I was going to write you on official Muhimbili Medical Centre stationery, but I must have used it all, so only have recourse to progress note paper (or 'Clinical Notes' as our British colleagues would say). I got your letter notifying me that the earpiece was on its way today. Well, I hope it is the earpiece anyway. The description was sketchy, and the package has not appeared yet. Did you like your rabbit coin? It is such small change that no one really uses it anymore. I found it laying in the kitchen.

Today the earpieces came. They were in the mailbox, too. Sometimes, large envelopes go to the parcel department, and are a nuisance to go pick up. The size and shape are OK, but as you deduced, the color is off a little. I am returning the broken one, so maybe they will be able to identify it and get a replacement. Here are some postcards of Masai. Most of them are up north, near Arusha, but every once in a while, there will be a couple at the hospital. I got your bracelet from three woman, who were in front of the Kilimanjaro Hotel, notable for a Michael Jackson visit. I picked these cards because I liked the beads they are wearing.

I was making a list of what you will experience if/when you come
A LOT of dirt, mold, potholes, humidity (Maybe it will be gone.)
SOME mosquitos, other biting creatures, beans and rice (That probably goes into the "A LOT" column. I stopped it too soon.)
I will restart it...A LOT of bad sidewalks, dust, shilingi (It cost S12,500 to fill up the car with gas today.) SOME geckos turning up when you least expect it. A SHORTAGE of water (We've done pretty good for the last week, but I'm still paranoid.), electricity (It goes out about once a week, for the day.), milk, ice cream, oatmeal, cold weather (At least, the rain has started now so it can be cool for about 20 minutes after every rain, until the humidity gets to 200%.)

There has been no electricity at the office where the computer sits, so I haven't been able to update anything this week. Next week, the head of the study comes, to stay for one week. I am getting very frustrated. I offered to make enchiladas for Dr.G. and his family, so we went and got chicken, beef, yogurt (for sour cream), and heavy cream, and I got 2 kangas, in addition. They are what the ladies wear like a sarong, wrapped around the waist, and a veil over the head and shoulders. I got your postcards, and a roll of film, but the monkey pictures weren't developed, so I'll have to try again.

We're still out of water. It was cool for a couple days, but it's hot again, and I'm sticking to everything I touch. We went out and ate Ethiopian food Saturday night. They bring big trays with piles of food on top of flat bread, like giant crepes, and you scoop everything up with other pieces of bread, that come in rolls like Ace bandages-not exactly mouth-watering to hear about, but it was good!

The hospital was out of aspirin, Tylenol, and blood pressure medicine last week. I think they have some Tylenol now. The study is going OK. We enrolled people last week and this week. The computer is still screwed up, and the guy that is supposed to help with that is not fixing anything. I'm not sure anyone here could fix it, but they have done some things to make it worse, and he screwed up something else I asked for his help on at one point. The head of the study is supposed to visit in March. I hope I don't get blamed for not running things better, because I don't really feel like I am in a position of control. I just say my opinion and get ignored. Oh well. Write soon.

February 27

I am going to try to relate events in order. We have not had water since Thursday, 2/15. Workmen came on 2/18, and we got a little water. All the houses on our street were without water, so it was a problem with the main, that they unblocked. But, on 2/20, the last four or five houses on the street were without water again. So Mary and John went to the Water Office on Monday, 2/24, and they were promised someone would come the next day. No one came on Tuesday or Wednesday. Mary and I went to the Office this morning, and we sat there, like a sit-in from the seventies, until the boss came in and told about 10 men to come to our house. We took five men, and a truck brought the others. I stayed home to make as-sure-as-possible that something happened. I am so tired of scrimping shower water, and wearing somewhat-dirty clothes. We carry two containers of water home each day. The back of the 4WD is all wet and moldy now. By 11 am, they had the pipes dug up, and got two big balls of roots out and we had a little stream of water. It only lasted about 15 minutes, because the pressure is too low during the day when everyone is cooking and cleaning, and we are at the end of the line. Hopes are that it will come back on later tonight after everyone else's tanks are full. I did some clothes last night at Dr.G's, so that's OK.

Mary sent a card to the US, by DHL for S8,800. That's shilingi actually, not dollars. It converts to about $20. She needed it to get there faster than air mail, which is taking about two weeks.

I forgot the rest of the water story...a little while after the water came on, the electricity went off.