Until next year!

Okay so I got my wish, kinda'. I gotta' remember to be more specific next time though. In any case, I am heading to the beach in an hour and I won't be back until Monday or Tuesday. This weekend don't forget to have tons of fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FRIENDS!

I wish you all every happiness

today and always.

(a hangover-free new year's day doesn't hurt either)

why must you be so cool?

Baby, take off your cool
I wanna see you, I wanna see you
Baby, don't be so cool
I wanna see you, I wanna see you

Baby, take off your cool
I want to get to know you
(Take off your cool)

So nobody likes my nails blue...

well I don't care 'cause I do :)

Happy Birthday :)

My blog turns one today.

I've been thinking about this momentous ocassion for a few days now and I don't know if I should be happy or sad about it. I created this blog during a time in my life when I felt like I wanted to talk forever but words just weren't coming out. In my mind, keeping a blog was a good exercise and perhaps this is the reason why on ocassion my writings can be so personal.

Never did I think that a year later I would still be writing here. Although I am a creature of habit, I am often very hesitant to share so much about myself and yet, the habit I've created of writing on this platform has allowed me to not only bring out in the open the few skeletons I have had in my closet, but to learn to be okay with them.

I can now see why people find blogging therapeutic.

Because of this blog I have learned how powerful the written word is and even lost a friend as a result. Apparently, it is not the same to say something as it is to write it. It is okay to verbalize bad thoughts about people but not okay to share them in print. In retrospect, I am glad this person is out of my life because I have never been a fan of hypocrisy and if I can think it, then I can say it and I can write it.

Thanks to this blog, on the other hand, I have made some great new friends, met some fun new people, and found some people I may one day want to meet. The world is a big strange place and through my blog, people who are somehow connected to me but who I have never met have been able to find me or maybe "find" is not the right word because I am sure that they weren't looking for me, but "discover" perhaps. They don't know this (now they will) but my life is better because of them.

Since May (when I discovered the counter) 30,808 people have visited my blog (though it could have been 1 person visiting 30,808 times). Although I don't write for anybody else, to everyone who has ever taken the time to read my ramblings and to offer me advice and provide me with laughter and even to call me ugly, I wanna' say thanks. It's good that someone else likes it too.

xox-

annush

Christmas flashbacks

I should try that...no carb, no fat and no meat for a few days to see what happens...

The fine people of the gym decided to take off since like Friday so all the while I was eating like a pig, I couldn't even burn energy. THAT SUCKED. What sucked even more was that I started eating pastelitos Thursday night and last night I still hadn't finished. My step mother also sent over this really amazing chocolate cake (I think that was to compensate for not getting us a gift) and I was still eating from it at 12:30am last night.

That thing was good.

I know that a lot of people are under the impression that it's okay to use the Holidays as an excuse to eat like pigs but all the eating is my least favorite part of the season. Sure, eating excessive amounts of yummy stuff is always fun but I hate how I feel after I do. These days, along with the pastelitos and cakes and everything else, Zantac, Tagamet and even Imodium have become a part of my diet and it sucks.

Anyway...

Christmas in the F-P-L household was great. Finally we are going back to the basics and dinner was just us 5 and Gia (my eldest step sister). Unlike during Thanksgiving, when we had like a million people over, mom didn't forget that we had food and by 10:00pm we had already eaten and were focusing on the most important issue at hand: the presents.

To wait until midnight or not to wait, that is always the question; however, the answer is always the same: not to wait.

As usual, everyone was happy with their gifts. I got a new belly button ring from Gus, a necklace from Ivan, a bunch of hair clips and barrettes from the step-dad (I think he was trying to tell me something), and an itty bitty digital video camera from my mom. As soon as I figure out how to work it and how to post video files, I totally will!

They all loved the presents I got them and that made me feel good :)
I really did invest a lot of energy in trying to please them...

I really do like Christmas but I am glad it's over. Now I have New Year's to look forward to and for that all I want to do is find a huge body of water, go there in shorts and drink a bottle of Clicquot. Like last year, I don't expect to get the New Year's Kiss until some time later and that's actually okay. Who would have thought? In the past I would have been seriously pissed...

From my family to yours: Merry Christmas

Holiday fun!

Christmas (and Hannukah) are right around the corner. Wow! It certainly feels like this year has gone by so fast!

