Life in the ER of Mzuzu Central Hospital

So I have started my orientation in the ER.

The last two days have been interesting to say the least.

I got to the ER and a nurse name Catherine was still on duty.

She had been working since 4:30 pm the day before, she did not get to leave until noon.

So she was not super friendly (I would have told and orientee to eff off so I did not blame her).

She told me to sit in the corner while she saw patients.

I did not want to be annoying so I did what I was told.

I am not even sure how to describe the ER.

There is one waiting room with benches around the wall.

An open treatment room, with stained room dividers, and stretchers which are rusted.

Everything needs to be cleaned and pretty much thrown in the trash.

But they make do with what they have.

I ended up being with Lawrence (or at least I think that is what his name is, every time I say it to people I get a different reaction.)

Lawrence is a clinical officer, he said there are health assistants, clinical officers, nurses, then doctors.

Well he is amazing.

He is very compassionate, intelligent, kind, and skilled.

I first walked into the treatment room and two people were on the table.

One man had stab wounds in his head and the other woman had been scalped in a biking accident.

I was called over to help wash the debris off of her skull.

I could not believe that she was not in an operating room, her laceration was equal to that of an FOA.

They were pretty much able to just pull the scalp down over her face.

Then they asked me to suture the stabbed man.

I said no I do not know how to suture.

I would need to watch more, I think at this point I have seen enough that I could successfully do it.

After those patients were seen we drained a lot of abscesses.

I helped hold a seven year old down for a huge abscess on his elbow.

I hate that I cannot talk to the kids, I feel that at home this is what I rely on.

I think that you empower a child so much by giving them little choices and telling them what to expect.

I have no idea if they did this with him or not.

I was shoving my boob in the poor kid's face to stop him from seeing because I thought it was freaking him out more.

The nurse finally said, he is saying he wants to see.

I felt really bad.

But it was drained and wrapped and he was sent out on his way, sobbing the whole time.

The afternoons always seem to be the worse.

We got a woman who came in on a stretcher.

She would not talk or cooperate.

She had a fever of 40.1.

I took her blood pressure, it was very low.

An IV was started and no blood would come back.

Lawrence thought he was against a valve.

I told him no, she was just so dehydrated that she would not bleed.

We desperately needed fluids.

Guess what?

We are out.

No fluids.

How the hell do you run an ER with no fluids?!

They said hopefully the wards would have a few bags and we sent her there as quick as possible.

Shortly after that a man came in.

He could not sit up.

His face was sunken and he was very short of breath.

His pulse was high, bp fine, but was shaking.

We suspected he was going into shock.

He was also extremely dehydrated and in dire need of fluids.

Once again there was nothing we could do.

Have I mentioned that Mzuzu Central Hospital is the highest level of care in the region?

He was suffering so much.

I hated that there was nothing I could do.

I just laid my hand on his shoulder and prayed.

What else can be done?

Today was not a super exciting day in the morning.

We had another stab victim.

More suturing.

I was basically falling asleep.

Then after lunch Lawrence said there is a lady with bad burns.

Yes they were bad.

I would estimate that she was at least 30-40 percent.

The burns were the result of a fire.

She was burnt on her face, chest, arms, and legs.

There was already eschar.

An outside hospital had done some debriding and wrapping and had also put in an EJ.

There was still so much more debriding to be done.

I got to work.

The poor woman had absolutely no pain medication.

She was so tough for the thirty minutes I worked on her.

I felt terrible, I could see that her husband had tears in his eyes, as did I.

There was still so much debriding that needed to be done.

But we just wrapped her and sent her off to a ward. 

Some of the things that shocked me are the lack of equipment and supplies.

I asked about a oxygen monitor.

He said they do not have one.

I also suspect there is no working oxygen.

I saw a portable suction machine, I am not confident it works.

I just cannot believe this is the highest level of care.

I really am hoping I never get sick here.

I am also impressed by the people.

Lawrence works hard and you can tell he cares.

I do not know how that is possible after seeing what he sees every day.

Also the patients are amazing.

There is never a complaint.

