Monday, Monday

November 16, 2009

Today was a tough day—not really for any reason in particular, but more because it was Monday, and it’s our second week here, and I feel like I should be more useful at this point… and I’m not. I’m still struggling with how things work here. Resources are so scarce, that it’s difficult to feel like I can do anything for patients I see. So half the time I over-shoot—antibiotics for everyone! And half the time, I undershoot—“let’s just wait and see if the bleeding stops on its own.” Frustrating.

Monday is difficult too, since not many people work over the weekends. Saturday I came in and rounded on patients, and then Vy, Dustin and I actually left Kijabe for a really nice day at Lake Nayvasha. Sunday we went to church (along with everyone in the community) and then went for lunch at the Rift Valley Academy and relaxed, then cooked dinner for ourselves and a few guests. We’ve been eating well considering where we are, and often find ourselves reflecting on the fact that so many Africans are starving while we eat—kind of taints the teriyaki noodles Vy makes, and the peanut butter cookies that our guests made.

Lake Nayvasha was beautiful—we took a boat to Crescent Island, which is where “Out of Africa” was filmed in the 80’s (?) and there are hippos, zebra, giraffe, antelope, and monkeys, and a few more animals, but no predators, so you can walk around and photograph the animals safely! There were baby giraffes, one only one day old. The animals have never been hunted, so they let you walk right up to them. It kind of feels like cheating! But we deserved it after our drive there! So scary! The Kenyan people are patient, kind, and accepting, but not on the roads! There are so many traffic accidents that come through our ER, and I saw the reason—people drive so fast, all pass each other using the on-coming traffic side of the road, and there are people, bikers, goats, donkeys all on the same narrow road. I found myself closing my eyes, so I wouldn’t have a heart attack. I’ll try to find a way to post photos of the trip… not sure the slow internet connection can support it, but I’ll try!

I’m on call tomorrow… Dustin is on tonight, and when I left, he had a full ER and a line of people waiting to be seen too! I tried to help him, but he tells me that everyone in beds will be stuck there and cannot be moved because they are waiting for x-rays, labs, surgery, etc., so they can’t move people out and therefore, can’t move people in. Yikes! I hope he finds time for dinner.

That’s all for now—I’m going to bed early after a difficult day. I miss everyone back home! And I miss the football—how are the Eagles doing??? I saw a Kenyan man in a really old Eagles jacket and we saw another Kenyan man in a Chase Utley t-shirt at church on Sunday, so I at least people here have the right idea! It’s nice to see a little reminder of home every once in a while!