epilepsy clinic

Rhona has been assigned to work at an epilepsy clinic in Lilongwe on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. It is in the afternoons and the last 2 I’ve been able to go with her. (as driver) the first was during our midterm break and the second was yesterday. To get there on time I did leave school a little early and headed into town. We had time to run into the market to pick up some vegetables that we can’t get in Nkhoma and to the supermarket to get some basics that we like to have on hand. Very quick shopping and then to meet Katherine who takes us out to the clinic (the dirt roads get quite confusing). We meet Victor and Clara the translators and sit down. the first week I sat in a chair waiting to see what was going to happen and Clara said “oh good you can do the drug handout” What?! Um. Ok. The stack of health passports (used as patient files/history of past dr visits) piled on the table where Rhona was and the first patient was called. She did the examination—checking overall health, asking questions about seizures (have they had one, what happens, does the medication cause too much drowsiness, etc.) and then she writes in the book what meds they should get and when they should come back to be reviewed. Then they come to me and I count out the pills until their next review and send them to another woman who prays with them before they leave. It went very well for the first 15 patients…Rhona has very good handwriting (especially for a doctor writing about the drugs as in a prescription) and she takes into account that the pharmacist (me) has no clue about abbreviations. With the stack of health passports not seeming to grow any smaller, Rhona sped up and I had to ask more questions about what she was writing. But we made it through 27 patients the first time and 29 the second in about 3 hours. I guess the visits go faster when you know what is wrong with the patients (in this case epilepsy).

Our last patient was a boy about 9 years old. He came in as I was counting out pills for another patient so I didn’t see him and suddenly he was at my side talking a mile a minute to me. I looked at him and asked how he was…(muli bwanji?) I don’t know if he even answered me but he kept talking at a very fast paced whisper looking like he was telling me something of national importance but very secret with a huge smile on his face. I smiled back and said that I had no clue what he was saying to me but that he looked very happy. Then he moved on to someone else. He was the star of the room as everyone watched his antics. He came back a few minutes later with two coins in his hands that he rattled around and showed with great pride. And then it was time to go—Bye! With big waves and smiles.

week back

This week the whole class has been there (well 2 of the 4 days I was there). And 12 isnt’ much different from 10. as a matter of fact it seemed better to have them all there. Even more extra hands this week as is brought on by the summer vacations of the rest of the world. Extra hands this week have been from the Netherlands, US, Malawi, and England—Laurah who was here last week, the McCall kids (Ruth (helping in 1st grade), Miriam (reading stories and playing out side), and 2 brothers who play soccer with the kids during break), Chifundo, and Rhona. Rhona came to school with me on Friday and lucky for her it was a really good day. The kids mostly listened and did what they were supposed to do. Practiced writing their numbers and dividing ladybug spots into 2 (mostly) equal groups were the worksheets we did. Read books, sang songs, built long trains of legos, did puzzles, wrote names on the board and kept busy. I love having all the extra hands—though it does get confusing because anyone big in class gets called teacher. The kids are constantly calling out “teacher, can you see? Teacher, can you see?” (meaning “look at this, look at this”) and I think they mean me but it is whoever is closest to them.

lake weekend

Back to the lake. This time to cape maclear which is new for me. Each time we planned to go in the past I got sick just before the weekend. Easy time there but after 3 hours in the car I was very glad to be at the lake. First things first—set up tents so we don’t have to think about it later. Found a great big tree that would shelter our 3 tents and went to work. Not hard to put up pop-ups but some are decidedly more complicated than others. As the one we borrowed was. Put the fly up first and then place the tent inside and clip it up…not rocket science but still. Just after we’d finished the guy from reception came over and asked us/told us we needed to move it as it was in the way of the driveway into the camp ground. Can’t they go around the other way (there were not many people here at all). I put it down to a communication problem that he wouldn’t let us stay…so we did move. That’s good. That’s good. A minute later he came back and told us to move one of our other tents…decidedly easier (2 cross poles that cover the whole thing) but still the principle of the thing. If you’re going to have certain places to put tents tell someone before they put up their tent. I continued muttering under my breath until I could run into the lake which washed all my contrariness away (as did the drink I had when I emerged from the lake). Sat on the beach and relaxed the rest of the weekend. Evidently a needed break as I arrived and realized that while packing I had not brought my Frisbee, ipod, book, brush…but I did have my swim suit and sleeping bag…glad I remembered the essentials.

mail

We got mail!! 2 boxes of books for the school sent from Idaho!!

80!