I am so used to dealing with angry, demanding parents at home, it is so strange that you can just leave a patient waiting in a room for countless hours and they will not complain.

They just wait.

The woman held her arm out for me to debride even though she is in agony.

The families all help, they feed patients, transport them, and do anything that is needed.

This is because they are grateful.

I'm back in the ER for one more day.

It will be interesting to see what tomorrow will bring.

It is not easy being in the learning role again, but I am doing my best.

It is also difficult to see so many people suffer without the help that is needed.

But I know this is why I came here.

I am constantly looking for a way to make a change.

Hopefully I will be somewhat successful after these two years.

Well I better head back and take off my only pair of pants I have to wear for these next four weeks.

The Blues Don't Match

Holy last week! 

I had to make notes to even know what to say, so much has happened!

Let us first begin with the bus ride journey.

So last Tuesday after getting the ok to start training I was headed to Mwaya.

I got my stuff all packed and waited on the porch waiting for my taxi.

A random driver came and asked if I was going to the bus station.

So I just got in.

Another girl was also going to the bus station, it turned out she was a previous RIPPLE volunteer.

I have never been so lucky!

Because I had no idea what the hell I was doing.

And Lauren was also getting on the same bus I was!

So off we went together.

We went to wait for the bus, I was so worried I would be late (I was a rookie to Africa still at this point).

No bus.

We waited for about an hour and a half.

During this time many buses came and went.

At one point Lauren went to go get some breakfast, as soon as she left I was sure a bus was going to run the bags over.

I started yelling for people to help me, they tried but obviously did not know what I was so distressed about.

Oh of course the bus was going to miss the bags by two inches.

I should have known this, it missed my ass by two inches just minutes earlier.

Well finally after waiting and many more people came, the bus had arrived.

Lauren and I had a plan.

I would get on the bus and get a seat while she would deal with the bags.

The funny things I have learned about the culture here is,

no they are never on time but when they get there, they will push and shove their way to get to where they are going.

Well I fought the best I could.

Of course some men had already grabbed our bags and got us a seat.

Bruised shins and a few hundred kwacha (for the helpers) we were off.

Or so I hoped.

The bus stalled four times just in the parking lot after we finally left at 10:30 (I arrived at the bus station at 7).

I almost cried, all I wanted to do was start moving.

Finally we did. 

The bus had every seat full, plus all the standing people that could fit, some chickens, dead fish, and much more.

It smelled great!

At least it was not too hot, I would have died.

Finally around 7pm I had made it to Mwaya.

I was greeted at the roadblock by an employee of RIPPLE.

The poor guy struggled with my one bag.

We walked a mile and a half with the luggage, I had to keep reminding myself I would only do this once.

Then I was finally there!

I ate dinner, had a couple of drinks, and then headed off to bed.

The next day I woke up around 6:15 and went for a run on the beach with Mike another volunteer.

It was so windy and not easy since I have not been running.

Also running barefoot in the sand gave me huge blisters.

I think my feet need some time to get tougher.

I'm looking forward to more morning runs though.

Then I headed off with Jimmy the preschool director.

He showed me around the many places that RIPPLE is involved in.

To get everywhere we cycle, I am learning to cycle in a skirt.

I keep hoping it does not get caught in the chain and leaves me half naked.

One of the places we went to was a preschool.

The kids of course were adorable, I was also very impressed with their English and counting skills.

I taught them, "I'm a Little Teapot."

They loved it!

Jimmy told me that I need to be a preschool teacher, I will definitely consider it!

I know this one is blurry, but I love the expression. What a sassy little thing.

I also went to primary and secondary schools and introduced myself to lots of students.

I guess there is some singer in Malawi who is also named Kendall.

So they all remember my name, I hear shouting every time I cycle past the schools now.

I went to health clinics, one which I was taken to on a motorcycle.

And also to the tree nursery where I was quizzed about every plant.

All along the way I met so many people!

I am definitely trying my best to learn names, as you can imagine it is not going super well.

I spent one morning in the Kande health clinic.

I did a little bit of wound care and then a lot of parachecks, this is the test they do for malaria.

Everyone I tested was positive.

