Speaking Easy

Smoking and drinking are strictly prohibited in the village - and I do mean village in the most Zelda-sense possible. This place has village elders who are most likely hiding some sort of crystal to unlock a time portal to a darker future where Ganondorf reigns supreme. All nerdiness aside, I've discovered something very interesting about the social scene in Takaungu - palm wine bars. If there's anything prohibition has taught us, it's to never underestimate humanities love for alcohol - a love that knows no limits nor laws. Palm wine bars are like speakeasies that are run out of certain villagers homes. The process of getting palm wine is a very dangerous, time-consuming process that involves multiple trips to the top of palm trees in a single day. Once I figure out the password to one of these palm wine bars I'll report back as to how it goes down. As for that hidden crystal, I'll need some reinforcements.

There are about 5 women that live in the house with me and their main communication involves shouting back and forth in Swahili - usually during the hours of 5am - 10pm. To entertain myself, I've created my own soap opera dialogue and plot. There's a group of Muslim men that gather together by the benches overlooking the ocean to countdown til sundown when they can eat. They bring coffee, potatoes, and dates. As I was sitting at the bench reading, one of them came up to me and said, "we have expected your domicile" and handed me a handful of dates and a cup of coffee. I found this particularly sweet and worth sharing.

I've finally had the opportunity to post some pictures - it's been a several-hour process, but definitely worth it. I've had some amazing opportunities to do some vaccinations, growth monitoring, and I even taught a short class on the HIV life cycle to the community health workers that operate in their respective villages. The head nurse of the clinic and I went out and brought rapid HIV test kits with us out to the villages to offer free, voluntary testing for people to know their status. I'll be doing health screenings at the primary school starting on Monday and I will also be doing more work at the clinic throughout the week. Thank you for all your comments, thoughts, and prayers...this has been an amazing experience so far.

If a man can be remembered for being kind, then all of life's chaos, all the cruelty, all the pain and all the turmoil would be worth it. For in kindness is incarnated Love. In it are the graces of acceptance and mercy, and the graces of compassion and selflessness.

this almost catches the village vibe. i still have no idea how the health workers know their way around.

children lining up outside the school for growth monitoring and vaccinations

artsy photo. cute kids. bicycle.

everyone here cooks around an open flame...this happens too often.

this was probably the highlight of my day. scraping the septic wound.

the most wonderful ringworm I have ever seen...WOW!

her health documents are in her hand. yeah, you try sticking her with a needle.

i taught a class on the HIV life cycle to the community health workers - knowledge is power!

this is the boat I take across the creek to get internet and yes, that man is rocking an AM/FM to tune into Dolly Parton.

food is scarce during Ramadhan, but nothing says supper like fish head, chapati, and "sauce". i asked what the "sauce" was and he said, "it's like...you know...pasta!" it was not like pasta. not at all.