Normally I write a long heartfelt Holiday email/post and send it to everybody. I don't think I am going to do that this year; and if I do, I'll do it for New Year's. It seems to me like it would make more sense then.

Yesterday I went to finish my Christmas shopping. I failed miserably at it. Well, not really "miserably", but you know that there is a problem if you go Christmas shopping and then you put all the gifts under the tree and somebody notices that all the gifts are from you to you. HA!

That's exactely what I did. I went to buy Sarah a bag like the one I bought the other day, and the one bag they had was so cool that I kept it. I went to this other store to find something else for my mom, and they had this amber necklace that was so cool that I bought it for myself. Then I went to pick up the planner I had ordered for my mom and while I was there I bought myself a book.

And that was just yesterday! Last week I got myself a skirt, and yet another bag.

Then I wonder why I am broke.

People go on and on about how commercial and materialistic this Holiday is and to an extent I think it's true. I don't see any reason why anybody should get anything just because it is a religious Holiday; however, despite the evidence to the contrary, I like to give and I like to have a good reason to give something to someone. If perhaps today all the presents under the tree are for me, tonight they won't be.

I am not really religious. At the risk of sounding like the most horrible Catholic ever, I'll be the first to admit that interesting and depressing though I find the story of the life and death of Jesus to be, I don't believe it; however, if the celebration of it is what it takes for people to be a little nicer to each other, a little more thoughtful, and a little happier then I'm willing to overlook my disbelief. My favorite part of the Holidays is the extra kindness.

I look forward to spending quality time with my family and friends. And even though many of the most special people in my life I probably won't get to see, as usual I will carry them with me though perhaps these next few days I will think of them a little longer and hope that wherever they are, they are happy and well.

I am lucky. I love and am loved and I have a whole lot of gifts under the tree :)

I hope that wherever each of you are, that you have all the things that will bring you joy today and always.

...but you have to follow through.

My father and Me. 1980

I saw my father last night for the first time in two years.

That was odd, weird, awkward, and strange.

In preparation for the New Year, I am trying to get my life in proper karmatic order. Although I know that what's gone down over the years in terms of our relationship with our father has not been our fault, as a precaution I thought that I would go see him and for one last time try to smooth things over just in case I had any part of the blame in the downfall of our relationship.

I took the first step and I do hope God gives me brownie points for that.

It's amazing how little things really do make a difference and how those little things can highlight things that might otherwise go unnoticed...

"Why don't you eat some of the filet?"
"I don't eat meat."
"Since when?"
"Since I was 9"

He was receptive to my grievances. For the first time he seems to have understood what I was trying to say, and he expressed it. Though I could tell he was in awe of the person sitting across of him, I could feel him struggling trying to decipher who exactely was this person he never got to know. He has always been the same person, but we have grown and changed and the only thing that may remain of the children he once knew, is our last name.

Christmas is a season for giving and I intend to do just that. Perhaps karmatic balance is not a very good reason to give oneself but the first step is always the hardest one to take and usually the most important. Motives change. And if perhaps karmatic balance was my reason for going yesterday in the first place, it's not my reason for meeting him again . Which I will.

'cause I kinda' miss him.

The windows (and curtains) to my soul...

and the glass is half full...of vodka :)

Brown Eyed Girl says:
I LOVE THAT GUY
Brown Eyed Girl says:
it's fucked up you know...people have this amazing power...all it takes is a little love and they can lift you up so much higher in proportion to the depths of low you can hit because of them
Brown Eyed Girl says:
does that make sense?
In-the-closet-stoner says:
all the sense in the world...

Rings and bars.

The belly button bar I have loved and cherished for almost 4 years now is gone. The little ball thingie that kept it in place shattered and this morning I woke up to the feeling of breadcrumbs on my bed except that I don't eat in bed so when I went to look, I found all the pieces of pink glass neatly resting under me.

It may not seem like much but I really loved that bar...

I have had my belly button pierced three times. The first time I got it pierced, I was in England. It was the summer before I turned 16. I remember wanting that whole in my belly more than anything in the world! Along with my friend Jordana I went to the place, laid on my back, and with what could have easily been confused with a knitting needle it was so big, the sexy Brit pierced my belly button and put a silver ring in.

For weeks, the healing process of my belly ring was a group project; however, months later it still didn't heal. Out of frustration, 5 months later I took it out. I was left with a bad girl scar to remind me.