I'm hoping my doxycycline does it's job!

I was overwhelmed by the lack of supplies.

There is no tape, no alcohol swabs, no paper towels, and I was told to only change my gloves after every five patients if they did not look dirty.
I spent another morning in the under five clinic.
We had to make quite the trek to get there.
I definitely should have worked on my mountain biking skills before I came.
I thought many times I was going to be flying over the handle bars.
The clinic was awesome.
The women all come with their little kids.
While they are waiting to be seen they sing.
The singing is so beautiful.
The women all holding their babies were just singing songs as powerfully as I have ever heard anyone sing.
I was given the job of weighing the babies.
We have a hanging scale and use the mother's wraps to hang the babies from it, or the older ones hold one.
Of course as many children would be, they were scared shitless of the white girl putting them on a hook.
It is a good thing screaming and flailing kids do not phase me.
We got done fast, I believe I weighed about 100 kids.
Some of the mothers at the end were being super pushy and grabbing the hook out of my hands and trying to put their sling on.
After holding so many kids covered in old pee (they do not usually have diapers) I was not having it.
I said in the voice all of my coworkers have heard, "hold on a minute."
They did not know what I said, but they laughed and knew what I meant, and it did the trick.

Friday night came, and we were all drinking and playing cards.
Mike and I decided to walk to Kande Beach.
He had told me about Kande many times.
So I agreed to go.
After the four mile walk we were finally there.
We played some foosball and drank.
Around two in the morning we sat on the beach deciding what we should do.
Four miles to walk back seemed like a very long way.
But I was cold so we started the journey back.
A couple of dogs that live at Kande started to follow us.
We thought no way will they come the whole way.
Mike thought when we cross the river they will turn back.
We crossed the river and I hear a loud splash and turned around, they had crossed with us.
They came all the way back to camp and apparently stayed there over night.
Susie, the volunteer manager is not a fan of dogs, and these dogs are very large.
Well they woke Mike up and made him walk them back.
He texted me to tell me he was going to just kill them so he did not have to walk all the way back again.
Yeah he lied and walked all the way back, apparently he picked up a couple of following children on the way.
Later that day the whole group went to Kande.
We watched rugby, ate, drank, ate, read poetry and a hilarious letter, drank, danced, and took lots of shots.
It was quite the night.
The next day some of us went to Mukuzi where we ate massive amounts of food and took naps on the beach.
That night we were all in bed by 7.

Monday morning Mike and I headed up to Mzuzu.
He needed to use the internet this week and I was starting training.
I got very lucky and met Hessen at Kande, he is a guy who has been living in Mzuzu for two years.
He has met a lot of the group before and he agreed to let me stay with him for free for the month.
I do not think I could get any luckier!
We headed off to the hospital, Mike very kindly dragged my bag and went with me everywhere.
The woman said that I could start as soon as I got a uniform.
I said, "Great! Where do I buy one?"
She replied, "You go to a tailor."
Me, "What?"
She showed me a photo of what Mike said were googled images of nurses and that is how they came to the conclusion of the uniform.
I needed a white top with navy pants and black leather shoes.
Luckily I have one pair of navy scrub pants.
So we set off with the badly colored photo copy of the uniform (which I was told to return!!!!!) and went searching.
Turns out white fabric is not easy to find.
I was ready to give up, but Mike would not let me.
We finally walked in a shop and they had a roll of white fabric, it pretty much felt like flag or banner material.
I said I did not care, we were getting it.
I also bought the blue fabric for the details, I knew it was not navy but I was over it.
So then we went to the tailor.
He took my measurements and told me to come back in three hours.
We went off to find shoes, I kept saying I did not care and just wanted a drink but Mike made me do it.
I broke the rules and bought little black tennis shoes, I did not want to wear leather.
Then we went off to A1 the Indian restaurant for some "snacks".
Well after we ordered four appetizers we waddled our way out of there and went to the tailor.
The material we gave him looked like a uniform!
I was impressed (I am no longer impressed though because I have worn the top for two days and my armpit has a massive hole and the bottom button popped off, I think he forgot to account for the fact that my ass is much larger than my middle).
We finally headed to where we were staying and I introduced Mike to "Girls."
After he demanded we watch the whole season, which equals six hours of tv, we went to bed.
I got in bed and Mike comes in and asks if I am going to get out my sleeping bag (there are no blankets).
I laughed and said I did not have one.
Well I froze half to death.
During the middle of the night I got in my bag and put on more clothes.
The next night I was more prepared.
I made Mike sleep in the bed while I took the mattress on the floor, to avoid the draft from the window.
I also layered all of my clothes and found sheets to put over me.
Oh that one is just a pillow case?
Well it went on my feet.