Tuesday was Dorothy’s 80th birthday! We sang to her at school and I think she had a great day. We had her party from 4-6 (as all of the parties have been since we got here). I think we had at least 40 people there which was amazing as some of the bigger families are on vacation and out of the country…It was a joint birthday party as Maria (Swedish nurse here for 10 months) was turning 25. Celebrating 105 years of life—and counting! We had 10 cakes, sugared peanuts and cookies baked by 6 people and plenty of tea and coffee. Dorothy’s daughter had come in May with the NC Presby group and had given me a box to give to Dorothy on her birthday. She opened it at breakfast to find 115 cards full of birthday wishes many of them signed by groups of people—the note said that since they couldn’t be here to celebrate with her this was the best they could do. If she opened one every 6 minutes it would take her 12 hours to get through the box. Pretty entertaining!

new teacher & extra hands

Our new preschool teacher, Patience, arrived at the beginning of our week of break for mid-term. Murphy’ law for timing I guess. But this Monday when we started back we were very glad to have her. She seems to be doing a good job (though I don’t really know as I’m kept pretty busy in my classroom). We were doubly glad to have her this week as we’ve been shorthanded with our first grade teacher (Mirriam) out due to a death in the family. Having Patience was able to free Dorothy to do first grade—not sure how they got on with the southern drawl she brings with her, but we have made it through another week with the help of a lot of extra hands. We had a volunteer from Lumberton, NC through Medical Benevolences Foundation who also helped in 1st grade Mon-Wed, one of the Dutch doctor’s sisters is down for a visit and Laurah has been in my class for the week which has been wonderful. There was a Dutch group here and for 2 days 3 of their volunteers came to the school. So lots of extra hands and that has been very nice for our interaction and dialogue in the learning centers.

drive home

Of course the truck drives fine to town, through town and to the party. But as soon as I get the keys…no luck. The engine will turn but won’t catch unless you continue to rev it. ok we’re headed downhill the only problem is that is the wrong direction. So we go and then I try to turn around. Three point turns don’t work when you can’t stop to go into reverse without stalling out. But I get the reverse part of the turn…now we have to get going uphill without rolling backward at all because of the large ditch behind us. that doesn’t work quite as well. Gun the engine and switch my foot of the brake to the clutch and go. Finally get up to a flat part and have to stop to get everyone back into the truck (yes they got out to hold the truck just out of the ditch—not sure if that was quite necessary but now we’ll never know). And at this point everyone is leaving the party (our headstart didn’t work—didn’t really know it needed to when we left) so we have to wait for the road to clear some as once we get started I’m not going to want to stop. Flat starts and downhills are not a problem as I can rev or pop it into gear no problem but even slowing down for round-abouts or stop signs the truck would die without fail. Made it through town but of course there is that police block on the road out to Nkhoma…and of course there is another story.

We get stopped and the truck dies but we stop and roll the windows down. the officer talks to us through the passenger window (which is fine with me). Passports. (what they never ask for passports?! and I refuse to give mine to him, I mean, really I usually don’t have it and he doesn’t know that I’ve just been to the embassy.) “we don’t have them” what you should always have your passport. “no, carrying it around makes it much easier to be lost or stolen, they are locked up in Nkhoma” well you should carry a copy. “hmm. Hadn’t thought about that” at which point chris leans over to my purse (I’m carrying his) saying I think mine is here so I hand him his which he gives to the officer. The rest of you don’t have yours? “no” well then I guess he can go and the 3 of you will have to stay until he comes back with them. “oh you have a place for us to stay? That’s great because I’m going to be homeless at the end of the month.” Yes we have a place you can stay. It’s a cell. “well, it has a roof right?” yes it’s a cell. Dorothy is all the time trying to play the agogo (grandmother) card and point out her white hair which usually gets respect and less hassling but doesn’t seem to be working tonight. He does finally let us go (chris has taken his passport back from the officer) though of course it takes some doing to get the truck going again…

4th july (party)

Arrival at the party location led to a line and a metal detector. Show your passport and hand over your bag to walk through the portal. I went to get my bag and was asked if I had any sharp objects. No. anything metal? No. camera? Yes. Well use it lots. Um thanks? Lots of decorations—red, white and blue everywhere except on many of the people at the party. Lots of young people—took a little while and then figured out they were peace corps when the welcome came and a thank you to the peace corps for all their help in setting up the party. Our tickets were for two food items (hockey puck hamburgers and little hot dogs) and three drinks. Chatted with lots of people, heard Obama’s address to the nation read by the ambassador (who was moving to Baghdad in 2 weeks). Sparklers came out about 10 minutes to 6…and there were no other fireworks. Too bad but now it is time to go. I think we left just before everyone else did as right at 6 there seemed to be a rush for the gates…we were in the truck that decided to not start which leads to the ride home…