But I still wanted my belly ring. I love the way they look. A few years later I pierced it again. This time in good ole' NYC. This time I went with my friend Caroline, and once again I laid on my back and let the guy pretty much stab me with a needle. He wasn't as sexy as the Brit. This time I had a stainless steel ring put in.

I took such good care of that piercing! I used to carry antiseptic spray around in my bag and would never so much as look in the general direction of the piercing without washing my hands. It was all to no avail though because like 6 months later it still hadn't healed and it hurt so I took it out. I was left with yet another scar.

My third try came while I was a student in Germany. My friend Sonia had decided to go pierce her tongue so I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to try again. We got on a train and left for Stuttgart (the closest city to where we were). When we got to the place, she went first. That was fun to watch. I've always wanted to get my tongue pierced but there is always something! Anyway, when it was my turn I once again laid down on my back, pulled up my shirt some and let him do his thing. There was no ring this time though. It was a bar.

According to pierced tattooed German guy, rings cause more infections than bars because like 75% of the ring is outside of the body and comes in and out of it when it moves.

So I was happy with my bar which had a blue stone. Back then, that was my favorite color. After that, Sonia, Anastasia and I went to see The Virgin Diaries.

The piercing took a while to heal, but it eventually did. I replaced the blue bar for a silver one with a daisy in the bottom and then for this pink one. I liked this one because it was glass painted different shades of pink. I never saw anyone with one even remotely like it. I bought it about 4 years ago and it never ocurred to me that one day I would wake up in the middle of the night to the feeling of pancaked glass.

But it's fitting....starting today my plans for a new life are in full swing and that pink bar is too much a part of the me that will spin around in circles for an hour and then try to walk straight. Now I need one that's representative of the woman who will walk straight and then spin around in circles upon reaching her destination :)

Where you are and where you come from.

On November 20, the New York Times published an article titled "Immigrant Laborers from Haiti are Paid With Abuse in the Dominican Republic". This was a very ballsy article written by one of the most prestigious publications in the United States that generated reactions from a number of groups because not only did it accuse Dominicans of practicing modern day slavery it accussed them of things that would probably make sense if we couldn't argue that the U.S. does the same exact thing with the Mexicans but in a grander scale.

When Vicente Fox said that "Mexicans do work that not even the blacks in the US will do", (without trying to sound politically correct) I thought that the man was right. The Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of America got all bent out of shape over that statement but it's the truth. Mexican laborers are paid with abuse in the United States.

The whole Haiti issue has gotten a lot of attention from everyone these days. It all started with a few murders, it continued with worker's rights and most recently because of the immigration issue.

Before I proceed, I want you to picture this: Dominican Republic is a third world country. It is far richer than Haiti, this is true; however, it is a very poor country drowned in debt, about to enter the CAFTA which I can't imagine will bring anything good. Here in Dominican Republic, there aren't enough schools for our children let alone other children, there aren't enough hospital supplies and beds for our people let alone other people, there aren't enough jobs (the Codigo laboral even says that you can't employ more than 20% foreigners) and there simply aren't enough resources. This isn't really a "land of opportunity". People do what they have to do to make end's meet and that's that.

Now, there are over a million Haitians living illegally in the Dominican Republic. ON THE MOST PART (as in NOT ALL OF THEM), these people can't speak our language, don't share our culture, and have no formal education to speak of. The women have taken to cross the border so they can come give birth here and later good portion of these women and children can be found on the streets begging and panhandling.

According to the Dominican Constitution you are a Dominican citizen by jus solis and jus sanguinis. In layman's terms that means by birth and blood. Over the years Haitians have taken advantage of this and have been coming to have their children in our hospitals. A number of steps have been taken to prevent this but all to no avail.

Yesterday the Supreme Court in one of its most important ruling regarding immigration law said that it is Dominican everyone who is either born to Dominican parents, or born in the Dominican Republic while legally here. Basically, members of the foreign service, people in transit, and illegal aliens who have their children here can not opt for Dominican citizenship.

This is a huge step regarding the immigration situation. Most Dominicans are happy with this measure and even the opposing parties applaud the decision. Pro-Haitian groups, however, are not happy with the decision and there is even talk about them wanting to take the Dominican Republic to the international court.

