I wondered if the author could pull off writing about two different travel experiences and a love story without losing the narrative, but author Eve Brown-Waite engrossed me with a style that is refreshingly down-to-earth.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria is a compelling story of a woman who falls in love—in more ways than one—in Ecuador and Uganda.

The book opens at a logical beginning, when Brown-Waite meets John, the Peace Corps recruiter she tries to woo at least in part by joining up. The Peace Corps assigns the self-described “pampered city girl” to Ecuador, where hilarity—and some serious stuff, too—ensues. Brown-Waite finds a worthwhile project when she begins returning lost boys living in an orphanage to their families.

Destinations

Community Connection to Uganda

But Ecuador wasn’t meant to be. Circumstances change and Brown-Waite returns to the U.S. She marries her Peace Corps recruiter but laments her unfinished work in Ecuador.

Brown-Waite gets a chance at a karmic finish to her Peace Corps work when she and John move to unstable Uganda. As expected, more hijinks follow.

In Uganda, Brown-Waite hopes to finally live out her self-professed dream of becoming another Angelina Jolie. She admits she feels the need to prove herself after being unable to complete her stint in the Peace Corps.

As her husband begins his humanitarian work, Brown-Waite must again find her own purpose while an entertaining cast of characters and situations bombard her life. She eventually begins to work on AIDS education and prevention, which opens up yet another set of challenges.

She and John start a family, battle critters in their home, work and live amid political instability, and get caught in a civil war before their Ugandan adventure ends. And, as expected, she contracts malaria.

Brown-Waite’s story offers a refreshing balance between the struggles of Western humanitarians in the third world and self-deprecating humor. The result is a relatable story any reader would enjoy. Brown-Waite includes letters sent to friends and family while living abroad at the end of each chapter, which further enriches her narrative.

While some may be grossed out by the mushy love story, the book provides fascinating insights into both Peace Corps and ex-pat life in developing countries. Brown-Waite vividly relays scenes that are both humorous and heartbreaking. She manages to convey the severity of the problems in Ecuador and Uganda while remaining upbeat for an engaging read.

The book provides a hard look at what it means for a Westerner to try to heal the wounds of developing countries while facing the cultural divide and adjusting to a jarringly different lifestyle. Brown-Waite’s honesty and wit make real those conflicts.

After reading First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria, I’m eager to read more about the Waite family’s adventures. For now, though, I’m content to follow her at her blog.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria is a must-read for anyone considering joining the Peace Corps or working in a developing country. It’s one that will resonate with anyone who has dreamed—maybe a little naively—of saving the world.

Feature photo by Extra Ketchup. Photo above by georgehotelling

Unlike newspapers and plastic bottles, there isn’t a green bin to hold your old cell phone or laptop out on the curb, waiting for a truck to carry them away. However, there are several quick and simple options for recycling or reusing electronics.

Choosing the right program for you depends on the type of gadget you have, its condition, and whether or not you want a financial bonus for your efforts at being green.

Get Cash for Used Gadgets

Unless your cell phone is completely trashed or from the forgotten time known as the 90’s, you might be able to score some cash for it. Of course, there’s always Ebay or Craigslist, but if you don’t want to go through the hassle of dealing with bids, there are a few other websites worth checking out.

Gazelle and BuyMyTronics are two great organizations that offer cash in exchange for electronics. Gazelle accepts a huge variety of toys, while BuyMyTronics focuses on iPhones and iPods, gaming consoles, and cell phones.

Just submit your gadget info on one of their sites to receive an instant price quote, ship it to the address, and you’ll receive a payment via PayPal (or a mailed check) within two days. It’s worth noting that, depending on the age and/or condition of your toy, you might receive a quote of $0.00.

Both Gazelle and BuyMyTronics will still accept and recycle the worthless gadget, and the warm fuzzies you get saving the world from brominated flame retardants will surely be worth more than a few dollars.