4th july (party)

Arrival at the party location led to a line and a metal detector. Show your passport and hand over your bag to walk through the portal. I went to get my bag and was asked if I had any sharp objects. No. anything metal? No. camera? Yes. Well use it lots. Um thanks? Lots of decorations—red, white and blue everywhere except on many of the people at the party. Lots of young people—took a little while and then figured out they were peace corps when the welcome came and a thank you to the peace corps for all their help in setting up the party. Our tickets were for two food items (hockey puck hamburgers and little hot dogs) and three drinks. Chatted with lots of people, heard Obama’s address to the nation read by the ambassador (who was moving to Baghdad in 2 weeks). Sparklers came out about 10 minutes to 6…and there were no other fireworks. Too bad but now it is time to go. I think we left just before everyone else did as right at 6 there seemed to be a rush for the gates…we were in the truck that decided to not start which leads to the ride home…

4th july (morning)

Well, 3rd of July actually. 4 of us Americans from Nkhoma heard about and decided to go the embassy party celebrating Independence Day. From 3 to 6 at the ambassadors digs in Lilongwe. We had decided to take a car that had insurance that expired the day before…not a good plan with my track record of getting stopped at the police block so I went in early (with other transport) to buy the renewal and then I was going to either head back to Nkhoma and come back in or meet them at the road block to attach the new decal. Get to the insurance office (which was open on a Saturday as I called to check) and tell them what I want. Ok, lots of typing, wait, error message, again, hmm, “I think our network isn’t working. Can you go to our other office?”—by the way I’m in the business center of Lilongwe which I’m not familiar with at all and the second office is in Old Town (where I know pretty well)—I suppose if you tell me where it is. “oh you can’t miss it” lots of directions I couldn’t really follow, then I ask, is it possible to walk there? “what? No. you can’t walk it.” well that isn’t going to work as I don’t have a car. “you didn’t bring your car?” no. it had no insurance…“hmm” She then calls the other office and they print it out and bring it out to me…45 minutes is not a bad wait for that. Then I walked into town (yes it was walkable but I don’t know for sure that I would have made it before they closed)

colors and balance

Still learning colors so we pulled out our knitted balls and stood in a semi-circle announcing the color of the ball in our hand and throwing it into the box in the center. Worked wonderfully—kept their attention for 10 minutes. 1-2-3 throw…then get another ball and do it again. then I set up the challenge course—balance beam, 2 ramps, desks and tables in the way. First the beam then up one ramp, down the other, crawl under the table and around the desk. Then backwards. It went very well and no one fell off (thank goodness). Maybe I’ll soon get the courage up to try the seesaw idea (I’m worried about keeping them all occupied when only 2 (maybe 4) can be on the new toy at once)

new student

I got a new student. She’s been at the school for three weeks now (2 before she came to by class). Her name is Ellen. At the age of 3 she had both of her feet amputated due to malnutrition. For the next 4 years her grandmother carried her on her back. About a month ago one of the nurses here from South Africa was able to find funding and support to get Ellen prosthesis for her feet. The first thing she said when they got fitted was that now she could go to school. So we’ve got her at Ebenezer. Since she hadn’t had any schooling before she started in the reception class. She is a pretty quick learner and though she doesn’t have the English skills yet, Dorothy has decided to move her into my class. She’s done well…over awed for a bit by the kids as they are bigger than the reception children (closer to her size as she is 7 years old) for the first couple of days she is now coming into her own—acting out a little due to her lack of understanding but I think we’re going to get it.

safari!

Back to Zambia for 4 day safari. Went with a tour group from Lilongwe and felt pretty ritzy. 3 of us from Nkhoma-me, Ngari, and Gerwim and 2 guys from US volunteering around Malawi (traveling separately). Small group meant plenty of room in the vehicles. 6 hours in the vehicle to get to South Luangwa National Park (4 of which were on very bumpy dirt roads) but we did arrive safely and in one piece very grateful to get out of the car. tents with 2 cots in and lamp light (when there was electricity) made for pretty nice accommodation at Track & Trail River Camp that also had the option of chalets or your own tents with a pool overlooking the river where we were able to relax and go for swims (very refreshing—read a little chilly). Meals were at picnic tables along the river where you could see hippos and crocs lounging.

