This would have been the beginning of my intensive Chichewa but last week Anne-Marie (the woman I was going to live with and learn from) got malaria and was completely wiped out exhausted. So my stay was postponed until the 17th. This threw up some problems in my mind due to my visa but it looks like it will all work out…we’ll just have to wait and see. So I continued my sporadic and helpful visits to Beria who was very surprised to see me…
I was feeling kind of itchy and a bit odd so I decided it was time to pop some pills and make sure Africa hadn’t gotten to me in a bad way…plus there have been a few people who have gotten the lake bug (schistosomaiasis). So I had taken the pills home as you are supposed to take them 3 months after swimming or possible infection but then I’d come back without taking them. Tuesday I decided was the day. So I popped 4.5 Proziquontel in the morning. About 15 minutes later I was really dizzy…room kind of spinning…so I went back to bed for about an hour. The rest of the day I was still a little off (queasy) but it didn’t stop me much.
The epilepsy clinic was busy! Well the whole clinic was busy. There were at least 48 total patients-half of which were there for epilepsy. And the halls were packed. I would take patients out after the dr saw them and then the translator would explain in the middle of the hallway…I kept pointing out that there was an unused room behind him but he wouldn’t move into it…oh well. It kept me pretty busy. Most of the patients seem to be doing much better on the medication (thank goodness) but they often fill out the book differently from the story they are telling us…some of the books are confusing…but when they take their meds they should mark that…and in another column if they have a seizure that day they are to put a mark…some are getting it very well. Some start well but when the month changes (new page) they stop or start doing it wrong. Some don’t get it at all. One family started very well and then there was nothing in the book. She did say there had been no seizures but we had to ask about if she was taking the medication since it wasn’t marked—it wasn’t marked because she had nothing to write with in the book…
Wednesday we went to another prayerhouse. This one was Chigodi. Much closer than the last (3km maybe and down the paved road). So we met at Abusa’s house at 8…left around 9. We walked toward the junction planning on taking a minibus when James Veitch drove by on his way to town. Nice ride down the road. Klaasje and I thought we would be back before lunch since we were so close to nkhoma and the last actually meeting minus travel time was about an hour and a half. Same little meeting in the back room as we waited for people to gather. Learned the Chichewa word for farmer—mlimi. So now I can say mlimi alima chimanga (the farmer grows maize). Abusa then said that there were no people here so maybe we’ll just go—there was a funeral and it is the beginning of the harvest and a good sunny but not hot day…there were some elders there so I asked if Klassje could ask her questions and they had some of the answers. Then Abusa said that he would say a few words to those who had gathered (a group of about 18) and then we would go. 4 hours later he stopped talking. As visitors we sit in the front of the group facing them—not really a good place as we don’t understand what is going on, the translation for us isn’t very interesting after the first hour…but there we were. Once again discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the congregation—they want abusa to visit more regularly, they aren’t tithing (again not just money but harvest is good tithe), people leave before services are over, elderly aren’t coming…and then abusa went over these (I think about 3 times at least). Nsima lunch when finished and then it was time to head home…walked a little way on the road before getting picked up by a passing vehicle.
I learned my lesson with the prozyquantel and took my albendazol (against worms) at night before bed. No side effects that way—or at least I slept through them. That was Thursday night. And then Friday I started my rabies shots…
Friday I went to the synod office to get a letter for my immigration permit. Hopefully this will ease all the immigration troubles I might come up against. But I’ll have to find out what they are looking for…I’ll apply for a Temporary Employment Permit though I’m not employed. I went to ask them about a Technical Assistant Permit but they don’t know it and think that this will work better. So we’ll see how it goes. Then off to visit some abusa who might be able to help me with the youth work as in one of the presbyteries there is already a program “girls for jesus” that I could look at and see if I can work along with it…but none of the abusa we went looking for were there—they were all out visiting prayerhouses (at least that is what I got from the conversations). It was a bumpy drive along lots of dirt roads, very scenic and a nice ride…(I was glad I wasn’t driving as the road was quite bumpy…we got stopped by the police at one crossroads…when they found out we were going to a church they asked for bibles. The only ones we had in the car were in Afrikaans. (before we left james was wondering about his license which they had taken in town the day before because it needed to be renewed but then they didn’t give it back that day…when the police stopped us they only asked for the truck papers—not personal ones!)
