Things we have learned....

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Some things we learned over the last week at work, and during our weekend trip to Kumasi:

1. Ants are ok on sterile fields.
2. Operating in 100 degree heat and no air conditioning makes you sweat.
3. If an ill patient does not want to sit up to have his lungs examined, he is lazy... and it is ok to tell him so.
4. Working up chest pain in the ED proves quite the challenge without an EKG, chest x-ray, cardiac enzymes, or a basic metabolic panel.
5. You can have your kidney transplanted in Accra, but think twice if you want your pap smear results back within the next 3 months.
6. You absolutely CAN catch a cold in 100 degree heat- and it is NOT the Swine Flu!
7. There is a single fiberoptic cable that carries the internet access for ALL of Western Africa.
8. Always carry toilet paper with you.
9. Time is relative.
10. Nothing ends a long day like a Star beer.
11. You can carry anything on your head.
12. Fufu is better than Banku, but don't eat it later than 6pm.
13. Ghanaians are talented people, but movie making is not one of their strengths.
14. The speed limit may say 80 km/hr, but hitting 30 on some major roads is a feat.
15. Goats are cute pets and good meat.
16. Cab drivers may not know street names, but they will pull over the car and run down the street asking people where your restaurant is.
17. If you buy a sandwich from the local "egg and tea" lady, and you do not return the next day to purchase another- expect angry comments and requests for a coke to make emends.
18. The fact that Melinda is 30 and childless is shocking and basis for some hot neighborhood gossip.
19. Obrunis are local celebrities (at least with the kids).
20. Kumasi is to Chicago as Accra is to LA. (We prefer Chicago).
21. All of your donated clothes end up in the market in Kumasi.
22. If you get lost in the market, just keep walking straight and eventually you will exit into the city- where exactly is another question.
23. And our lastest lesson: Street food IS the best... and usually worth the following day's belly ache.

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Comments

[Jason]

such wonderful lessons. keep 'em coming. i'm enjoying the reading. cheers.

[Krishna]

Awesome report!
I feel like you could be talking about India! Amazing how many things Smriti noticed in common between the two countries when she visited. Don't know about the Fufu or Banku, though. Little scared to ask what those are...

[James Thomasch]

Sounds like you guys are having an awesome time - nice break from the drudgery of residency in Ann Arbor I'm sure... Good thing you're doing it now, because once you're not childless - you could never do anything like this!