Life

I think I am getting used to the Ugandan way of life. Everything is pretty slow here. Work is very busy up until about 2pm. I am pretty sure I diagnosed a baby with Meningitis the other day.
I have a hard time understanding their English. The other day I was with Charles -who is equivalent to a PA I think, would say "jenta usa". I looked at him with a blank face like usual. He finally shouted it very slowly..."genital ulcer". I am sure the other nurses had quite the laugh. I actually make them laugh quite a lot (unintentionally).
It is very very dusty here when it doesn't rain. I blew my nose and cleaned my ears and they were very orange. No wonder there is so much "otitis media" at the clinic.
The other volunteer that is here is great. We laugh a lot. Today she was doing her wash outside while I was reading and she kicked a huge pile of dog poop. We laughed until we cried.
We get called "mazungu" a lot by the little kids. It means "white person." You have to say "bye" to them otherwise they won't stop. Most little kids at the clinic are scared of me because I am white.
We went to Kampala today which is the big city about 20-30 minutes away. We shopped a bit and then had a cheese burger for lunch. It was awesome.
We eat a lot of starchy foods here. The fruit is to die for.
I had a patient the other day named Beverly Hills, no joke.
Sorry for the poor grammar, spelling and random thoughts. The power goes out often so I have to type fast.
Hope all is well! Thanks for reading!!!!

Another day

Quick update before the power goes out...
Went looking for monkeys today up the hill but didn't find any, just heard some...hopefully tomorrow.
Got handed a handout from a man for a pizza place...Location: Seguku (6 miles from Kampala on Entebbe Road 200 meter from the Roofings opposite MB House. Gotta love it.

Hope all is well. Computer time is running out...
Thanks for reading

Africa

I have arrived. What a different world it is. Here are my random thoughts:
Host family is very nice. Cold showers that I am still getting used to. They have wonderful tea here. The roads are very bumpy. People carry the most interesting things on their heads, backs, and motor bikes or "bode bode" as they call them here...caskets, huge piles of something way larger than the person carrying it, fruit etc...
The clinic is very very sad. I find it very difficult to be there. It is so incredibly busy and understaffed. No sterile technique, no running water, very small amount of supplies. Patients have to buy their own needles and charts for the doctors to write in. No toilet either. I saw a mouse the other day and there are cows roaming all over and cow poop everywhere. The maternity ward is very sad too. Beds without sheets. I helped a women walk up there the other day that was so sweet and she was so so sick. If I could have carried her I would have. She had HIV and TB, so sweet but so so sick. All they could do for her was put her on IV fluids...she never complained. The patients come in and tell there complaints and the doctors just treat them by what they think it is...mostly malaria and HIV. They do blood tests but have a poor microscope for malaria so I don't know how accurate it is.
My home is nice, very simple. Power goes out a lot and sometimes the water does too.
I went downtown Kampala the other day. You ride in a "taxi" which means you ride with about 20 other people in a small van. Kampala is crazy. Very busy and very hot. I went to a huge mall that was very nice. When you want to catch a taxi back home you go to an enormous parking lot with hundreds of taxis...I went with Grace who is the son of James and Sarah Nadiope. I don't know how we found the correct taxi but we did. Sorry for the randomness. I don't know if I will be able to post pictures but I will try. Thanks for reading.

Kristina

Ready

I am packed and ready to go. I know I am bringing way too much stuff but I rather be safe than sorry. I hope I am able to blog soon! Thanks for reading. Here goes nothin'!!!!