Jambo, friends! I don't have time for a proper blog since our internet has been down and we've got a presentation to work on for class tomorrow. I just wanted to share a few highlights from the past couple days, and hopefully I'll get to share more details or pictures another time.
1. We visited a local health center and I got some new perspective on how Kenyan health care works. It's amazing what they can do with so few resources. It was a small facility but they had a caring and helpful staff and seemed to provide services for a large population. We met with the local public health officer and got a sense of what their strengths and weaknesses are. It was interesting to see the wide range of services they can provide on a much smaller scale than we're used to. They have a pharmacy, laboratory, outpatient clinic, and prenatal and delivery care. They also have a pretty sweet view of our buddy Mt. Kilimanjaro!
2. On the way home from the clinic we stopped in town and bought COLD sodas! It was my first cold beverage since we've arrived. A coke has never tasted so delicious. Interestingly, you have to drink the soda and return the bottle to the store right away so we had to gulp them down quickly so we could head back.
3. I practiced throwing a Maasai spear. It pretty much landed in front of me.
4. The staff built us a campfire the other night as a break from paper writing and presentations. The African sky seems so close and is full of giant sparkling stars. It's amazing.
5. Mosquito bites are not so amazing. I already have more than I can count. Pray that I don't become "that girl" with malaria. Oh, and I forgot to take my anti-malarial pill this morning. Yes, I know I'm asking for it.
6. Yesterday we had a community service day where we helped reconstruct furrows that channel water to different homesteads. We used a pick-ax to break apart cement and then shoveled it out of the way to make room for the new furrow (that our fellow students were cementing). It was really hard and I didn't last long since I'm a bit weak from the BRAT diet I've been on. And it was so darn hot! So, I may have stopped working to play with some local kids who were hanging around. They were so stinkin' precious and I wish I could upload pics for you.
7. BEST DAY EVER- Today! We went on safari at nearby Amboseli National Park. Our land cruisers have hatches you can open to stand up and take in the 360 view. We saw lions, zebras, giraffes, impala, elephants. wildabeasts, hyenas, hippos, water buffalo...the list goes on. I saw even more things whose names I don't even know. It was awesome and I can't believe how close we were to some of the animals. We had a great lunch at one of the lodges in the park and my tummy is still not right...but I definitely enjoyed the spread. I figure I'm already suffering so I can deal with more.
Ok there's a lot of work to do before the power goes out for the night so that's all for now!
2 comments:
Meena,
Your trip looks amazing. I wouldnt worry about not throwing the Massai spear. If one of those elephants saunter into camp, and all you have is your spear, i would just whip out a rosary instead! LOL. I would worry about your malaria pill though, and would strive to take that religously. So it seems your dogooder activities are bearing fruit! Can't wait for your next post. Jambo right back atcha!!!
Prince
aw I love your blogs! i do see what you meena. hope you feel better and can't wait to see you in a few weeks! btw, i was walking around the other day and everything felt strangely familiar.. and then i realized it was b/c it was the street for that one place we were looking at above the curtain store in inman! remember how we were both google streetviewing? lol hilarious. (fyi i'm glad we didn't go w/ it b/c it's way too far away)
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