Monday, May 16, 2011
job
So things are all up in the air again…well I suppose in a way they always are especially where I’m concerned but here goes…
I came with the assumption/belief/hope I would be working with James Veitch and the Synod Youth Department in finding out what programs there are now for girls’ ministry and then to develop more or further what they have. Things have been a little slow but moving forward—more ideas coming, trainings and meetings I’ve been to, and learning Chichewa. James has received a letter from the Synod stating that at the beginning of the new school year he will be reassigned as a teacher at William Murray Secondary School and no longer be working with the Youth Department.
I have met and like the people in the Synod Youth Office but I feel that my way forward has been stalled. James was the driving force in the office (I think). The office is in Lilongwe and I don’t know who if anyone there will really continue to help me or have ideas as to what my next steps should be—who to meet, where to go, etc.
The plan right now is to continue what I’m doing…learning Chichewa and helping around nkhoma—renovations, epilepsy clinic, school, hospital. My options (as always) are still endless…there is lots to do here. After my Chichewa course (which I think I will start on the 17th) I’ll try to go into the synod office in lilongwe and see how that goes…I’ll help James with his projects and proposals and see where that leads before he is transferred to the education department.
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and encouragement.
I came with the assumption/belief/hope I would be working with James Veitch and the Synod Youth Department in finding out what programs there are now for girls’ ministry and then to develop more or further what they have. Things have been a little slow but moving forward—more ideas coming, trainings and meetings I’ve been to, and learning Chichewa. James has received a letter from the Synod stating that at the beginning of the new school year he will be reassigned as a teacher at William Murray Secondary School and no longer be working with the Youth Department.
I have met and like the people in the Synod Youth Office but I feel that my way forward has been stalled. James was the driving force in the office (I think). The office is in Lilongwe and I don’t know who if anyone there will really continue to help me or have ideas as to what my next steps should be—who to meet, where to go, etc.
The plan right now is to continue what I’m doing…learning Chichewa and helping around nkhoma—renovations, epilepsy clinic, school, hospital. My options (as always) are still endless…there is lots to do here. After my Chichewa course (which I think I will start on the 17th) I’ll try to go into the synod office in lilongwe and see how that goes…I’ll help James with his projects and proposals and see where that leads before he is transferred to the education department.
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and encouragement.
job
So things are all up in the air again…well I suppose in a way they always are especially where I’m concerned but here goes…
I came with the assumption/belief/hope I would be working with James Veitch and the Synod Youth Department in finding out what programs there are now for girls’ ministry and then to develop more or further what they have. Things have been a little slow but moving forward—more ideas coming, trainings and meetings I’ve been to, and learning Chichewa. James has received a letter from the Synod stating that at the beginning of the new school year he will be reassigned as a teacher at William Murray Secondary School and no longer be working with the Youth Department.
I have met and like the people in the Synod Youth Office but I feel that my way forward has been stalled. James was the driving force in the office (I think). The office is in Lilongwe and I don’t know who if anyone there will really continue to help me or have ideas as to what my next steps should be—who to meet, where to go, etc.
The plan right now is to continue what I’m doing…learning Chichewa and helping around nkhoma—renovations, epilepsy clinic, school, hospital. My options (as always) are still endless…there is lots to do here. After my Chichewa course (which I think I will start on the 17th) I’ll try to go into the synod office in lilongwe and see how that goes…I’ll help James with his projects and proposals and see where that leads before he is transferred to the education department.
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and encouragement.