Take It Back

Many companies offer recycling programs for their products. Dell will recycle any of their products for free, and they’ll also recycle any computer at no additional cost with purchase of a new Dell.

Apple also offers free recycling with purchase of a new Mac, and offers a 10% discount on iPods when you bring an old one in to be recycled.

When you need to recycle, a quick check of the company’s website should be enough to see if they offer similar incentives.

Donate to Charity

Consider donating your gadget to charity if you feel like you’ve outgrown it. Someone else might find it useful. Be sure to wipe your hard drive before passing your computer (or any gadget) on to someone else.

Consider Recycling for Charities; an organization that accepts electronics through the mail, recycles them, and donates the profits to the charity of your choice. These donations are tax-deductible for you, making this option a win across the board.

If you have a PC or Mac still in good condition, the National Cristina Foundation might be able to use it in their program benefiting those with disabilities, students at risk, and the economically disadvantaged.

Donations may be submitted online, and are accepted at no cost outside of shipping.

Local Recycling Options

To find an electronic recycling business in your area, EcyclingCentral provides a handy map and detailed lists complete with addresses, phone numbers, and company websites.

Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection agency’s website for more help on finding the most convenient recycling option in your area.

Community Connection

To learn more about e-waste, read Julie Schwietert’s article, The Problem with E-Waste and take in the visual mass of e-waste in photographer Chris Jordan’s photo essay – Intolerable Beauty: Chris Jordan Photographs American Mass Consumption.

Photo: Patagonia

Put this on your dream gear list. It’s on mine. The next time you’re investing in a wetsuit, you might want to visit your local Patagonia store.

Their wetsuits are unbelievable. I don’t own one, but I had the opportunity to try one myself during a cold fall session in Ocean Beach, San Francisco. The Patagonia neoprene is unlike any traditional neoprene on the market.

It’s lighter, softer, and more flexible. It’s made from the highest grade of Japanese neoprene and has a “98% closed-cell ratio, which adds dead air space and with it, warmth.”

Beneath the high grade neoprene is a thin layer or merino wool. The merino wool lining is brilliant. Extremely soft, it has the ability to keep the body warm even in frigid and wet conditions. Wool lining is a breakthrough in wetsuit development.

Ecologically speaking, the polyester is recycled, the wool is chlorine-free, and the PVC kneepads and neoprene are thinner than traditional wetsuits. More warmth, less neoprene. It’s not completely recycled, but Patagonia’s suits are one step closer to achieving sustainability and pushing the limits of product design.

Important wetsuit specs:
-R2 suits: 55 to 65 degrees. Cold
-R3 suits: 48 to 55 degrees. Super Cold
-R4 suits: 38 to 48 degrees. Frigid.

Needless to say. It’s the Ferraris of wetsuits. No expense is spared.

Price: Expensive | Where to buy: Patagonia Wetsuit Retailers

The future is here…well, not yet. But Rolltop is a pretty sweet concept, functioning as a mini-notebook, a 13″ graphics tablet, and 17″ flat screen monitor, all rolled up and ready to go.

Matador Member – Kirsten1981

Photos by Kirsten1981

About me:
A former ex-pat with a case of wanderlust. Originally from Boston, I lived and worked in Ireland from 2006-2009 and I’m back in the States now but I miss Europe and return every time I have the chance. I’ve traveled to four continents so far and hope to eventually visit all seven.

Be sure to check out Kirsten1981’s Matador profile.

Favorite books: Badlands, Ruinair, On The Couch, A House in Fez

Recently stumbled across this cool video produced by Vodafone. 1,000 cellphones along with 2,000 text messages play Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture in an innovative (yet disturbingly time-wasting) production.

Intrigued? There’s apparently a followup video that shows us how Vodafone orchestrated (pun intended) the whole thing in an Auckland, New Zealand studio.

Photo by Samson

Tired of uploading videos to YouTube with great picture but terrible sound? Check out the Samson Q3 Handy Video Recorder.

This little camcorder packs two condenser mics which are directional, allowing you to “focus” on the sound you want – what Samson calls “audio zoom”.

