A day in the life of ......................

Typical day:

0430:  Chicken makes obnoxious chicken noises and wakes me.

0440:  Chicken goes back to sleep and I toss and turn.

0528:  Fall back to sleep

0530:  Wake to the mulching machine used to grind vegetation to feed the cows.  I like the rhythmic sound of the machine.  Chicken makes chicken noise.  Hate the chicken.

0545:  Attempt to disentangle myself from the mosquito net and climb down from the top bunk of the bunk bed.  Hope the bed, which is designed for 120 pound Kenyans, doesn't collapse as I drop off the edge.

0550:  Bathroom events.  Hope the water tank is full otherwise cold bucket shower is in order.

0615:  Try to access the internet as morning is best time.

0700:  Served breakfast - something new everyday but always with strong tea mixed with 50% rich and fresh milk.

0800:  Off to the clinic through the shambas.

0810:  Arrive clinic usually to find it like an earthquake happened.  Kenyans like to wait instead of cleaning at the end of the day.  Put all the medicine bottles back and tighten lids that Ruth left all over the desk from the previous day.  Mop floors if we have water.

0815:  See patients

1300:  Walk home to have lunch waiting for me.  Again, a variety of foods but always fresh.

1400:  Return to clinic.  See patients.

1630:  Stop seeing new patients and tell those waiting to come back tomorrow.  Nobody leaves.  Finish up pending patients.

1700:  Leave clinic with people waiting outside in disbelief I am leaving.  Tell them "tono arojo" or see you tomorrow.  Take a quick peek to see if anyone looks like they are dying.  The staff works long hours and if I stay, they stay.  The nurse makes just over $100 per month for 6 day week and no holiday.  I figure they should go home at 5:00pm.

1715:  Sometimes hang out and relax or sometimes take the 3 km hike down to the tarmac and relax at Black Africa.  I have to admit I was first reluctant to go into a building called "Black Africa" being the only Muzungu around.  It's sort of a bar/restaurant where people from the neighboring towns go to have a beer or choma (bbq goat usually).  The people there are very friendly and I'm a big hit as I usually leave a 50 cent tip.

1900ish:  Walk back up the hill and wait for the peering eyes from the bushes whisper "muzungu, muzungu".  I usually roar at the kids and they scream and run away.  It's lost some of the affect since I do it a couple times a week now.  I'm still warned not to walk back up the hill as it could be dangerous but everyone knows I work at the clinic and it is doubtful anything would happen with so many eyes watching.

2000:  Served dinner at home despite tell them I'll be eating at BA.  Pick at a few bites while watching "in the name of love".  My family can't speak a lick of English but just love the Mexican soap opera dubbed by Japanese into English.

2100:  Try to crawl back into the top bunk without any collapse.  Read.  Hope the chicken has a heart attack while sleeping.