I came with the assumption/belief/hope I would be working with James Veitch and the Synod Youth Department in finding out what programs there are now for girls’ ministry and then to develop more or further what they have. Things have been a little slow but moving forward—more ideas coming, trainings and meetings I’ve been to, and learning Chichewa. James has received a letter from the Synod stating that at the beginning of the new school year he will be reassigned as a teacher at William Murray Secondary School and no longer be working with the Youth Department.
I have met and like the people in the Synod Youth Office but I feel that my way forward has been stalled. James was the driving force in the office (I think). The office is in Lilongwe and I don’t know who if anyone there will really continue to help me or have ideas as to what my next steps should be—who to meet, where to go, etc.
The plan right now is to continue what I’m doing…learning Chichewa and helping around nkhoma—renovations, epilepsy clinic, school, hospital. My options (as always) are still endless…there is lots to do here. After my Chichewa course (which I think I will start on the 17th) I’ll try to go into the synod office in lilongwe and see how that goes…I’ll help James with his projects and proposals and see where that leads before he is transferred to the education department.
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and encouragement.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
conference
To Senga Bay for the Personnel Conference. A time of spiritual renewal for missionaries. Almost all the azungu from nkhoma and this year that was most of the participants (one from Lilongwe). It is a long weekend with Labor Day being Monday so we stayed 3 nights. Lee Baas (formerly US missionary to Philippines now an unaffiliated counselor for missionaries) came in to talk to us about “being steadfast and renewing a right spirit within.” The meetings were in the evenings and the mornings. I attended the evening sessions and watched the kids during the morning ones. There were 13 kids from 9 months to 14 years…7 couldn’t swim on their own—3 were fearless and not too worried about it…4 wouldn’t get close to the water without people and floats which was good because the wind and therefore the waves were up all weekend! It was fun and the big kids love playing with the little ones so it wasn’t a hard job.
The wind was strong starting at about 2am Friday night…so the evenings were cool but our accommodations didn’t seem to cool off…hot and stuffy until we’d been asleep for a while. One tent was destroyed and two were moved to be a little more sheltered behind the buildings. I was in the room with 8 beds and a varying number of girls…the stars were amazing at night…the milky way was very obvious as was the southern cross (but those are the only things I can pick out in this sky).
We had a kayak and an inflatable boat—there had been a rumor about a motor boat but the only one we saw was on the beach for repairs and renovations…no skiing but lots of fun. The waves were big enough to ride in on the kayak or body surf!
The wind was strong starting at about 2am Friday night…so the evenings were cool but our accommodations didn’t seem to cool off…hot and stuffy until we’d been asleep for a while. One tent was destroyed and two were moved to be a little more sheltered behind the buildings. I was in the room with 8 beds and a varying number of girls…the stars were amazing at night…the milky way was very obvious as was the southern cross (but those are the only things I can pick out in this sky).
We had a kayak and an inflatable boat—there had been a rumor about a motor boat but the only one we saw was on the beach for repairs and renovations…no skiing but lots of fun. The waves were big enough to ride in on the kayak or body surf!
week 9
Easter was a beautiful day. There was singing and music in church (I was worried as last year there was not). Sermon on the resurrection and the fact that the women at the tomb didn’t recognize Jesus in the garden through their tears and grief…what is it in our lives that is keeping us from recognizing Jesus today?
