The day after 2/8/11

I decided to write an entry for the “A day in the Life” section of the PA professional journal. While writing it, I was disappointed that it could not be as colorful as I wanted it to be. So, here is the day after “A Day in the Life”.

5:00 awoken by the only car in the village blaring its horn

6:00 awoken by pigeons playing “king of the hill” on my tin roof. (scuffle, scuffle, scuffle, slide). Go outside and throw rock at said pigeons

7:15 awoken by alarm clock

7:30 down largest cup of coffee I can find. God bless our French press!

8:00 Staff assembly. The entire staff forms a circle. Every person must shake the hand of every other person. Then we sing a song in Dholuo and stand around awkwardly waiting for any potential announcements. People slowly begin wandering off to work.

8:30 Agree to catch a ride to our remote clinic in Ochuna at 9. Begin collecting necessary materials.

9:00 all ready for Ochuna

9:45 actually leave for Ochuna

10:15 Arrive at Ochuna dispensary (two concrete buildings and a grass hut, none of which has electricity). Greet staff and meet my translator for the day (a young friend of one of the staff). Said translator promptly asks me how he can get a visa to the U.S.  . . . sigh

10:30 Set up our public health student to administer surveys for the mothers in our malnutrition group.

10:35 Establish rapor with families in program (ie. play with babies)

11:00 Prenatal exams with only a stethoscope and a measuring tape. Have to inform a woman that she is having twins. “Are you sure?” “Well, either that or the baby has two heads.” She doesn’t seem impressed with either option.

12:30 Measure and weigh babies in malnutrition program . . . play with babies

1:15 Enter Ochuna dispensary data into quarterly report. Spend 15 minutes convincing translator that the calculator on my computer will give the same answer as the one on his phone. More questions about US visas.

1:30 catch ride back to Matoso in the ambulance. Almost hit cow, donkey, and child on the way.

2:00 tuna salad sandwich – I love you, Joyce (our cook)!!!

2:30 Staff meeting complete with extensive condom discussion and near fisticuffs over who is more to blame for AIDS, men or women. Then we pray.

4:30 Back to the house to try to figure out what the heck just happened.

5:15 Hard core workout in my house involving a jump rope and some hand weights. Hi, Jackie, the 1980s want their exercise back.

6:00 Voice of America on the shortwave radio and a beer on the porch with Matt and the cows. Perfect ending to a perfectly typical day.