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Published: November 1st 2008
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Happy Halloween!
It seems like forever since I have been on here! You know, I had this halfway decent entry already written to just copy and paste on to this blog, and since I have Vista on my computer it is NEVER compatible with anything and I have to always reformat all my documents...SO of course I forgot to do that this time...
BUT, I have plenty of pictures. Sorry, none of Halloween though.
I am on my way to Dedza again for In-Service Training. I will be away from my site until around December 1st. BUT, for the last month or so I have been VERY busy, and time has really flown by.
OKAY, so the short version:
My site is SOOOOOOOOOOO HOT. I take like 3 showers a day and I don't dry off, I just walk around for 5 minutes and I am completely DRY and then I start sweating again.
I avoid the sun like a vampire. I swear it is like 8.5 million degrees hotter in the sun. I promise. You can check yourself.
My pictures are actually of September and October. Three girls from Norway stayed at our
hospital and did clinical as part of an exchange program for about 5 weeks. So, the first week they were here I went with them to the villages to do a community health assessment. I went on Monday and back again with Hiram on Friday. On Monday we walked around the village for an hour (IN THE SUN! UGH) looking at things that could be improved, like more access to safe water, or sanitation practices.Tuesday through Thursday I prepared my Nutrition lessons (as I mentioned in my last entry) and Friday I returned to listen to the students do their health talk to the village.
I traveled to Mulanje Mountain with D'Lynn, Kelly, Allen, Jeanne, and Moni. We didn't hike up to the top because that is like a 3-5 day camping experience, but we did have a nice picnic at the bottom...
Allen's car fell into what I now call 'Azungu traps'. Someone decided to build a well in D'Lynn's driveway while she was gone over the weekend...they just forgot to tell her about it.
I already mentioned that I taught 20 hours of Nutrition the next week with a book about 48 years old... (I
will say that textbooks as donations to the college would definitely be accepted)
I met Cathy, Brian and Salima in Lilongwe when I went up there for about a week.
I gave my first exam the following week. The highest grade: 99% The lowest grade: 41% Humm. Not sure what that means...
I taught the second years dysfunctions/disorders of the endocrine system, liver, pancreas and some GI problems. I finished writing their exam 2 days ago for them to take while I am in Dedza. I also gave the poor first years some things to study while I am away. I am such a MEAN teacher...
ZUZE is a killer! YES! It is awesome. I was surprised the first time because he totally owned one of the gross lizards that are always chasing me around my back yard. Unfortunately, Zuze got distracted by the tail falling off that the lizard was able to limp away. BUT, since then my kitten has killed spiders, moths, FLYING COCKROACHES (soo gross!) more lizards, AND he chases the hens out of my garden (even though he is about half their size) so they don't eat my plants. He is a
good cat, but a little crazy.
We had a small party when the girls from Norway left.
A week ago Saturday I helped Hiram and Elly, my VSO friends (if you are confused read my earlier blogs) clean out their practical room because we are GETTING A NEW LIBRARY! Yay! Too bad we only have a few books. And we are getting another classroom. So, that is exciting, but I lost my office for storage until the job is complete...
A week ago Sunday I went with Gift, who built my fence, to meet Becky my site mate, at this nice lodge situated between our sites. We had lots of food, and hung out by the fish ponds. I may have my birthday there...
We got two new teachers, but we are still very understaffed, and now behind with the students. So, my leaving for Dedza is not the best thing right now.
My fence is complete. AND I now have onions, tomatoes and pineapples planted to go with my banana tree (that is growing back after the goat encounter) and papaya trees! Yay!
Hiram started a Health Club with the students, and I
am trying to help him out. We have a lot of talented students. Some can dance, sing, and some are great artists with no training. I may actually attempt to teach some art to them so that they can go around and paint pictures at health centers to promote health...Not sure were to start though. Any ideas??
And finally, people keep telling me about these giant spiders, and I encountered one my last night/morning (it was 3am because my ride to Blantyre left at 0330!) at site. Of course, the power was out, my cat was at Elly's to be watched while I'm gone, and I had just gotten out of the shower. Go figure. This thing was as long as my hand, and moved so fast. It crawls on the walls and ceiling, and it doesn't have a nest, but instead jumps on it's prey and makes clicking sounds while it devours it! I KID YOU NOT. It's fangs are the size/length of my fingernails, and it looks more like a scorpion on the walls than a spider. UGGH. And it is immune to Doom/Raid. So my solution? Grab my clothes and my phone, climb on the table,
and somehow manage to change and call my neighbor all while trying not to catch myself on fire with my candles because the power is out. He came promptly and beat it with a stick, which was nice, and how I was able to see how long it's fangs are. YUCK.
Okay, I am out of time. No proof-reading today!
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Mary-Lynn Whitman
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I sent you a private email....
Let me know when you get your "private email." I always try to comment on your blogs, but I don't know if you get them. LOVE YOU!