July 17th, 2007
12:30pm No time last night to write, there were too many mosquitoes/gnats/other flying bugs and having a light on in bed attracts them, even though most of them can’t fit through the net they are still annoying. Turns out you can still get malaria even if you take pills, Maria has it right now and Chris had already gotten it before I came. Symptoms: headache, fever, weak, vomiting, diarrhea. Side effects of the malaria medication: vomiting, diarrhea, weak, fever.
I got to meet with Rachael today, she’s feeling much better and we discussed all the things that I could be involved in here. We decided on primary school in the morning, clinic in the afternoon, and Friday I would work with the orphan feeding program.
There were about 80 students yesterday at the school, I will work alongside a wonderful teacher, Mrs. George. Man students were sent home because they hadn’t paid their fee. Students are also caned with a bamboo stick when they misbehave. I cringe and turn my head. I guess they’ve tried other forms of discipline but nothing works. 80 pairs of beady eyes stare at me and whisper and laugh among each other…”muzungu, muzungu!” I have come to the realization that I will never fully be able to understand their culture completely because of the color of my skin. As long as I am light-skinned I will never totally fit in.
I prepared dinner with Mama Nancy and Mama Day (see pictures from The Compound Album). It takes a few hours to prepare, one little stove, a couple knives, and a pot. All the food is fresh, I love eating this healthy!
4:37pm I have adjusted well to life here, it was almost too easy. I just fell into place among everyone here and I already say ‘home’ when talking about the compound. I have also never felt such heartache and happiness at the same time. This is worse than any poverty I could have ever imagined, yet everyone is living and content. They have no reason to not be happy; this is all they’ve ever known. It’s very frustrating at times to come from such a privileged home and then see things that you know shouldn’t happen and witness things that you know can be prevented. People can’t be taken to the hospital (1 ½ away) in the ambulance until they have the 1200 shillings to pay for the fuel. A mother gave birth on the side of the road; the baby died without medical attention. A preacher preaches that you don’t need to wear condoms or worry about contracting HIV if you believe in God; he won’t let you do the bad things that lead to HIV and other diseases.
