17 Photos for 2017
I decided to mix things up by creating a photo journal of 17 photos to describe 2017, instead of my usual letter. If the old adage is correct, these photos alone should be worth 17,000 words.
At the beginning of 2017, Natasha and I were in Myanmar while on her Thomas Watson fellowship on rural electrification. The photo above is from our visit to Bagan, the capital of one of Myanmar's largest empires around 1100 AD.
While in Myanmar, I worked for Yoma Micro Power, a company building solar-storage-diesel microgrids to power off-grid telecom towers and the surrounding villages. During the month of February, I visited 40 rural villages in Myanmar to conduct surveys on current energy usage. The photo above was from one of those surveys. Those visits were one of the most exciting parts of my professional life and sparked my desire to return to Myanmar.
Natasha's aunt Sarah visited us for a few weeks toward the end of our time in Myanmar. She and Natasha toured around Myanmar, and I met up with them on their final stop in Hpa-An. Hpa-An translate's literally as "Frog Vomit" and is based on a myth about a dragon vomiting up a frog.
After Myanmar, Natasha and I spent one month in Tanzania working for Solar Sister, an NGO coordinating a network of village entrepreneurs selling off-grid solar lights. For our first field visit with Solar Sister, we tagged along on a school trip for Columbia master's students. On our way back to Arusha (where we were living) we made a quick stop at a safari park. Regrettably, the mud was quite wet and we got stuck. With some patience and plenty of rocks, we managed to get the bus out.
We went on a few field visits to interview members of Solar Sister's sales network of rural women. This photo was taken outside one of the saleswomen's home.
After Tanzania, we headed to Uganda where we spent 3.5 months. Since Uganda was our last stop on the Watson, we splurged some saved-up stipend money by renting a car and touring Uganda's national parks for two weeks. Luckily, we got to see a few chimps, though it was sad to hear stories of how common chimpanzees and other great apes use to be in Uganda 50 years ago. Dictatorships and civil wars have impacted wildlife and Ugandans, alike.
After our tour, Natasha and I settled into Kibaale, a small town about 6 hours west of Kampala, Uganda's capital. Natasha was helping a community-based organization set up a store selling solar lighting equipment, efficient cookstoves, and water filters.
A candid photo of Natasha and Richard, the store manager, outside of the store.
The store's inside once everything was set up.
We became close friends with Jessica, the store's shopkeeper. We visited her house on several occasions during our time in Kibaale. This is a photo of Natasha cooking an Indian curry for Jessica's family.
For our last two weeks in Uganda, Natasha and I headed to the south-west corner of Uganda to check-in on some solar systems that We Share Solar and We Care Solar, two NGO's Tasha has worked closely with, had installed over the last five years. We made several visits to the systems installed in schools and maternal medical clinics.
The weary travelers safely return! We sported the double-backpack which was our best and only look while in transit.
Fortunately, we were able to get my family together upon our return. We took advantage of us all being in the same place to take a nice family photo, though Davis had something different in mind. :)
We then drove from North Dakota to San Francisco to spend time with Natasha's family. We both enjoyed re-connecting with family and friends and the taking in the scenery along the way. The photo above shows San Francisco from atop Dolores Park.
In late September, we headed to London to start a Master's in Engineering for International Development at University College London. We were somewhat nervous about being the in same classes together, but overall it has gone better than expected. The photo above is from a visit to the Tate Modern, a modern art museum.
Natasha's brother Krishan and his girlfriend Leiska are doing their Masters degree in Rotterdam, and they visited London for a weekend. During their visit, we had a nice time visiting both sides of Krish and Tasha's family. The photo above was from an afternoon with Grandpa David and Aunt Sarah.
Finally, a photo of us clowning around while on a walk in Hampstead Heath.
We are both very thankful for the blessing 2017 brought us and hope that your 2018 has gotten off to a good start!
At the beginning of 2017, Natasha and I were in Myanmar while on her Thomas Watson fellowship on rural electrification. The photo above is from our visit to Bagan, the capital of one of Myanmar's largest empires around 1100 AD.
While in Myanmar, I worked for Yoma Micro Power, a company building solar-storage-diesel microgrids to power off-grid telecom towers and the surrounding villages. During the month of February, I visited 40 rural villages in Myanmar to conduct surveys on current energy usage. The photo above was from one of those surveys. Those visits were one of the most exciting parts of my professional life and sparked my desire to return to Myanmar.
Natasha's aunt Sarah visited us for a few weeks toward the end of our time in Myanmar. She and Natasha toured around Myanmar, and I met up with them on their final stop in Hpa-An. Hpa-An translate's literally as "Frog Vomit" and is based on a myth about a dragon vomiting up a frog.
After Myanmar, Natasha and I spent one month in Tanzania working for Solar Sister, an NGO coordinating a network of village entrepreneurs selling off-grid solar lights. For our first field visit with Solar Sister, we tagged along on a school trip for Columbia master's students. On our way back to Arusha (where we were living) we made a quick stop at a safari park. Regrettably, the mud was quite wet and we got stuck. With some patience and plenty of rocks, we managed to get the bus out.
We went on a few field visits to interview members of Solar Sister's sales network of rural women. This photo was taken outside one of the saleswomen's home.
After Tanzania, we headed to Uganda where we spent 3.5 months. Since Uganda was our last stop on the Watson, we splurged some saved-up stipend money by renting a car and touring Uganda's national parks for two weeks. Luckily, we got to see a few chimps, though it was sad to hear stories of how common chimpanzees and other great apes use to be in Uganda 50 years ago. Dictatorships and civil wars have impacted wildlife and Ugandans, alike.
After our tour, Natasha and I settled into Kibaale, a small town about 6 hours west of Kampala, Uganda's capital. Natasha was helping a community-based organization set up a store selling solar lighting equipment, efficient cookstoves, and water filters.
A candid photo of Natasha and Richard, the store manager, outside of the store.
The store's inside once everything was set up.
We became close friends with Jessica, the store's shopkeeper. We visited her house on several occasions during our time in Kibaale. This is a photo of Natasha cooking an Indian curry for Jessica's family.
For our last two weeks in Uganda, Natasha and I headed to the south-west corner of Uganda to check-in on some solar systems that We Share Solar and We Care Solar, two NGO's Tasha has worked closely with, had installed over the last five years. We made several visits to the systems installed in schools and maternal medical clinics.
The weary travelers safely return! We sported the double-backpack which was our best and only look while in transit.
Fortunately, we were able to get my family together upon our return. We took advantage of us all being in the same place to take a nice family photo, though Davis had something different in mind. :)
We then drove from North Dakota to San Francisco to spend time with Natasha's family. We both enjoyed re-connecting with family and friends and the taking in the scenery along the way. The photo above shows San Francisco from atop Dolores Park.
In late September, we headed to London to start a Master's in Engineering for International Development at University College London. We were somewhat nervous about being the in same classes together, but overall it has gone better than expected. The photo above is from a visit to the Tate Modern, a modern art museum.
Natasha's brother Krishan and his girlfriend Leiska are doing their Masters degree in Rotterdam, and they visited London for a weekend. During their visit, we had a nice time visiting both sides of Krish and Tasha's family. The photo above was from an afternoon with Grandpa David and Aunt Sarah.
Finally, a photo of us clowning around while on a walk in Hampstead Heath.
We are both very thankful for the blessing 2017 brought us and hope that your 2018 has gotten off to a good start!
