Booo Hooo I lost my camera

It has been another week since I last blogged, sorry for the delay. We have been having internet problems (among other things).On Halloween, I made up small bags, drew a little ghost on them and filled them with candy for both my colleagues and the children at the clinic. I had a lot of fun trying to explain the significance of Halloween and what candy has to do with it, but I think they got the gist of it.

First is first, I wish I could send pictures but I lost my camera over the weekend. We were at a place called Tamiez dancing and drinkin the night away, and I handed the camera off to Patrick to snap a pic of me dancin on the stage (thats become a regular occurrence for me - who knew?) and last thing I knew he said he slipped it back in my bag later in the evening, and it was not in my bag. Hmmmm, so it has been lost. I feel like crying, not for the camera but for the amazing pictures that I had yet to download. Oh well, that's life I guess. I looked into purchasing a new one, 20,000 shillings about $300 US, No thank you. I am going to have to go back to old school film I guess. BAH!

First is first, A group of friends and I traveled to Migori to attend the Peace Corps Halloween party this past week, and to my chagrin no one else dressed in costume. Patrick had a little boys school uniform, and I dressed in my Sugar Momma outfit. The party was fun, there was tons of food and people but we had a slight electricity problem and could not have the stereo on for longer than one song, but you better believe as soon as the stereo cut on, we all jumped up and got as much dancing in as possible! The matatu ride down there was very crowded and long - about 3 hours, and we had to transfer 3 times! At least the roads were decent, I am thankful for that. On the way home, we took a bus, and it was direct (in the sense there was no transfers) but we still stopped every few minutes to let people on and off. And when the cops came on the bus, I got a good yelling at for not having my belt "tied" - scared the bejeezus outta me!

Another issue we have been having, which isnt that bad, we have been out of running water for about a month now. My "momma" has bought tanks and has "water pushers" come by periodically to fill them. We have started to refer to our bathing routine as whore baths, grabbing a bucket and washing up that way. I never thought about it before, how much water I actually use, but flushing the toilet, bathing, brushing teeth, laundry, dishes, etc...it really takes A LOT of water. Between 2-3 people we are going through 500 liters of water every 3 or so days. WOW. Pretty sad, and it has really made us realize and cut down on the amount of water we use, and this excludes drinking water. The neighborhood has been digging for water pipes and in the meatime, all of us who already had running water does not. Oh well, it could be worse.

Somewhere between that crowded matutu ride, holding babies, or just general dust in my face, I managed to get sick. I knew it was just a cold, but my colleagues insited I go get a malaria screen. I guess that was my first ( I say first because i am sure its not the last) scare with malaria. But there were no malaria bacteria in my blood, I saw it with my won eyes, so I got a dose of antibiotics and an antihistamine and was sent home. That set me back little over a dollar for the clinic visit and medicine. Nice! And I am feeling much better, thanks!

Patricks program has found him a new home stay family. I guess the homestay component is a requirement of his semester abroad and he runs the risk of failing if he stays with me, so I am all alone again, well aside from my momma, but she travels so often I fear I will be alone most of the time. My watchman is slowly but surely gaining my trust so at least I have his company, although he asks me for money periodically. He owes me 200 shillings so far! But luckily, Patrick will be just around the corner from me, and I hope his host family will feed me sometimes :)

So about work, since Kristen has left, Patrick and I have decided to carry out the last leg of her project. The SFC girls were to go to a town called Ugunja and train a group of girls who are beginning a program similar to ours. The project is still on, it was just not approved for the NOvember budget, so we are going to try again for December. Hopefully, sooner or later we can accomplish this 5 day workshop and get the data back to Kristen so she can finish her thesis/public health practicum.

My manual is still in the works. The director keeps looking at my work, and getting bigger and brighter ideas. Now, she wants tables, and diagrams, and a page for acknowledgements, etc. And instead of it being just a providers manual, it has turned into something that will be published and distributed Africa wide, as we are the pioneers of the MUE provision in Africa. Its nice that I will be published (finally) but stressful at the same time. Every time I approach her with my final product, she gets new ideas. Oh well. It will be an astonishing piece of work when its done!

OK enough for now, the day is over. I will write more soon. PS- I love to get emails so feel free. Karibu emails!