S REACTION

My wife and I discussed the CSC opportunity and commitment prior to my pressing the application "submit" button. With four children ranging in ages from 13 to 3, we rely on each other and our Catholic faith for the strength to get through the daily challenges of raising a family. When I shared the news, reality set in for my wife and me. The kids, of course, were apprehensive, but very excited. They obviously do not fully comprehend the impact of being without Dad for a month. Heck, I don't fully comprehend being without them for that long either.

I want to take a moment to recognize the fact that not every mother of four small children would agree to have their spouse leave the country for a month. It's takes a very special woman to make this sacrifice, and I truly cherish her courage. This is just one example of why I am so fortunate to have met her back in 1986, and marry her ten years later. I love you babe, I couldn't manage without you!

I MADE IT!

I applied to IBM's Corporate Service Corps (CSC) in Spring 2012. The application process was very comprehensive, requiring thoughtful responses to targeted questions. The global program is highly competitive, and required significant attention and dedication to ensure my responses were appropriate. I was not selected on my previous application in 2010, so I wanted to elevate the quality of my submission response, which included building over 100 hours of volunteer service in 2011. These improvements made the difference, since I received notification of acceptance in June 2012.

WELCOME!

This is my first attempt at blogging, and it's not intuitive for me to share information publicly. It's taken some time to simply publish this "initial" post, so expect some level of inconsistency as my comfort level evolves. Now, on to the journey...