Sad day for 2 dogs in Nkhoma…we had one of the village dogs fall in our trash pit…deep pit with steep sides. We tried putting palm branches at an angle hoping he would be able to climb out on his own as we didn’t want to get to close to the wild dog. But that didn’t work. He was there for some days and I think that at some point people came and threw rocks and bricks at him…when I went to check on him he was not moving anymore…I enlisted some help from some passing people and the guy rigged a noose out of ropes to wrap around one front paw and we pulled him up. Still just whining but I thought it might have been shock so we covered him, gave him water and some leftovers…he hadn’t moved the next day and I really knew something was wrong. He was quiet for a while but then started whining so I called reynier who came and gave him a shot. He also brought one of his dog’s puppies who was having convulsions and not getting any better. Burial for both in the garden…
I don’t know what is up with malawi’s power and water…we do a power share with Mozambique (I don’t really really understand what that means) but we have “scheduled” cuts on Mondays and Saturdays…however from about Thursday it has been off all day…and then comes on at night. Then Friday after being on for about 2 hours it went out again…Sunday it stayed on. Occasionally we hear that there was some announcement (but we never hear it beforehand). And the water in the cottage has been going off in the day…luckily it comes back on around 8 every evening but it does put a cramp in living at home…dishes are put off until there are lots…showers are either late or early in the morning (goes off anytime after 630)…no explanation for that either…
Rabies was given as the reason for two of the ter haar puppy’s deaths- one in town and one in nkhoma…which means that possibly the rest of them had it as well. And possibly the one buried in my yard…so the whole family and the others must get the rabies shots…a set of 4 or 5 spread out over a couple of weeks. That is quite a few children and adults having to get the shots but it is much better to be safe than sorry.
Sad day for 2 dogs in Nkhoma…we had one of the village dogs fall in our trash pit…deep pit with steep sides. We tried putting palm branches at an angle hoping he would be able to climb out on his own as we didn’t want to get to close to the wild dog. But that didn’t work. He was there for some days and I think that at some point people came and threw rocks and bricks at him…when I went to check on him he was not moving anymore…I enlisted some help from some passing people and the guy rigged a noose out of ropes to wrap around one front paw and we pulled him up. Still just whining but I thought it might have been shock so we covered him, gave him water and some leftovers…he hadn’t moved the next day and I really knew something was wrong. He was quiet for a while but then started whining so I called reynier who came and gave him a shot. He also brought one of his dog’s puppies who was having convulsions and not getting any better. Burial for both in the garden…
I don’t know what is up with malawi’s power and water…we do a power share with Mozambique (I don’t really really understand what that means) but we have “scheduled” cuts on Mondays and Saturdays…however from about Thursday it has been off all day…and then comes on at night. Then Friday after being on for about 2 hours it went out again…Sunday it stayed on. Occasionally we hear that there was some announcement (but we never hear it beforehand). And the water in the cottage has been going off in the day…luckily it comes back on around 8 every evening but it does put a cramp in living at home…dishes are put off until there are lots…showers are either late or early in the morning (goes off anytime after 630)…no explanation for that either…
Rabies was given as the reason for two of the ter haar puppy’s deaths- one in town and one in nkhoma…which means that possibly the rest of them had it as well. And possibly the one buried in my yard…so the whole family and the others must get the rabies shots…a set of 4 or 5 spread out over a couple of weeks. That is quite a few children and adults having to get the shots but it is much better to be safe than sorry.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
week 8
Woke up Sunday morning and was planning to go to church. Then as I thought about it I really felt that I didn’t want to go and sit on those pews not understanding lots or getting much out of what I do understand and I did feel like walking. I also didn’t want to be stared at so much so I decided to go up the mountain. It was a beautiful morning for it. When I got to the mountain hut the watchman told me he would escort me up—not necessary but there was no talking him out of it. I practiced two Chichewa questions on him (do you have a wife? And kids?) about halfway he noticed more azungu at the hut so I told him he should go back down as we couldn’t figure out who they were and I knew my way up. Couldn’t quite see the lake from the top but stunning panaorama. Turned out the three azungu were from the guesthouse-two british med students and an eye dr-and they’d brought up or were led by two of the missionary dogs, shadow and sprute…it was nice to have company on the way down.
That afternoon I had been invited to a choir festival by Beria, barbara’s housekeeper. The invite was for 130 so we went over about 3…it was in full swing but I don’t think we were late at all. Lots of people crowded into the quad area of William Murray Secondary School. Lots of familiar faces but no real idea what is going on. A choir festival is a money raising activity (that I knew)…the hosting choir invites many other choirs for an afternoon and then they have “competitions” as to who raises the most money..they take representatives from 3 or 4 different choirs standing at the front and people go up and put money in their baskets…whichever one has the most sings the next song…then it is repeated with different choirs…and all the money raised is for the hosting choir (that I didn’t know). Luckily I’d brought small money with me because it is more fun and they like it more when you go up multiple times…and of course you dance your way to and from the baskets…good time and happy moods!
