Dog Days

Yes...it is a fabulous month. I am on "vacation," which means for the entire month of January I am not working. So I have had plenty of time to spend with my little guy, Stanley, who is a 2 year old rat terrier. He is full of energy and love. But he also reminds me about some of the good things in life.

Like sleeping.

Stanley sleeps the majority of the day. We get up early to go out. We go back to bed. We get up and take a walk. I do whatever I want...email, computer, etc...and he sleeps. I go to the gym and when I come back, Stanley is asleep on the couch. We play tug for five minutes and then he goes back to sleep. He sleeps a lot. And honestly I am enjoying doing a lot of the same. Doggie days rock. Oh and he's super funny. His silly antics make me smile when I am down. He helps me forget when work is hard or my personal life hits the rocks. That little tail never stops wagging. He really is this (wo)man's best friend!

I hope that once I start the busy life of an OB/GYN intern I still have time to spend with my little man. I hope that we still have time for our daily walks and to cuddle on the couch while I watch TV. Because for all he does for me, he certainly deserves 30 minutes of my time each day :-)

I've definitely been slacking...

Well I decided tonight that I had to get back into this blogging thing. Just because I am not in Kenya anymore doesn't mean I should stop writing, right? haha. Guess we shall find out...

I have been doing the whole "4th year thing"...you know, like spending exorbitant amounts of money and flying or driving all over the country trying to find that ultimate residency spot while barely working or doing "electives". Ha. Its whoa expensive. But whoa cool. I've seen a bunch of new cities that I've never been to before and rekindled some of the love for more familiar ones. The final interview happens this Saturday for me...11 total will be accomplished (which I might say, is like so reasonable comparatively)...but anyway, I digress...and now I get to make a rank list. I am dreading this enormously. Anyone who knows me very well at all knows how much I hate to make decisions. Even small ones. So making this rather HUGE one is scary.

But maybe that is a good thing. Actually...I think its a really good thing. Can you imagine life without a little fear? I've started to think about Match Day (3/16/12) and the butterflies I am sure we'll all have (and of course the Monday before it waiting for the email saying if we matched or not). Like, lets open an envelope and there's your future 3-? years on a piece of paper. Talk about adrenaline rush. But back to fear...a little fear is good. It keeps us on our toes I think...and that surely can't always be a bad thing. It isn't just scary to make this rank list, though; its also like...way, totally, 100% exciting and rewarding. Its a sign we've almost made it to graduation.  Yay!

July 1st will be here before we know it...maybe its sorta looming and scary...hell ya its scary...and in a way turning in that final rank list takes us one step closer to that 1st day on the job. But just like this whole interview and rank process, its also really really exciting. From performing my first c-section to my trip to Kenya to this whole interview trail...If there is one thing I've learned from this entire year (thus far) its that we have to face the fear head on and look at it as an opportunity to succeed...

...and when it doesn't work out just as you planned, find a friend and head to the mall for some retail therapy. :D

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Hello all...so this will likely be the last time I write before I leave Kenya (the exodus begins on Wednesday evening). This past weekend I started to say goodbye to all the things "Kenyan" to me. 

• Being robbed. While this only occurred once in Kenya, this also occurred in Uganda. There is obviously something blaring on my forehead that says, "Why yes, I would love for you to take something from me!" I think that in two months I managed to get taken for about 200 bucks worth of money and technology. I guess it could have been worse, like my passport taken or something (which someone should really pray that doesn't happen to me like in Nairobi or something), but still I am tired of being violated...and also really tired of having to be so freaking paranoid anytime someone bumps into me that something on my body will be missing afterwards. 
• Amazing dancing. Friday we enjoyed some... relaxation...at a local club. Damn, can the people here dance. Including the guys. The only ones without any rhythm include the occasional Indian-appearing guy who just got unlucky and us mzungus. I mean, I'm obviously not the world's best dancer by any means, but back home, I'm never the worst. At least...I don't think so...but the point is, I am headed back to clubs and bars where the guys are mostly against the walls nodding their heads until they get drunk enough to be confident. Which usually equals rather uncoordinated hip thrusting in the female direction. (for all those American men who can dance, ignore the last few lines. I am not trying to offend anyone:-) )
• Really beautiful landscapes. Its like gorgeous here. like really. Mountains and blue skies and flowers and animals in every direction. I am going back to the midwest where it will be like 40s and dreary looking. Thank God there will be Christmas decorations/lights. 
• Some pretty awesome people. There are incredible people everywhere, but I was lucky enough to meet some pretty great ones here. People who would do anything to help you if they could. And be accepting of my sometimes ridiculous Western perspectives. And take me to see things here that I otherwise wouldn't get to because I'd be labeled as a "Tourist." 
• Getting to go into work at 8 am. I don't think I have to explain that further.

