Yesterday was a much better day. Nikki took me to the hospital lab where I met Emery and Jacob. It was like stepping back to 1941. They hardly ever change gloves between patients. They had old floor tiles on which they placed drops of blood and performed the Widal tests and blood typing. They also used the same pipette to draw up the different blood samples...I'm sure the samples were cross contaminated. I was a bit startled when Jacob turned to me and asked "Would you provide the control? We have to do an HIV screen and need a control". I didn't understand what he was asking. Nikki spoke up and explained that they needed a sample of my blood because I was HIV negative. I said o.k. even though in the back of my mind I worried about the sterility of the needle. Nikki found a new needle with an unbroken seal and she drew my blood (I promise we made sure everything was sterile). Sigh...to be in the U.S. where everything is clean and sterile!
Later in the lab I was standing by the window with Emery. A man rode by on his bicycle and stopped to visit. Once the man noticed I was there he wanted to know what I was called. I could hear Nikki, Jacob, and Emery snickering in the background so I knew something shocking was about to come out of this man's mouth. Gabriel then opened his mouth and said "are you single?" "Uh, yes for now" "Then you will marry me!" "Um, no I won't" "Yes, you will" "No, I won't. I need to finish medical school. I will marry later." "Then I will wait for you!" By this point I was a little exasperated by the man. Of course when I become exasperated my Texas accent becomes extremely thick. I reverted to the typical Texas woman stance...hand on hip with other hand pointing at man. My response to him "WELL! You will be waiting a very long time!" Nikki thought this was hilarious and videotaped the whole episode. I think Gabriel got the message because he hasn't asked to marry me again.
Last evening we wallked down to the river. A local man, Joseph, joined us. The river is about 1/2 mile from the house. Once we reached the river bank it was a steep climb down on slippery rocks. I took pictures of the beautiful scene. Women were washing clothes and hauling water, children were fishing. Only when you look closer at the women's faces you notice lines of fatigue and weariness. The women carry huge jars of water on their hands and they make countless trips a day. The children also help with the task of collecting water and firewood. Trinity (a girl who cleans for the Youngs) told me that she spends 4 hours a day hauling water. It takes 2 hours to make one complete trip. At this time last year, they didn't need to haul water because it was pumped into town. But a water pipe burst and the government has not made repairs. The national election is coming up in 2012 and the officials have promised to repair the pipe by 2012. They say there is no money for the repair right now but the money will be there during the election year.
Culture fact:
1. Potty training - there are no diapers here. Mostly the children wear shorts and t-shirts or nothing at all. Yesterday, James (he is 2 1/2 years) stood in the hall outside of our room urinating in the floor. The urine simply poured down his legs and puddled on the floor. Bob walked into the hall and called for Jame's mother, Aggie, to come clean up. She simply took a mop and soaked up the puddle. James was not changed. He was left to air dry. I have seen this happen several other times. The children just eventually become potty trained this way.
2. The women carry huge jars of water on their head. Well, if you have ever tried to carry water, you quickly realize that the water will slosh. The women solve this problem by putting leaves and twigs into the water to disrupt the serface tension....brilliant
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