Up at 5 to go on our first ride at 6. we saw everything—well almost. Lions, elephants, zebra, giraffe, hippos, stork, impala, buffalo, mongoose, baboons, monkeys, loads of birds. It was great and we still had 3 more drives! Beautiful weather though it was a little cold. Back about 11 for lunch, nap, and swim and then tea and another drive. This time we saw a leopard and saw him stalking an impala. I think our lights got in the way of the capture and the impala did get away (at least while we were watching).

They told me that there were hippos that come into camp at night to graze but I was really good at sleeping right through it which is pretty impressive as they are extremely loud eaters. And that elephants will wander through camp whenever they please. Don’t keep any fruit in your tent and just give the wild animals lots of space (good advice).

Day three was very similar to day 2. lots of wild animals. Up close with zebras and giraffes. Even lions—we got to see the male (Simba) with his carcass of somesort hiding in some bushes and the pride of female lions sunning themselves and not at all bothered by the vehicles around. Got smart and brought the blanket off my bed because the mornings and after the sunset was COLD…at least in the moving vehicle. If I hadn’t been afraid of mosquitos when we got back to camp tshirt still would have been fine. Watched most of the US v Ghana game but will admit to going to bed after Ghana scored in overtime. I left the 2 other Americans there to cheer but I was beat.

Got to sleep in the last day (get up at 6) but of course I was up at 530 so went to sit by the river in a camp chair and watch the sunrise. Great colors—when I hear a noise behind me (middle of camp). When I turn around there are 5 elephants eating off a tree and grazing right in the middle of the tents. Wow! Maybe 40 feet from me. I’m just going to sit and watch as there is no way I can make sure that Ngari and Gerwim are up as they are closer to the elephants but still in their tents. Then 2 of them come to the cliff edge over the river…now I’m 10 feet from them. And frozen in place—semi wishing for a camera, semi wishing I were invisible, semi glad I don’t have a camera because I’m sure the flash would go off just like everyone else’s, and fully hoping that they don’t come any closer as there is nothing between us. I’m an arm’s length from a tree but not going to move unless it is to jump out of the way…when I hear the guide who has snuck around the tents and is under the dining tent (my closest form of shelter that isn’t really any kind of shelter) trying to get my attention—SERIOUSLY?! I’m not sure what he wanted me to do but I kept the option of just not moving. The elephant closest to me did look at me (I don’t know how their eyesight is so I’m not sure if it saw me) flap his ears but then wandered back to the others. And I could breathe again.

Really cool but not sure I’d want a repeat performance at that proximity.

stuck

The world cup frenzy is everywhere. Everyday the kids play soccer during break (many of them do anyway). Last week two guys who were cycling around Africa came by and they got to go out for an extra 15 minutes to play soccer with them. The kids were so excited (could just be the extra 15 minutes outside as well). They still love the playground and swings as well. They are learning to pump and swing themselves which is wonderful because I don’t have enough arms or energy to push them all. one of my kids was climbing on these bars that go up in a triangle shape and the kids can climb up and down or over or hang under them (so many options). I look out and he is crying/screaming. Not much new here so I watch him, see him dangling, and then I realize that he is stuck. I didn’t see him get there so I wasn’t sure what happened but his head was above the top two bars and body below. I walk over to help. He is yelling and crying and first I have to calm him down so that he can hear what I’m trying to tell him. I thought he’s come up from the inside and couldn’t get his head back because his ears were sticking out—so I told him to look down and try to get through…no, his head wouldn’t fit. Ok we’ll go up. Well he just barely made it that way and started screaming again as soon as it was a tight fit. But we made it out and he stayed with me the rest of break and the rest of the morning. I couldn’t put him down.

Came back after the weekend and he did it again. he knew what he was doing because he looked at me and pretended for a little while before he did it and then he actually did get stuck again. I laughed, helped him back out. This time he wasn’t quite as traumatized but still stuck close.