The video’s not bad either at 640 x 480 resolution (30 frames per second), and the 2.4″ LCD screen (320 x 240 res) displays audio meters so you can monitor while you record.

The Zoom Q3 also includes a built-in USB cable to upload your videos, as well as HandyShare software to edit before you share on YouTube, Facebook, or Myspace.

While perfect for any concert, from marching band to metal, the camera is also a great option for photojournalists and bloggers who love including video interviews and podcasts on their sites.

Other features include:

• A 2GB SD card good for 1 hour of recording
• Up to 32GB SDHC cards for 16 hours
• AV cable and 2 AA batteries (also uses NiMH rechargeable batteries)
• Windows and Mac OS compatible
• Video format – MPEG-4 SP
• HandyShare software
• Tripod available (extra)

Admittedly, the video quality could be better. But with updates and new versions surely on the horizon, this gadget might be worth keeping an eye on.

Price: $249.00 | BUY

Photo: Iroda

The next time you’re out car camping or at a tailgate party, make sure you pack the Iroda O-Grill with you.

The Iroda O-Grill looks more like a spaceship than a grill. Inside this colorful module is a 225 sq. inch grilling surface, large enough to cook for at least 4 people at the same time.

The O-Grill weighs about 24 pounds and is extremely portable. It also stores well with its retractable legs. It can burn up to four hours with a standard propane cylinder and is capable of handling all your mobile cooking needs.

One thing you need to know: It features a 9450 BTU stainless steel burner and a cast iron grill.

This means you can fire up more than just burgers and hot dogs, and cook topnotch steaks too.

Price: $190 | Where to buy: Iroda

A staple of every backpacker and a must if you plan on venturing into shared hostel bathrooms, flip flops are usually among the top five items on any packing list for travelers. Besides the comfort they provide, they are extremely practical and work well in most situations.

For Kyle Berner, he yearned for a lifestyle that involved wearing flip flops every single day. Seeing his background in Marketing eventually leading up to a life trapped inside a cubicle, Kyle quit the rat race and moved to Thailand for a year where he wore flip flops to his heart’s content.

The concept of Feelgoodz™ was hatched when Kyle went perusing local Thai markets for a new pair of slippers and discovered that Thailand was and still is the world’s leading exporter of rubber.

Kyle’s “flops” are made from rubber harvested from tropical Yang Para trees, and they come in a variety of earthy themes: night, twilight, woods, earth, moon, clay, and cumulus. There’s also a pink Ladyslipper for (you guessed it) ladies, and a limelight slipper with a dash of lime green color. The slippers are made from 100% eco-friendly natural latex rubber and natural, non-toxic dyes.

What sets Feelgoodz™ apart is its commitment to giving back through its triple bottom-line donation model:

Feelgoodz has created a unique partnership Ashoka. Feelgoodz will use sales of our flip-flops to support Ashoka Fellows globally. We will start in Thailand, and our areas of focus are Environmentalism (Planet), Fair Trade (People), and Community Development/Micro-Finance (Phitsanulok, Thailand). See our triple bottom-line donation model below:

1. 1% for the Planet
2. 1% for the People
3. 1% for Phitsanulok (Thailand)

This means 3% of all its revenues goes to fair trade organizations, environmental organizations, and micro-lending institutions such as Kiva.

As Kyle would say, “Mai Pehn Rai”, which means “take it easy” in Thai; a philosophy the folks at Feelgoodz™ has adopted for building a “better business and healthier lifestyle”.

Price: $19.99 | BUY

Matador Member – Giramonda

Photos by giramonda

I want to make a difference by writing, sharing, giving, volunteering, exploring, learning, discovering, developing sustainable, socially-minded projects, living…

I’m living out my dreams everyday… I’m already doing it!

Be sure to check out giramonda’s Matador profile.

Favorite books: Santaram; Eat, Pray, Love; The Red Tent; Tale of Two Cities.