When I went back to the hospital the nursing officer was so shocked that I had a uniform made so quickly.
I asked if I looked ok.
She said, "The blues do not match." while laughing.
I texted Mike to tell him of our success, he said the blues not matching was the least of my problems.
Now I have finished my second day of ER orientation.
I am going to do another post on life in the ER, I do not think everyone wants to hear all of the gruesome stuff!

Sorry for the long and rambling post!
So much has happened!
I will be going back to Mwaya on Friday for the weekend.
If nothing else just to get a pillow and blanket!
I also think I can really repack my bags and enjoy the warmer weather.
I will be back to Mzuzu and be here for the next three weeks to finish up my orientation.
From what I have seen already it is going to be an interesting few weeks!

If anyone so wishes to send packages or letters I would be so happy!
My address is:
Ripple Africa
c/o Mwaya Beach
P.O Box 75
Chintheche
Nkhata Bay District
Malawi

My wish list for the clinics are:
tape,
alcohol swabs,
any dressing supplies,
bottles of sterile water or fluids (this may be too heavy),
children's medicine,
pretty much anything that can be sent would be used!

My wish list for myself is;
Girls Season 2 for my bday (Mike said this needed to be at the top of the list)
beef jerky,
tuna,
macaroni and cheese,
any magazines or books,
any snack items.

I do not really feel that I am lacking much yet,
being in Mzuzu we are eating out all the time and I am getting meat and cheese.
I know that this will change.
I do really miss Rosie and my bed.
My dad told me Rosie lies on the driveway a lot and he thinks she is waiting for me to come home.
This makes me very sad!
There are some challenges here but so many moments that outweigh all of the challenges.
I'm ready to feel like I have learned enough to start trying to make a difference.
I think that is the biggest challenge here.
There are so many ways I can help temporarily but how can I make things change for good?
It will be interesting to see how these two years turn out!

Making Friends is Beneficial and Mosquito Nets Only Worked When Closed

I have figured out how to get by around here.

You just latch to the people that know what they are doing!

Apparently there is a kitchen, grocery store, meat cookouts, and places to order take out from.

I learned this all from Naomi.

I believe that if you look free spirit up in the dictionary you will find Naomi's picture next to the definition.

So naturally I really like her.

Naomi is Swiss, but attended some high school in the states, and has spent a couple of years being a missionary in both Ukraine and in South Africa.

She is now working on getting her pilot's license, and looking to buy land to start a lodge for missionaries who are burnt out. 

To sum it up, she may be the coolest person I have ever met.

I had invited her to go to the futbol game with me and she agreed that it would be fun.

When we asked where the stadium was they told us it is not safe for two women to go without a man.

Of course no men wanted to go with us. 

So we walked to town instead.

 Then the boys that work at the camp (of course she has connections with everyone) picked us up and we went to the grocery store and got food for a cook-out.

We got vegetables to grill and while I was cutting them up I was talking to some locals.

They said I was a nice girl and gave me some of their fish!

It was delicious! 

The boys cooked meat and more meat.

We all ate and ate some more.

Then we all sat around while the guitar was played.

I headed off to bed early because I needed to wake up at 5:30 am to be at the nursing council first thing in the morning.

Well my room was full of a group from Holland.

So I proceeded to shower and get into bed by about nine. 

I do not think I fell asleep till 12, and it was very restless all night.

The person on the top bunk kept snoring, and his friend across from him was doing some weird throat clearing thing all night.

I was very close to beating somebody's ass.

