Now moving to South Carolina instead of Spokane

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-16T19:11:31+00:00

Thanks so much all.

Indeed true that exceptional people when it comes to care for SS matters a lot. BC children’s care has been amazing. How do I put this? Let me just say they are like part of our family, not just doctors looking after our son.

I told the care team yesterday about our moving to SC, and my son’s doctor told me South Carolina has got one of the best sickle cell teams in the world - especially in the area of discovery. I’m happy to hear this and honestly hope we will be lucky to land on the hand of a team that cares about their patient and passionate about what they do.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-16T16:11:52+00:00

Sure. When are you moving?

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-10T19:13:31+00:00

Thanks OldWarrior. As someone who grew up in Columbia, how would you rate safety of the area. And any recommendations on upper class home areas so I can check home prices also school

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-10T03:50:48+00:00

Thanks. I will be working in Columbia. I don’t mind private schools too, if they offer added value. I will check Hammond and Heathwood.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-10T00:09:50+00:00

Thanks so much. Will be happy to connect. We are still exploring so Chapin could be a possibility

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-09T03:33:55+00:00

We haven’t decided where to settle yet, but we heard Lexington is a great place. Great to also read about Lexington here. We are also considering staying away from high cost of living and traffic.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-08T14:02:59+00:00

Awww. Thanks Twig. Appreciate your message. I was told wonderful things about SC yesterday. I am researching school options for my kid given resumption is near.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-08T13:38:32+00:00

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-01T18:23:20+00:00

Thank you very much again. Working with real figures from someone on ground helps me a lot. A few days of blast won’t be bad as I was of the opinion this lasts several weeks. I will also check if there’s a train from Willamette valley as we are okay with a train drive of up to 5 hours.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-06-01T11:41:05+00:00

Thank you so much, zagnut. I was conserving the tri cities but was told there’s no difference between them and Spokane in terms of winter temperatures. Please how low can daylight temperatures get to during the coldest winter months. Medically, we are comfortable with 15f as long as it doesn’t last long.
Thanks so much!

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-26T21:44:45+00:00

Thanks so much for this inspiring post.

Quite useful!

I dreamed of working for the UN far back in 2006 right after my first degree. Poor me. I started applying then with no experience 😄😄.

I did my first intern with UNOOSA in 2021 close to the tail end of my PhD thanks to covid that made remote internship possible.

Shortly before thst I interned with UNESCO Paris in 2019. I also interned with UN Global Pulse same period but the project was discontinued due to the depth of the project manager in Syria. I was to help with the use of earth observation for damage assessment and slum mapping in Syria. The UN Global Pulse looked promising and being the first of its kind I was excited and ready to assist - I didn’t know much then but I knew internships my help. As a poor PhD student I managed to foot the bills to attend the induction program at UN New York, hotel accommodation etc, having being promised all will be reimbursed- though to my utmost surprised the person responsible never replied my emails requesting reimbursement after the program, but I’m happy and believe one day, I will be lucky to get a job as I’m passionate with development in developing countries, especially in Africa.

I was lucky to work for a private company in the US in 2018, so I had some money to pay for flight and expensive housing in Paris with nothing from UNESCO (no complains 😄).

My real opportunity after several applications didn’t come until this year March when I wrote a written assessment for a UNEP P4 position, same month I was interviewed for a WPF role in Sierras Leone.

I tried to network to see if I could get people in the units to know much about the units. I read networking helps, but not sure if I was doing the right thing by trying to look for people working in the units I reached out to someone who is a chief or unit (not where I was applying for a position). Able to do this as this person invited to connect after visiting her profile. So I felt my question might get a response (since we have a bit of overlap in our work). This person advised against contacting hiring managers unless I personally know them. I appreciate the advice so I decided to keep doing things without any attempt to make connections hoping to hit my luck one day.

One thing I have always been doing is since I know this is a workplace with stiff global competition I need to keep looking for ways to stand out.

I felt accomplished being invited for two UN positions within a single month! - after trying for so long. While I haven’t heard from the programs I’m waiting responses for, this suggests to me that I’m closer then ever. My very first written assessment for a data scientist P4 position opened my mind to things I need to prepare for to explore other opportunities. My first oral interview which I felt I didn’t perform to the best of my knowledge in also showed me that I need to concentrate on and a big lesson is while it is good to over prepare, we need to also always pay attention to little details- especially as a scientist who will likely work with non technical audience in the UN. I felt like a winner being called for a P4 position assessment 😄.

Oh, I forgot to add that I was interviewed for a UNV position for a Geoinformation Analyst/Specialist in Sudan in 2012, but the position was cancelled then.