 Kenya, its been great. Asante sana.

I think I feel differently about the world since coming to Kenya

Kenya has of course changed how I feel about the world around me. I think everyone who goes abroad anywhere feels that they have changed from the experience. When I went to China, I came back feeling more "worldly"...whatever that means. And of course I did change and I did become more understanding and I did grow as a person. However...Kenya is different. China was still very much like home...most of the time I felt as though I was walking around "any large city, USA" where for whatever reason I just couldn't understand the language. I know, I know...it wasn't that simple. The food was different, travel was different, culture was different. I was in another country after all ...but here it feels stronger of "difference".

 I feel like here the USA mindset isn't always appropriate or even useful. People have such burdens and hurdles to overcome that it takes a unique mind to find solutions to problems to make things like healthcare accessible. People are so poor and those that aren't so poor are just plain poor. And yet, somehow, they manage to get to our hospital. Then we make it so difficult to even get care. We require payments for simple tests that are vastly unaffordable for someone who makes just shillings per day; each day we keep them in the hospital causes the bill to be greater (patients are charged by the day)...and forces them to be stuck even longer...(I think you get the cycle here).  I think that I understand the social plight of healthcare better after being here...tho i have no better solutions than anyone else really :-)

But it isn't just healthcare that makes me feel like my perspective on the world is different. I think that I have a greater respect for living without...who knows maybe I'll come home and be less materialistic...even if just for a few months before the USA way grabs me back in. I see how little people have and even so they are happy. Ex: they don't "need" shoes except when the ones they have wear out. Makes me feel a little guilty about my shoe addiction, you know? Its more about friends and family and being together and taking care of one another. I'm not saying its all "Kumbaya" or something here...but its just...well...different.  

But I'd Rather Stay in Bed...

Today I got up early...say 6:15...which by my standards at home would be late. Its easy to forget the month of August, when sometimes I had to be into work by 5 am. So this rotation in Kenya going into work at 7:45 or 8 should be a piece of cake. Why is it that no matter what time we "have to" get up, it always feels too early? And then on weekends, when I could sleep till eternity, I manage to wake up at 8 am or something. My body obviously hates me.

Today just felt "extra" too early. I woke up with a headache. You know those nights? When you kinda toss and turn and keep waking up and by about 30 minutes before your alarm goes off you somehow just know you've already got a headache? Pathetic. Maybe I grind my teeth.

Anyway today I am going out of Eldoret into a smaller city called Mosoriot. I think I get to learn about HIV treatment, prevention, etc., that goes on here. I'm excited because its different than my normal routine. (This is for anyone who is curious about Kenya stuff). 

Anyway, today is Wednesday. I leave on my local flight to Nairobi (and then onto Brussels, DC, and Indy) in 2 weeks from today. Guess I should try to get as much out of these two weeks as possible. I can't believe it went this fast!

So today I thought to myself, "Why not try something new...?" Lets create this blog and see how it goes. Mostly I just realized how much I dislike writing in a physical "journal," so here it goes.
I've been in Kenya doing an abroad rotation since October 1st, and maybe I should have started this then...I think that there are a few "somethings new" I have experienced while being here. 
1) Time. As Americans it seems like promptness is valued at times to the extreme. I came into this rotation expecting, as is usually expected of me, that on time meant early. As in, if we want to start things at 8 am better be there by 7:45. It seems like one thing I learned from this is how to be more patient. God unfortunately didn't endow me with much of this, so I've had to gain it all through experiences like this one. None have prepared me as well as when someone says, "I'll meet you at 8," and by about 9 I'm not even worried that I am in the wrong place.
2) Self. Americans emphasize this idea of "person" and "personal growth" and "how can I be ______ (insert word such as better, richer, happier, etc) and "how can I get here faster." You get my drift. Notice the focus on one's own self. Kenya seems to be different, but not in the way I would have expected necessarily. Of course people want to grow, develop, prosper, get where they are going to, etc., but they haven't forgotten to take care of each other while doing it. I'm not saying that Americans are mean, nasty, rude, and step on toes all the time, because I don't think that is our intention. I'm just saying we forget how nice it is to hear, "hello, how are you today?" before whatever it is that we need. People here genuinely say hello, how are you, how was your day, and even give a hand shake. THEN they ask for help, directions, etc etc. It might seem silly, but just pay attention to how people greet each other back home, even when you approach the guy at the fast food joint who's taking your order. Do you smile, shake his hand, ask him about his day, and then and only then request your food? I know I don't. But maybe I should.
3) Food. Food is different here. Obviously. I'm in a foreign country. DUH. 

At least I was expecting #3 before I came:-)