In one of the many gatherings that have taken place in the Hague over the years (I can't remember which one), each country was given the right to decide how their people would gain citizenship. Apparently that's okay for everyone except Dominicans.

I come from a family of immigrants. I know first hand what it's like to leave your home in the hopes of something better for yourself and your family. In my opinion, immigrants and refugees deserve our utmost respect; however, I am a firm believer in procedure. There are ways to do things and if you do things right they usually work out better.

Personally, I applaud the Supreme Court ruling and I hope that it will make things better. Dominicans need a visa to visit the vast majority of countries. I REALLY don't see what the big deal is for a Haitian to get a visa to come here. Procedure people. Procedure.

and you were wondering why I run so much...

My new favorite place to go do nothing is La Cuchara de Madera. It's a bakery and there they make great coffee and the best cakes and cookies ever. This is where we got Dan's birthday cake last month (chocolate with Nutella filling).

On my daily trips to the place- because I do go everyday!- I usually have a latte and a gingerbread cookie. I should really try more things but I worry that if I do I'll never leave or then if I leave I'm going to have to run forever...

They should really start using Splenda, egg substitute and yogurt in at least some of their recipes!

Maybe I should somehow try to steal their recipes so I can modify them and open up my own really yummy, won't turn you into a big fat cow bakery!

hmmm....something to think about...

Yet another MeMe: Thank you Corky!

Rules are as follows:

Remove the blog at #1 from the following list and bump everyone up one place; then add your blog to the #5 spot.

1. Steph
2. Mel
3. Wicked
4. WonderCorky
5. Annush

Next select 5 friends to piss off:
1. Grant
2. Jonas
3. Laura
4. Natalia
5. Vince

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was a Senior in High School...the good ole' days!

What were you doing 1 year ago?
A year ago at around this time I was home in NY and my brother was visiting. I was trying to get in the Holiday spirit...I don't remember if it worked.

5 snacks you enjoy:
1. granola and yogurt
2. fruits
3. popcorn
4. popsicles
5. cookies

5 songs to which you know all the lyrics:
I know the lyrics to too many songs but these are the last 5 I've sang along to...
1. Beautiful by James Blunt
2. Country livin' by Esthero
3. Beautiful by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell
4. So High by John Legend feat. Lauryn Hill
5. Only One by Yellowcard

5 things you would do if you were a millionaire:
** 1 million dollars isn't all that much...this is assuming I am a 10MM + millionaire
1. put a down payment on 4 really nice apartments somewhere: 1 for me, and the other 3 for my remaining family members
2. buy a car
3. invest on my brother's development project
4. go on a trip around the world
5. set up a Foundation to subsidize foreign exchange programs for underpriviledged children

5 bad habits:
1. Smoking
2. Biting my nails (unless they are painted)
3. Telling people "I don't eat that"
4. I let my dogs lick my entire face
5. I loose my temper quickly

5 things you like doing:
1. running
2. dancing to good music
3. reading
4. traveling
5. things that I am not supossed to

5 things you would never wear again:
**I gotta give myself credit because I've never been a fashion victim.
1. bangs!!
2. pants that go up to my belly button
3. capris (but that's just cause I hate them)
4.
5.

5 favorite toys:
1. iPod
2. GameBoy (shoulda brought it with me!!)
3. Camera
4. martini shaker :)
5. and did i mention my iPod?

Christmas vs. Xmas

My favorite things about the Holiday season are Christmas trees and presents. (Can't you tell that I am oh so Catholic?)

Every year, no matter where we spend the Holidays, my family follows the same rituals regarding the Christmas tree and the presents. I think that's probably one of the few aspects of life where we are actually the most methodical and the one aspect I am most grateful for. It gives me continuity and if perhaps I haven't spent very many Christmases in the same place at least no matter where I am I always feel like I am home.

In our home the Christmas tree gets pulled out the week of Thanksgiving. I say pulled out because we don't believe in buying real trees. We have a lovely fake 15 foot tree. For a long time I thought that the reason why didn't have a real tree was because keeping one in the closet was more practical; however, now I know that killing trees unnecesarily for the sake of decoration is a horrible thing.

Last year my brother bought me a real tree just because I'd never had one. I named it "tree". I had a Christmas party in honor of "tree". Then for the following three months- I didn't get rid of it until March- I watched it die a slow and painful death. Unnecessarily.

Anyway...

