On Sunday night, the 26th of June, something huge happened: for the first time in seven weeks I was not the racial minority. A group of people interested in medicine and missions called MediQuest arrived with Peter Wilson, the Scotsman who oversees AIM short-termers in East Africa. As Rachel Sang and I walked towards the hospital guest houses to greet the visitors, it was as obvious as ever that I stuck out here in Litein. But suddenly, as we entered a room full of nine other wazungu, the tables turned. My mouth probably fell open like all the little African kids’ do when they see me. I had forgotten what it was like to be in the company of westerners. The group consisted of leader Kate Dahlman and seven other nurses/almost-nurses/pre-med students. Two of the nurses were a married couple from Australia and the rest of the team were American ladies all around my age. Goody! It was an unexpected treat, to say the least. They kindly invited me to spend each evening with them for the week they would be staying here in Litein and working at the hospital.
On the following Saturday I was able to accompany them to Tenwek Mission Hospital. (I was in Tenwek two weeks prior with Victor to visit one of his sisters who is a nurse there but didn’t look around the hospital.) Afterwards we got to go on a tour of Litein Tea Factory. I’ve never seen so much tea in all my life. Beds and beds of tea leaves, all at different stages of the withering process. We were driven around in an 11-seater van. And I thought I attracted attention. Try multiplying that times seven.
Being with the ladies and gent from MediQuest made me realize a few things. I am super grateful to be in the company of Kenyans and for them to be my host. I think the MediQuest team is having a wonderful experience, but I don’t think they are able to fully experience Kenya like I am. They get special treatment at the guesthouses where they stay: soda, biscuits and bananas to snack on, running water, warm water, electricity, flushing toilets, hot showers. Wow. What I wouldn’t give for a hot shower right now. (I’ve completely resigned to the fact that there will always be conditioner residue in my hair so long as I have two buckets to wash my hair in.)
It also helped me to see how much I have picked up on since arriving in Litein. I wanted to tell my white “sisters” all about Kalenjin greetings, how to show respect, when it’s ok to wear trousers, where the best internet café is, etc. We were even able to befriend a crowd of local children with the little Swahili I’ve learned. It was so fun! I know I’ve still got miles to go, but it’s nice to be able to mark my improvement. Victor even says I’m getting “hotter” in Kiswahili. (Sometimes words don’t translate that well. He’s just saying I’m learning a lot and getting better at speaking Swahili.) Mama Chiri always says, “Ann, if you could stay just two more months, you could really have it.”
Highlight of the week: getting to be with other Americans on the Fourth of July!! It’s my favorite holiday, and I figured I’d be the only one in Litien who would even notice it was America’s Independence Day. But God sent me a handful of friends to celebrate with. The festivities included going to the cyber (internet café), buying chocolate at the supermarket, and singing the national anthem at the guesthouses. Best Fourth of July celebration ever? Maybe.
P.S. I got sick again. Wednesday night, after a light dinner with the wazungu and a second dinner at home, I puked! I had tried sleeping around 9.30p (there was a power outtage, so whenever that happens everyone goes to bed early). But my stomach was aching like crazy and I couldn’t sleep at all. So finally at 12.30 I threw up in the toilet and was able to sleep at 1a. In the morning, they took me to Kaplong Hospital again to make sure it wasn’t anything serious. They needed a blood sample, but they took precautions this time and laid me down before injecting me with the needle. I was fine, and I felt better by dinner time. Just an African bug, praise the Lord.
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