So through all of my tossing and tuning I must have opened my mosquito net.

Yeah not good. 

I even have a bite on my eyelid. 

Good news is after 5 hours and 43,000 kwacha* later I am have a green light to start orientation!!!!

I told the cab driver to come get me at 6:30, in true African fashion he showed up at 6:50.

I was quite proud of myself for remembering to tell him earlier than needed.

We got in the car and were off.

Well kind of, the car did not sound quite right and he was not going very fast.

I kept telling myself when we break down I have at least given us extra time to get there.

He pulled up to the first gas station and got out and started running.

He ran back with a can of oil and popped the hood, put the oil in, and off we went.

I am not confident this fixed the issue.

But we made it, and I was literally the first person at the nursing council.

I waited outside her door for almost an hour.

Then she said she did not get my emails. 

I even sat there and emailed again from my phone.

Nope she did not get them.

Thankfully she allowed me to sign on and print off my documents on my own.

I thought I would be smart and also print off my CV, which I had forgotten about.

I quickly changed the dates, address, and phone numbers.

Twenty minutes or so later I realized there was no need to be quick.

She finally came back, took care of other people in front of me, and also got snippy with her coworker who I am assuming is new.

This made me feel a little better, I do not think she was ever mad at me she is just a woman that while doing business, she means business.

She then told me I had to pay 20,000 kwacha and go get passport photos taken.

Of course I did not know of the fee so I did not have enough kwacha.

So we went to the photo studio.

It was hilarious, I tried not to laugh the whole time I stood in line (this would not be culturally sensitive).

Every picture on the wall could have been featured on awkward family photos.

I wish I could have taken pictures for my coworkers (also would not have been culturally sensitive)!

My favorite was a picture of the studio workers, it was a huge banner.

On it were about 20 African men, most looking serious, some smiling, and some not looking at all.

The best part was the Asian man that was much larger than them all sticking out of the top.

I'm assuming that is Lee, it was called Lee's photo studio.

After getting my passport photos I headed back to Mabuya to get more kwacha.

Then it was back to the nursing council.

Oh yes, of course she just went into a meeting.

I paid my fees and then waited for another hour.

Finally she gave me my packet and said I would be doing my training in Mzuzu Central Hospital.

The cab driver then took me back to Mabuya.

I noticed smoke start coming out of the hood of the car, I was pretty happy the ride was successful.

I asked him how much for the cab he said, "Twenty three."

I said, "Twenty three what?"

He said, "Thousand."

I about shit my pants.

So whatever I paid him and am learning a very valuable lesson.

Always barter every individual ride.

He did spend a lot of time waiting for me today, but I am pretty sure I paid for his new engine. 

The breakdown of where I will be spending my days at Mzuzu Central Hospital for training are;

Under five clinic-2 days

Medical ward- 3 days

Surgical- 3 days

Pediatric ward- 3 days (Can't I just stay there the whole time?!)

Light House/ARV- 2 days (If anyone knows what this is, feel free to share.)

ICU- 2 days

Emergency- 2 days

I'm so excited to be doing something again! 

I miss working!

The only thing that is not good about this is the hospital is two and a half hours away from RIPPLE.

That means I will have to be paying to stay somewhere else for four weeks.

It is very stressful spending money while not having a way to earn money.

I am trying to have faith that it will work out just fine.

I tried to pay my hotel fee with my Visa tonight, all of the machines in town are down.

So I made a quick run to town to the ATM.

Well apparently you have to use an international ATM, 

I learned this after trying three then started to panic.

While walking down the street a local says, "Kendall!"

I cannot believe I am already known in this city.

It was a man who is a member of Mabuya Camp and comes here to hang out.

He took me around the market and showed me everything that is made here.

He is very friendly, maybe too friendly?

It is hard to tell when there is a cultural gap.

But I am definitely playing it safe.

He says he is coming tonight to tell me goodbye and that I need to come back to the city a lot during my stay here.

I will make sure that he and I are nowhere remotely alone together at anytime!

I guess I should go cook my dinner, shower, and repack all of my bags.

