Random thoughts

some random thoughts before I write the last day post tomorrow :(

- again today I helped out a lot in the hospital.. Drawing blood, checking blood sugars and blood pressures, writing notes, powwowing w my attending about plans, teaching Med students, doing discharges. If only I had another month and also more grasp of the language

- there was a major storm yesterday night and I worried about the cats. Turns out one of the kittens was hiding behind our tv! It was so little and cute and scared. I'm sure going to worry about them when I leave

- Matt is trying to teach his kids some manners/ good behavior. They get away w it bc everyone is busy trying to make the actual place function. They trash their toys and in general run amok. Matt tried to show one the right way to pick up a cat after a kid picked it up by the ear! One also tried to give Matt their nasty used tissue, one threw a spider on a volunteer after she said she was scared, and Matt won't answer them if they call to him as Mzungu as they know his name.

- saw some kids throwing rocks at a dog . Boo!

- Allen about Americans " they love all the little animals but they hate the bugs!"

- everyone's teeth here are completely brown and destroyed . I looked it up- apparently from too much fluoride in the water. Didn't know this was a thing but sad, they should fix this

- saw a kid late to school- teacher whacked him w a ruler. Didn't know this was still a thing. Sad. Guess it is learned from the German schooling system

- so much construction at our House. Annoying bc they tear down the clothesline . We got home early one day and Matt said one guy was outside naked spraying himself w a hose haha

- I love the daladala names. Wanted to pay someone to decorate one for me. Besides Tony and Disneyland, there is The Sniper, Rick Ross, Crime Scene , Faithbook ( decorated like facebook), work hard pray hard and my favorite Thanks Jesus ( is this for real or to be said in a sarcastic tone?)

- noticed whenever we buy something the person is then blowing the money quickly haha. Bought a tingatinga painting ( special painting w childlike animals) and five minutes later the man was at he next door bar we went to

- also love the shirt sayings, esp when worn by an old woman who doesn't speak English , "this just got real awkward", "hit it pimp it, "Spartan cheerleading, "y'all come back now y'all hear". Have seen Chicago park district shirt, IU, Marquette dentistry, and a ton of different 5k shirts. There is a large market that sells literal tons of used clothes - wondering how US donated clothes end up getting sold

- people buy their "cell plans" by purchasing frequent  cards that have a code. I got a one week unlimited but apparently after going to 10 stores they aren't selling them this week.

- since some people live without power, there is a big kiosk at the market with like a thousand outlets where u can pay to charge your phone for the day...Matt says this must be very slow. I find it fascinating that in these countries everyone seems to have a phone or most, two, including a smart phone ( apparently one company better for Internet one better for SMS). I have two phones one I bought here and my iPhone.

- there are little tables on the sidewalk w "tech people " with screwdrivers and such that can apparently fix your phone

- you can get your nails done on the street for 2$ including designs!

- a 16 oz bottle of Coke here costs like 35 cents!

- diet things are hard to find ( Diet Coke like 20 cents more) I guess bc most people need the calories!

- I have seen more people w albinism than I have noticed before in the US ( maybe just bias?) Allen said they used to disappear and everyone wondered why. Well as I have read, they are killed or limbs  chopped off and used as a remedy by witch doctors. Allen says this no longer happens but I just read an article where it is still bad here ( Despite outlawing witch doctors last year) and a lot were just
moved over to Kenya.

- no one has even tried to pick pocket my stuff. That being said I'm still careful But going about every day life I can't be ubermilitant

- Allen says when you are invited to a wedding here you first get an invite asking you to pay a fee ( 25$ per couple going rate) then you pay and get an invite and are still expected to bring a gift. And you basically have to go as it is part of the culture

- marina went to a Muslim wedding here and after the short ceremony that she Wasn't allowed to attend the girls were all separated from the guys. Everyone ate then the bride came out and everyone Carried gifts to her- I'm talking about a fridge, bed, washer etc! Then it was over!