A week ago tomorrow I left home for my adventure of sorts. I've very much enjoyed it, despite the major attack of nerves that set in about two days before I left!
I spent a day in London enjoying the beauty of europe and eating far too many ham, cheese, and mustard sandwiches (what else was I to do? There weren't any sandwiches without gobs and gobs of mayo!) I saw the British Museum but couldn't go in due to time constraints and the presence of my suitcase. I called home from a red phone booth, because I could, and enjoyed talking to my baby sister. I also met with a former OSU student who's at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine getting her MPH.
There have been a lot of firsts this week. Saturday morning I set foot for the very first time in Africa. Cars here drive on the opposite side of the road and the driver sits on what I think of as the passenger side. I think I'll be rather confused about which side of a car to jump into by the end of this summer! Sunday I had my first lunch in the village and my first trip to an orphanage. We dedicated the girls dorm to Marty Jarret, a missionary here for several years who recently passed away of breast cancer. Her husband, daughter (one of 10 kids!) and grandson came and it was a very special time. What an impact she had. She sounds like a very special lady. The kids were great at the Orphanage and I'm very glad that most of them speak some english! My kiswahili skills are nonexistant and there are many tribal languages - from Kipsigis to Luo, that I don't know how to say anything in. I can say 3 or 4 swahili words.
We got back from the orphanage on sunday and I got to hold my first chameleon. They're pretty fun and not as big as I expected. It crawled onto my head, which I rather enjoyed. The Bemms have three pet tortoises, which has been quite fun as well. Also on the reptilian front, there are apparently not many snakes here, which is making me very happy, as I'm not a big snake person. They're fine, but I'm glad there aren't many of them here.
The scenery is incredible and the food is absolutely delicious. I'm tried my first passionfruit the other day, they're great! So much fun to eat. I'll have to take some photos and post them. Eventually... I still miss the bread and hummus we had in Syria and I can guarantee that I'm gonna be missing the mango when I get home!
Monday was my first day in the hospital. I spent the day doing some data entry which I finished on tuesday. I've been busy trying to learn the names of all the people I've met in the last days. Today I'm hanging out at the house doing some internet work on prevention of transmission of HIV from mother to child as WHO changed their recommendations again. Later I'll do a little babysitting/bible study leading.
Grace and Peace!
Joanna