My Chichewa lessons have continued but I feel that they are slowing down on the pick up. The first week I sped through lessons 1 and 2 and then 3 and 4 weren’t too bad. Then 5 had me stumped for at least 2 weeks probably more like 3. Now I’m on lesson 6 and this is going on my 2nd week…but then I’ve also been busier during the days and so not studying everyday like I should be. I can answer some simple questions now but still hearing them is a bit confusing as they speak so fast. (as people speaking foreign languages always seem to do from the learner’s perspective) Chichewa is an alliterative language…the prepositions have to agree with the noun case and the beginnings then often start with the same letter…for example “there is” is pali unless the preposition ku (in) is in the sentence somewhere in which case pali becomes kuli. Lesson 6 is going to take a while…(mu nyumba umo mulibe anthu. There are no people in the house there.)
I was back at the epilepsy clinic on Tuesday. We got our system working…I was the runner between the dr and note taker and the attendant who would explain to the patient about their records and medication…going smoothly until one girl comes in with her sister’s health passport (medical records are kept by the patient in Malawi) and epilepsy book (for the study they are doing). Took us ages to find out why the name on the passport wasn’t the same as the patient we had in front of us…problem working through translators but also trying to get answers from the girl who was probably a bit slow. Finally got that it was her sister but still not getting useful info as to why she was here. Then another person came in…I don’t know if it was a guardian or just someone who knows her but she explained that the sister wasn’t supposed to be in the study as she hadn’t had seizures in a couple of years but that this one should but she refuses to take her medication. A bit of an impasse I think but we’ll see what happens. Told to take her meds and she agreed…
Thursday Klaasje, me, abusa Chapota, mr. thousand and Hennie Smit went to one of the prayerhouses under the nkhoma CCAP church, Gowo. Only 17 km from nkhoma but the road was not very good so it took us about 2 hours to get there with the stops for checking on the road and finding ways around impassable areas. It was a beautiful view from the top where the prayerhouse was. Met some of the elders and community leaders and then went inside to conduct the meeting. Started with singing then Klaasje was given time to ask her questions…she didn’t know she was supposed to have questions—she was told they would have register books for her to look at and get her numbers from…but she did well—asked about the membership (26) numbers of youth (18?) and whether they are following the curriculum that was given to them (Choose Freedom) whether there are more females or males. I still don’t really know what she’ll do with this info. Then Abusa gave a homily out of the Easter story and then they had a discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the congregation. They are good at meeting together to support each other and to praise God. They are not good at tithing because they have very little money. Problem solved when Abusa pointed out that tithing doesn’t have to be money but all that you have—harvest of maize, tobacco, soya, pumpkin, etc. that can be given to God? Yes, the church can use these things as well.
Saturday I went up the mountain again. On my flight from Ethiopia I met Miriam who works for USAID in Lilongwe and she came down with two colleagues to climb the mountain. They planned on leaving town at 8 which would put them here around 9…a bit late to start the climb with the sun shining but we have all day so there is no pressure to push and we can take advantage of any shade we can find. Too hazy to see the lake but we had a good chat at the top. There was a group of Malawians having a church service on the other side of the peak—nice background music. They were impressed with my house and the station as they had pictured the mission scene as very stark and yet in comparison to what they’ve got working for the big agency and embassy…I was surprised…I’ll have to try it out sometime as the said they have guest bedrooms if I want to stay in Lilongwe…I’ll have to see how other expats live.