ebenezer dedication

dedication

The second block of classrooms is almost completely finished (I think it needs the doors installed to be done done)! Last week we had the dedication ceremony as one of the key figures from Korea was in town. Mr. Kim had come to South Africa to watch Korea play in the World Cup and since he was this close he flew up to Malawi to come to see the school. He is from the Moonwha Mission School in Korea that was started by missionaries in the 60s and now they are doing very well and Mariella Provost (the wife of the missionary who started that school) went to them and said as you have been helped it is time to help others and challenged them to raise the money for the school building. And they did. So we had the dedication while Mr. Kim was here. He arrived Sunday afternoon and Monday morning he came to the school to give gifts to all the children—crayons in a plastic box, tshirts, pencil cases with stencils, ruler, eraser, and sharpener, hankerchiefs, compact mirrors…it was like Christmas! Then at 11:30 we had invited the school team, work team, parents to the ceremony. There were speeches by the chairman of the school team, Mr. Kim, Abusa (Reverend) Chapota and then the children said the prayer that they say every morning—
“Every morning seems to say
There’s something happy on the way
And God sends love to you
Thank you God for this new day
Thank you God for work and play
Thank you God for nighttime too
Thank you God for what you do. Amen”
And then they sand the national anthem. Mr. Kim presented the plaque that will be installed on the building for the Raymond Provost Memorial Hall and Dorothy presented him with a banner that said thank you to the school with all of our kids hand prints on it. then there was a luncheon at our house for about 20 people that seemed to go very well.

holiday?

So all weekend we’d been hearing that the Monday was a public holiday. Then we’d hear that it wasn’t. then that the hospital was running on on-call staff Monday. But it wasn’t announced in church as a public holiday (which it normally would be) so we were going to school bright and early Monday morning ready to have kids (and hoping that it was a holiday)…it wasn’t. the kids came and we had class and it went pretty well even if I did have to get over the disappointment. Turns out that 5 years ago under the old governmental regime it was a holiday…(still confusion after 5 years?!)

Wednesday we went to school and no kids showed up. There was not even the rumor of it being a holiday and all of us teachers showed up…someone said something about it being kids’ independence day—I’ve never heard of it but think it would have been a great idea. Or that it was youth day in South Africa so maybe it is international? Anyway. I still have no idea but we had a 2 hour get your room in shape and do some prep before we went home to enjoy our holiday.

walking

As azungu (foreigner/white person) walks are only semi relaxing as you get gawked at by everyone you pass, greeted by random strangers and tested on your Chichewa (greetings and more), and yelled after like at a zoo. I think the kids have lookouts posted to yell at the top of their lungs “AZUNGU!! AZUNGU!!” which calls all the rest of them from whatever and wherever to come see the azungu walking by. You then get bombarded with “hello hello hello hello” that often doesn’t stop until you are out of sight whether you answer or not. When you do respond occasionally you will hear “how are you?” but most often you hear “give me money” or a pen or balloon or sweets or… some of the more entertaining questions/requests/commands we have heard are “give me my money” to which I respond that I don’t have their money but if I did I would give it to them. They also like to ask what your name is. Sometimes they will say hello first but not always. I’m wary of giving out my name but then so many people have it already that I usually just give it to them so when I walk anywhere even by people I don’t know or remember say jess. It is better (for us) when they ask “what is my name?” “I don’t know what your name is” and I could guess but it would take a long time with options like all the English ones plus Chichewa and then Precious, Delicious, Promise, Hope, Praise, Bornface, Gift. Lonely…

sunday

Relaxing Sunday in nkhoma. church in the morning (8am English service) then coffee/tea on our porch lunch and then rhona and I decided on a walk. There are paths and roads going all over everywhere and when we walk on our Sunday afternoons we try to pick a new one and see how far we get and if it goes anywhere interesting. Well they all go to interesting places if you know how to look or how to be easily entertained. (which I am if you haven’t noticed) Through villages, by fields and down the road just taking in the beautiful scenery. As we walk by one set of houses someone pops out and greets rhona by name. as we weren’t expecting to meet anyone we know it was surprising. Turned out to be one of the messengers from the hospital (mail deliverer) who invited us in to see his home after asking us where we were going. “I want you to see my home” so in we went. It was a nice house that he built himself along with the carpentry of an entertainment center (radio blaring right next to our conversation) and the double bed that he showed us in a second room that was standing up against the wall (not sure how to sleep on it that way or if it doesn’t really fit in the room?) we sat down and met his daughter (18 months, chifonia) and his wife walked through the room and out the door but didn’t get introduced or anything (we asked if that was his wife after she’d gone through). He asked rhona to write an email and get information about solar power because it takes so long for electricity to get to the villages (the company doesn’t want to run it) and even when it does it is pretty unreliable with the power sharing black outs at least two or three times a week. And possibly sponsors who would be interested in helping them to better their situation as there are not the job advancement possibilities in Malawi. If he had left it at that it would have been good. But of course he kept going and asked about her sending him a package…while we look forward to packages he clarified—a package for them is full of money, specifically dollars (rhona is british). Then we got to continue our walk.