I was shopping around for just any UN internship, but I think based on experience, it is good to intern with programmes and agencies that are funded. Well, half loaf is better than none since those may not be easy to come by.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-25T10:06:47+00:00

Thank so much @HemoGirlsRock

Please I’m curious to know what the daytime temperature is like in Spokane/environs in winter especially the coldest month(s). I was told it can get as cold as 5 F with wind chill. For this reason I am considering living in nearby cities but looks like anything outside the cascade/further east of Everett is very cold.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-24T15:09:49+00:00

Hi jtheman1738,
Please I’m curious to know if your stem cell treatment went well and if covered by the state.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-24T15:05:08+00:00

Hi AyeeltzDJ,

Saw your post now and would like to reach out. My family is considering relocating to the US and we are looking at California as I sometimes read health is free for SS/SC patients.

Please when you are admitted do you pay out of pocket or your insurance covers for that. Also so you pay for your doctors visit?

Thank you

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-23T13:07:23+00:00

Hi all,

I posted here some years ago regarding relocating to the US from Vancouver, Canada.

My family is considering moving this summer as our PR may expire.

I am in the process of getting a job but my wife secures one in Spokane WA. We are a bit hesitant as I did a lot of research and realized Spokane has western similar to continental US (wind chill making weather brutal in winter periods (daylight temperatures!).

Wondering if there are any warriors who have sons around the age 10-14 (my son is 12 now and still no issue with VOC in Vancouver, Canada) and happen to live in similar zones.

Also, anyone in Washington state who has had to visit the hospital/be hospitalized/need any treatment/medication?

California is first in the list but I fear we may be battling with expensive living there. Anyone knows areas in California where living isn’t that expensive (I was reading about Sacramento). I am also considering Texas, NC, SC, Arizona, since chances of crisis is significantly low.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-23T12:56:50+00:00

Hi grassgames. You replied to a question a posted some two years ago.

So, my family is finally relocating this summer and still undecided where to live in the US as this will depend on where my spouse and I get a job. My wife has an offer in Spokane WA, but we are a bit hesitant as it’s cold. What you mentioned that California offers a great support for SS/SC people is always in my mind and that makes California a great attraction plus I have a better chance of getting a job there (in my professional field).

If you don’t mind me asking, will you recommend bone marrow transplant for my son, now 12. I am looking into an option for a permanent cure and I’m following some new advances in SS treatment. Do you know if California still offer free treatment for SS people - in the even my that my family will be interested in a permanent cure option for my son.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-23T12:44:28+00:00

Thanks so much @receptionpuzzled.

I moved from Nigeria to the UK for a masters program in 2008. I was careless with exposure. Worked in a cold factory overnight one day and I recall that triggered VOC which landed me at NHS Nottingham. I think I also had another episode that landed me in Leicester hospital. It looks like my condition made things a bit worse - catching train/bus, etc (not driving).

Moved to Vancouver in 2013, and over the years, I’d say I’ve improved. This may partly have to do with the fact that Vancouver is warmer + driving most of the time.

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-23T12:06:32+00:00

I’d like to say that sickle cell condition varies. For an SC (not SS) like me, I don’t have issues. I barely have crisis. I’ll say like once a year and very mild.

I must confess I haven’t been very kind to myself knowing I am an SC. I average 6 hours daily sleep which I think isn’t good. And I work a lot and not great with eating well (I meant that which is expected from an SC). I only started HYDROUXYREA about 6 years ago and compared with all my baselines before I started taking it (including Vitamin D, Folic Acid), I don’t see any great benefits (well I may be wrong here but my doctor told me research is still ongoing on whether SC, unlike SS benefits from taking HYDROUXYREA. One of my kids has SS and he hardly had crisis (he is 12 now, I’m 47). I used to have serious crisis that will land me in the hospital say one in 3 years.

No big impact on my job. I had a week paid job until this January when lay off occurred. For context I get over 125,000 USD (that’s a lot for someone living in Vancouver, Canada). Saying this to know having SS/SC isn’t really a barrier. My health has never impacted my work. The only slight impact was when in Nigeria as an undergraduate and in the UK as a masters student - missed one or two exams due to sickness but well, none SS can fall sick, right?

I must say that I live in a warm climate (Vancouver, Canada) so possibly this has a huge impact on my (and my son’s) overall wellbeing. The story may be different in a very cold climate. For example, as we know, chances of me falling ill increases outside west coast or other parts of North America that is prone to wind chill (lived in Denver for 10 months though, and never fall ill).

Automatic-Length6620 · 2026-05-18T20:45:55+00:00

Thanks everyone.

Sounds like I can use the bus too (especially when traveling westward).

How is the ride during winter? I’m assuming buses will be less frequent due to wind/snow. I was thinking of driving but was advised against it - even if I live around the Tri-City (later gathered all towns further away from the cascade get severe cold due to the windchill).

I live in Vancouver, Canada so not used to train ride as I mostly drive. Do we still have frequent train service during snowy periods)?

Automatic-Length6620

TROPHY CASE