Ever have one of those weeks where you have a 'to-do' list a mile long, but at the end of the week, although you've accomplished an enormous amount, you can't cross a single entry off that silly, nagging list!? Well, that's the kind of week I've had this week!

It seems like every single time I settled in to complete one of the tasks on my list, another, more urgent, yet unforeseen, task was presented to me! The daunting part is that all those things still have to get done, more or less immediately... yet we're off to the field on the maiden Program voyage of the Kalabia at 4 am tomorrow morning (hence the majority of the unexpected hiccups)!

I don't want to call this her (the Kalabia's) maiden program voyage, either, because actually (due to all the hiccups, and issues of having TWO separate organizations involved in the operations of the boat), our time for this particular trip has been drastically cut down; now we will only have time to complete one program in one village. It is imperative that we do this, however, before the inter-institutional meeting on the 18th where we will discuss the mechanism and logistics of operating the boat, and the program, between TWO organizations -- we need a shake-down run!

So, with the team also split in half (the 'boss', whose status quo is 'sick', is under-the-weather again, so can't participate, and another team member having been invited to the 'Indonesian Youth Leadership Award (YAY Valend!)), we're setting sail for Mayalibit Bay, the home to the original communities of Raja Ampat!

Wish us luck!