On Thanksgiving morning my mom puts all the finishing touches on the tree so that by dinner time everyone is ooooooooohing and aaaaaahing about what a gorgeous tree we have. And all modesty aside, every year we do have a great looking tree and everyone is always singing it praises!

The presents are an entirely different story. I think that I am the one who gets most annoyed about the fact that initially there are no gifts under the tree so the first batch of gifts are usually the ones I buy. Or maybe just the one I buy myself because I tend to procrastinate on getting other people's and I ALWAYS buy myself something. It bothers me to see a tree with no presents. That's far too unorthodox as far as I am concerned!

Our presents from the parents are usually purchased about a week before Christmas during "the trip". No matter where we are, my mom always feels the need to go elsewhere to buy our stuff. Very rarely though are they wrapped before a couple of days before Christmas Eve. My mom doesn't trust me. She knows that as soon as I see a wrapped present under the tree that I will get comfortable on the floor and will start shaking every present until I figure out who is getting what!

That's my inner child having fun...

Then comes Christmas Eve. We open our presents Christmas Eve. Waiting for the actual day of Christmas Day is so much of a cliche that we just do it the night before, after dinner (actually, I don't know why we do it that day). Granted, one could argue that if my mom had her way we would eat dinner at like 11:30pm or at almost 1am like we did Thanksgiving night, luckily this is one of the few special ocassions when dinner is served at a reasonable hour (before 10).

Today I am going to go Christmas shopping. It's weird because I'm not very much in the Holiday spirit these days. It seems to me that the older I get, the less jovial I feel about the whole Holiday thing. I won't stop partaking in any of our Holiday traditions because I may have outgrown them; however, they are not as sweet as they once were. (Not to mention that I feel like shit about having to spend money just because during a time that I should be saving like all of it).

I think I want to start my own traditions... for that I should probably get started on having my own family...

imperfections...

I have freckles on my nose.

I don't remember how I got them or if I have always had them, but they are there: not very many, but enough to require attention.

My freckles and I have a love/hate relationship.

Sometime I love them and I look for them to remind me of how I have always been.

Sometimes I hate them and want to rip each one off of my face.

But no matter what, they are there. They are comforting.

I work so hard to cover them up but they are not something I would ever want to completely erase.

Let it go...

People with lousy manners are a real turn off and are certainly doing a diservice to their upbringing (because I like to think that everyone is brought up well) by acting that way.

That said, I was in the mood to kick a little ass today so after my daily run I thought that I would go take a kickboxing class. As luck would have it, the teacher was out so I got screwed out of an additional hour of exercise AND the possibility to take out my frustrations in a productive fashion.

But as they say, when God opens a door he/she always opens a window because as a result of the aforementioned setback, I ran into hottie gringo baseball player in the elevator and we had yet another totally random and weird exchange.

*absolute silence*
Him: You look bigger when you are dressed.
Me: Huh? When have you seen me not dressed?
Him: I see you running everyday
Me: But I don't run naked!
Him: *laughing* but not fully dressed

...and we get to my floor, I get out, and then think to myself "whaaaaaat?"

On the upside though, now I know that if only I was turned on by jocks, I could have lots of fun these last few weeks of my vacation!

...too bad I am not...

On another note, last night we had an impromptu family dinner. Gus and I had gone out shopping for some new glasses for him and came back to find Ivan and mom in the process of having dinner. We joined them, and started talking about the upcoming three weeks.

My heart nearly broke during that conversation.

In three weeks Ivan, Gus and I are all leaving. Although out of the three of us the only one who actually lives here- or at least lived here- is Ivan, apparently she (mom) got used to having all of us here these past couple of months. It seems that she managed to overlook the fact that at least mine and Gus' visit came with an expiration date. We were all laughing and talking about our plans after this and she was sitting there all glossy eyed watching us laugh.

We tried to comfort her and tell her that everything is going to be okay; but it terrifies her to know that in less than a month her nest will be completely empty. I have told her that although we're all going to different places, none of us is going to be more that 40 miles away from an international airport; however, she is feeling left behind and there is nothing anybody can do about that.

Being a good parent has got to be the most difficult and painful thing in the world! I hope someday I can feel her pain and understand where she is coming from. If I do, then I'll know I've done well.

Man hunting.

I hate to socialize in some of the spaces here!