That afternoon I had been invited to a choir festival by Beria, barbara’s housekeeper. The invite was for 130 so we went over about 3…it was in full swing but I don’t think we were late at all. Lots of people crowded into the quad area of William Murray Secondary School. Lots of familiar faces but no real idea what is going on. A choir festival is a money raising activity (that I knew)…the hosting choir invites many other choirs for an afternoon and then they have “competitions” as to who raises the most money..they take representatives from 3 or 4 different choirs standing at the front and people go up and put money in their baskets…whichever one has the most sings the next song…then it is repeated with different choirs…and all the money raised is for the hosting choir (that I didn’t know). Luckily I’d brought small money with me because it is more fun and they like it more when you go up multiple times…and of course you dance your way to and from the baskets…good time and happy moods!
My Chichewa lessons have continued but I feel that they are slowing down on the pick up. The first week I sped through lessons 1 and 2 and then 3 and 4 weren’t too bad. Then 5 had me stumped for at least 2 weeks probably more like 3. Now I’m on lesson 6 and this is going on my 2nd week…but then I’ve also been busier during the days and so not studying everyday like I should be. I can answer some simple questions now but still hearing them is a bit confusing as they speak so fast. (as people speaking foreign languages always seem to do from the learner’s perspective) Chichewa is an alliterative language…the prepositions have to agree with the noun case and the beginnings then often start with the same letter…for example “there is” is pali unless the preposition ku (in) is in the sentence somewhere in which case pali becomes kuli. Lesson 6 is going to take a while…(mu nyumba umo mulibe anthu. There are no people in the house there.)
I was back at the epilepsy clinic on Tuesday. We got our system working…I was the runner between the dr and note taker and the attendant who would explain to the patient about their records and medication…going smoothly until one girl comes in with her sister’s health passport (medical records are kept by the patient in Malawi) and epilepsy book (for the study they are doing). Took us ages to find out why the name on the passport wasn’t the same as the patient we had in front of us…problem working through translators but also trying to get answers from the girl who was probably a bit slow. Finally got that it was her sister but still not getting useful info as to why she was here. Then another person came in…I don’t know if it was a guardian or just someone who knows her but she explained that the sister wasn’t supposed to be in the study as she hadn’t had seizures in a couple of years but that this one should but she refuses to take her medication. A bit of an impasse I think but we’ll see what happens. Told to take her meds and she agreed…
Thursday Klaasje, me, abusa Chapota, mr. thousand and Hennie Smit went to one of the prayerhouses under the nkhoma CCAP church, Gowo. Only 17 km from nkhoma but the road was not very good so it took us about 2 hours to get there with the stops for checking on the road and finding ways around impassable areas. It was a beautiful view from the top where the prayerhouse was. Met some of the elders and community leaders and then went inside to conduct the meeting. Started with singing then Klaasje was given time to ask her questions…she didn’t know she was supposed to have questions—she was told they would have register books for her to look at and get her numbers from…but she did well—asked about the membership (26) numbers of youth (18?) and whether they are following the curriculum that was given to them (Choose Freedom) whether there are more females or males. I still don’t really know what she’ll do with this info. Then Abusa gave a homily out of the Easter story and then they had a discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the congregation. They are good at meeting together to support each other and to praise God. They are not good at tithing because they have very little money. Problem solved when Abusa pointed out that tithing doesn’t have to be money but all that you have—harvest of maize, tobacco, soya, pumpkin, etc. that can be given to God? Yes, the church can use these things as well.
Saturday I went up the mountain again. On my flight from Ethiopia I met Miriam who works for USAID in Lilongwe and she came down with two colleagues to climb the mountain. They planned on leaving town at 8 which would put them here around 9…a bit late to start the climb with the sun shining but we have all day so there is no pressure to push and we can take advantage of any shade we can find. Too hazy to see the lake but we had a good chat at the top. There was a group of Malawians having a church service on the other side of the peak—nice background music. They were impressed with my house and the station as they had pictured the mission scene as very stark and yet in comparison to what they’ve got working for the big agency and embassy…I was surprised…I’ll have to try it out sometime as the said they have guest bedrooms if I want to stay in Lilongwe…I’ll have to see how other expats live.
