Last Week

Well, we are on our last week before our vacation starts. The time has flown by. I'm still on the wards and it's been interesting. The lack of resources (though I admit I am spoiled because I work at TCH) is frustrating but more so is the apathy of the staff. Here when children die it seems not to be a big deal and I just can't wrap my brain around that. I know that more often here than at home times will come when you just can't do anything but I think you should always try. There is no medical school here so I'm sure that plays a part. I have now been to 2 resucitations. One the child died in the ICU and the other I think is fine. There are no IO needles here so you try to use regular needles (guess how well that works). We ended up fluid bolusing a kid via NG because after 2.5 hours no one had managed to get a line. It actually worked quite well but not something I'm willing to do at home.

Yesterday we went on outreach which Portia has already talked about so I won't go into details. She failed to mention that as we were bumping along the Botswana country side the radio was playing such great hits at Ace of Base and We Will Rock You which our Botswana counterparts were quite excited about. It was entertaining. All were we missing was some hairspray and ripped jeans.

Since we go done early yesterday afternoon we went out to Botswana craft which is sort of a cooperative of local women who make some of the local crafts. They have some of the most interesting baskets. Unfortunately, the big ones were well out of my price range. They also have a lot of stuff made out of ostrich egg and I got a bracelet. Apparently, they use the eggs to store water then when they break make jewelry and other decorations out of it. For those of you who don't remember my last trip to Africa, never eat an ostrich egg. It deceptively looks like an egg but has a really gritty consistency and an after taste that just won't go away.

Scott and Micah should be nearing Frankfurt right now. They take the same route we did on the way here and should get here tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait to see them.
Becca