So our friend Bea got engaged a couple of weeks ago. Although the reaction of some of us upon hearing the news went something along the lines of "FINALLY! it was about time", not everyone took the news as well as I did.

It all started Thanksgiving night when Bea made her first public appearance as a soon to be married woman. The first part of the night revolved around "THE RING". It's a cute ring. Almost my type but not really. Still, all the women there single and married alike were ooooooohing and aaaaaaaaahing like she had been given Paris's 24 karat ring and like marriage really is a wonderful thing (bearing in mind that at least 60% of the married women in question had either been divorced or cheated on, I thought that was a huge crock of sh*t).

ANYWAY...

One of our really good friends- THE girl- who was in attendance at the dinner, had a couple of drinks too many and towards the end of the night started going on about "the guy she is going to marry". Now, all of that would have been really fine and dandy except that she is not even dating anyone. Well, then we understood that she also has a deal with a friend (ex-boyfriend) that if they are both single when she is 27, that they are getting married. She has 10.5 months left to find true love. Hmmmm

Now fast forward to last Thursday morning.

As usual, I get my coffee and log on to read the news, check my email, and BS over Messenger with a few people. Unusually early, a window opens and it's THE girl. THE girl and I had made plans to go out that night, but she had said that she wanted to reschedule because she was going to go "land herself a man" (which is very important seeing how she intends to get engaged next year). I was like "whaaaaaat?"

Me: Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?
THE girl: yeah. I am going to go look for a boyfriend.
Me: How exactely are you going to do that?
THE girl: I am trying to get an invitation to the SEMA fashion show because every elegible, dateable man in Santo Domingo will most likely be there.
Me: Uh huh? So you are going to a fashion show to get a boyfriend? Are you looking for a gay boyfriend?
THE girl: They are not gay! and yeah...
Me: I've got to see this...

So I called in a favor and got myself on the list. Not that I was looking for a boyfriend, but since "every elegible dateable man in Santo Domingo" was going to be there, I made it a point to look nice...'cause you never know, you know?

When we got to the hotel where the event took place, it seemed like all of Santo Domingo was there. Okay, not really...but there sure were a lot of people there! And what's more, I looked around the place and there they were: the people I see at the gym, at the stores, at the restaurants and at the bars.

Eso era otra vitrina. That was just another opportunity for people to see and be seen. THE girl's quest for a boyfriend that night wasn't very fruitful. She got a few numbers but that was about it. But she gets points because she was driven. I, on the other hand, was soooooooooo close to doing my thing so I could get a date with Aldo D'Alessandro (I am a sucker for men with turntables!) but then I found out that not only is he married (figures!) but that he used to go out with my brother's girlfriend. EEK!

Since then, the "dude, I need a boyfriend" conversation hasn't ended. THANK YOU BEA FOR OPENING THAT CAN OF WORMS! I keep saying that it's one thing to make finding a boyfriend a project for the sake of companionship rather than for the sole purpose of marriage but apparently that's a stupid thing to say if you are a single woman over 25 in Santo Domingo.

Today we are having a party. THE GIRL is among our guests. Let's see how the "find me a boyfriend project" develops.

Ana and Ivan
Ana and Yvette

Wear a condom people!

HIV is one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges in the world. It is a global emergency claiming over 8,000 lives every day. In fact 5 people die of AIDS every minute.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is the virus known to cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). If someone is HIV-positive, it means they have been infected with the virus.

A person infected with HIV does not have AIDS until the virus seriously damages their immune system, making them vulnerable to a range of infections, some of which can lead to death.

HIV is transmitted through body fluids in particular blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk, in fact there are only four ways you can become HIV positive.

In 2005, over 3 million people acquired HIV, which means there are now over 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS. Despite best efforts from governments, non-profit organisations and healthcare practitioners around the world, HIV and AIDS is still having huge global impact.

HIV and AIDS around the World

People living with HIV and AIDS 40.3 million[1]
Adults 38.0 million
Women 17.5 million
Children under 15 2.3 million

New HIV cases in 2005 4.9 million
Adults 4.2 million
Children under 15 700,000

AIDS deaths in 2005 3.1 million
Adults 2.6 million
Children under 15 570,000

Total HIV cases to date 64.3 million

Total AIDS deaths to date 23.1 million
[1] All figures from UNAIDS AIDS Epidemic Update 2005

*Source: WorldAIDSDay.org