Monday, May 2, 2011
week 7
I got ambushed leaving church as they had a blood truck outside and had announced that it would be greatly appreciated for anyone to give…and as I was talking on the stairs, Willeke and Reynier Ter Haar came and took us all down to the station. I of course gave my usual scared of needles but willing to give blood. Just wish the needle weren’t so big. And then all of the families were there so all the kids standing around giving me a hard time for being freaked out with the needle(in a friendly happy way)…but we got through it and I even felt good after…spent the rest of the afternoon having tea with the Ter Haars and then a braii (bbq) at Barbara’s…good to keep your strength up after losing blood.
Monday took Klaasje (pronounced clashia-dutch roomie) and me to James’s to look over a budget proposal for taking the student councils of selected schools to do a training on time management, setting goals, being a leader, making good decisions and other good subjects and then having the students go back to the schools and see if it makes a difference in the schools in discipline problems, grades or exam scores, and self-esteem. This will require quite a bit of prep work with training the people who will check on the schools, get the trainings together, train the trainers, train the students and do all the follow ups. What James thought would take about an hour took us all day to ask any questions we could come up with to make the proposal easier to understand and to make sure the budget made sense…
Tuesday I went to help at the hospital. There is a medical clinic and an epilepsy study going on and so lots of epileptic patients coming in. and as in a study (I assume as I’ve never really had to do one myself) there is quite a bit of paperwork to fill out. So the doctor sees the patient and talks about whether they’ve had seizures since they last came in, whether they’ve taken their meds, if they are feeling better or ok, etc. Loes (pronounced lucy without the y, dutch social worker) keeps the paper work in multiple binders that I didn’t figure out…some are in the study and others have come on referrals but still part of the program. I would then take the patient out of the room and get the translator to re-explain the medication and the notebook we give them to keep track of their meds and if they have seizures. As much as I’m not a hospital person—I like this way of helping.
Linn & Maria (nurses) arrived at the end of their 10 month stay and headed back to Norway. Jenn (burns physician assistant from US) headed back to the states for a new job in boston. Ngari (lab tech) was sent home to Australia by her insurance after having malaria, bilharzias, and vitamin deficiencies to rest and recover and undergo some more tests. The Ter Haar family and Nagy family went to the lake for the weekend. The Veitches went north for the week (to Nyika, Livingstonia and the lake)…felt like everyone was leaving me…but most are coming back…
Monday took Klaasje (pronounced clashia-dutch roomie) and me to James’s to look over a budget proposal for taking the student councils of selected schools to do a training on time management, setting goals, being a leader, making good decisions and other good subjects and then having the students go back to the schools and see if it makes a difference in the schools in discipline problems, grades or exam scores, and self-esteem. This will require quite a bit of prep work with training the people who will check on the schools, get the trainings together, train the trainers, train the students and do all the follow ups. What James thought would take about an hour took us all day to ask any questions we could come up with to make the proposal easier to understand and to make sure the budget made sense…
Tuesday I went to help at the hospital. There is a medical clinic and an epilepsy study going on and so lots of epileptic patients coming in. and as in a study (I assume as I’ve never really had to do one myself) there is quite a bit of paperwork to fill out. So the doctor sees the patient and talks about whether they’ve had seizures since they last came in, whether they’ve taken their meds, if they are feeling better or ok, etc. Loes (pronounced lucy without the y, dutch social worker) keeps the paper work in multiple binders that I didn’t figure out…some are in the study and others have come on referrals but still part of the program. I would then take the patient out of the room and get the translator to re-explain the medication and the notebook we give them to keep track of their meds and if they have seizures. As much as I’m not a hospital person—I like this way of helping.
Linn & Maria (nurses) arrived at the end of their 10 month stay and headed back to Norway. Jenn (burns physician assistant from US) headed back to the states for a new job in boston. Ngari (lab tech) was sent home to Australia by her insurance after having malaria, bilharzias, and vitamin deficiencies to rest and recover and undergo some more tests. The Ter Haar family and Nagy family went to the lake for the weekend. The Veitches went north for the week (to Nyika, Livingstonia and the lake)…felt like everyone was leaving me…but most are coming back…
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