lwala

i am here. today is my second day at the clinic. i was launched right into the realm and happy chaos of clinical care here yesterday, including a manual dilation&vacuum and lipectomy. wasn't expecting either throughout my time here, much less on the first day. truth be told, i actually began to feel fainty (sweaty, cold, nauseated) during the gyn procedure, perhaps partially owing to the nature of the procedure and the patient writhing in pain, limited airflow in the procedure area, it's hot here, and i was just arrived the day before. excuses, excuses...maybe i'll do better next time?

i should provide some more info about how i arrived from nairobi. i traveled via matatu, or shared bus, along with several other passengers and all of our assorted luggage. i, of course, took up the most space with baggage. i offered to buy an extra ticket for my bags, which would have been an additional 700 kenya shillings (less than usa $10). but it was 'not necessary' according to the driver, and before long we were on our way, out of nairobi and into the rift valley.

the rift valley. stunning. expanse of low vegetation and innumerable herds of sheep, goats, cows, and a few donkeys. i believe i sighted as well a zebra (a real zebra!). either that or a rather clever donkey masquerading as such. and some gazelles or impala. clearly, i have yet to master my 'east african wildlife' guide.

the ride was hot and dusty, i don't think i've been so graced with dirt since my mongolia days. i feel right at home, however, though bathing last night was one of life's greatest pleasures. my arrival in kisii, a larger town near lwala, was smooth, i was escorted into a protected waiting area with a very nice woman who was responsible for selling matatu tickets to passengers bound for nairobi. i tried my best to assist her, but my swahili is lacking, and now that i am in lwala, we are using luo, which is different from swahili, so i suppose it's okay that i didn't learn much before arriving?!

i was retrieved from kisii in the lwala ambulance, by boi the driver and another clinician whose name i can't spell. i used to be very very good with names, but this skill is fading, sadly. i'll get back to you. anyway, i rode in the front of the landcruiser as we made our way from kisii to the dirt road leading to lwala. we were escorted by a rainstorm, which made tremendous rivers of runoff along the roadside. it was impressive! arriving in lwala, we found it hadn't rained here, so we weren't sure people believed us when we told them about the weather. so, my lwala name in luo means 'one who arrived in the rain' (again, i'll have to get back to you, as my memory is a sieve). i've been told that people here are named according to the weather conditions during their birth.

i have wonderful accomodations in the home of the ochieng' family, very close to the clinic. saraa and dada are our hostesses, and cooks, and assistants...and everything. the food is fabulous. lots of local fresh greens, beef, and a white substance that is made from maize, i believe (?) and requires special cooking skills as it starts off looking like flour but when cooked more resembles porrige. it's great. and filling. we eat without utensils, i am practicing my dexterity skills, but once again hunger is a powerful motivator, and as i learned very rapidly to eat with chopsticks this summer in china, so i have learned to maneuver my own fingers to feed myself.

i am writing from the clinic, and eager to return to my post with the nurses, rose and vine, and admire their skills and work at the clinic. so i'll sign off for now. BUT here are some phone numbers to reach me:

the phone i share with alice, another volunteer: (254 - country code - double check...) 0725 084 630

phone for the clinic manager, omondi: 254 0712 724 263