Tomorrow I have a lovely 8 hour bus ride ahead of me.

Thankfully I bought peanut butter and bread yesterday so I will pack some sandwiches to go.

I'm so excited to finally get to RIPPLE tomorrow and see the work that is done there.

I will only stay through the weekend then it will be off to Mzuzu.

Thanks for all of the comments! 

I like knowing you are enjoying hearing about my days.

I love that I can blog so I will always be able to look back on this trip and not forget the funny little details.

I may be absent for a while because there is very limited internet at Mwaya.

But I will update you when I can!

*350 kwacha = 1 usd

I'm pretty sure I got a shitty exchange rate at the airport though, and I refuse to remember how much I spent on everything today, so I will let you do the math.

I will leave you with a picture of the most delicious fish ever! 

Lessons Learned: Part 2 (of a billion I presume)

1. Wear your sunglasses in the taxi, unless you want your eyes full of dust.
2. Eat dinner after 3pm and do not nap from 4-6, unless you want to lie awake long after the other five people in your room are fast asleep. Then you give in to the hunger and think that you can make it quietly to the bag of Gardettos in your little locker. 
3. Second part of step two does not work, you cannot be quiet. Instead you kick a water bottle over, the Gardetto bag is just as loud as opening your smuggled snacks during the movies, every door squeaks, and light floods in as soon as you open the door. Just as long as I get out fast everything will be fine.
4. Last part of step 3 is not true. The two Rodhesian Ridgebacks that live here like to sleep on the benches at night. Every time I chewed my crunchy snack they looked like they wanted to chew me.
5. Do not take pictures. Even if you think that you are being rather sensitive and not shoving the camera in anyone's face or their children's faces, just of general scenes; such as the market. You are not. This is not well liked by anyone. Especially the military man holding the very large gun.
6. Learn to do math. Everything here in the city is waaaay more expensive than I had thought. Oh yes I will take the bacon, cheese, omelet for my breakfast/lunch. Wait that costs me ten dollars?!?! 
7. Wear comfortable shoes for the three mile walk into town, unless you want somebody to feel like they beat you in the calves.
8. When a car sounds like it is honking directly behind you, it is!!! Get out of the way!
9. Cross the road with other Malawians, unless you want to be almost killed.
10. If you want to hang out and drink on a Friday/Saturday night (which I really don't right now), be ready to start at 6 and end around 10:30. 
11. Africa is not really that hot, I only had a small amount of sweat running down my back during my three hour walk today. This generally happens to me in 50 degree weather so I am glad to not come back looking like I ran a marathon.
12. Do not get lost, unless you want to ask the crippled people begging for money on the street where Mabuya Camp is. They do not know, but are the sweetest people ever! The amputee man smiled so brightly and said, "I'm sorry I did not understand." I just wanted to kiss him (thank goodness I didn't, I may have to add another bullet point to my list). 
13. When people give directions to Mabuya Camp from moving buses assume they did not hear you correctly. If it does not feel right, it probably is not right.
14. Just walk back on the same damn side of the road so you remember the landmarks! This is generally the best bet to making it back (I was only slightly lost for a total of ten minutes. I kept telling myself worse case scenario I just get in a cab, they know the five lodges in town well). 

Well I think I have my hostel room to myself tonight!!! I could not be happier, this means I can keep the light on and read while awake if I want. Who are we kidding I am going to charge my computer and watch some
"How I Met Your Mother" just so I feel like I am at home on a sleepless night. If only there were a little Rosie snuggling with me. Tomorrow I think I will be venturing to a soccer game, hopefully I will be allowed and not get in trouble. I also hope I get clear directions to the stadium and do not get lost. I feel it is easy to do because I find myself looking at so many different things, like people, cars that almost hit you, and the ground to make sure you do not step in what smells like and most likely is raw sewage. 

Mabuya Camp: Lodge where I am staying

Add caption

I walked a few hours on this road, yeah there are not really sidewalks and yes it is a highway.

Packed mini bus, I almost got hit by one yesterday and jumped into a thorn bush to get out of the way. Funniest thing they ever did see!

I promise I asked this woman for permission to take a picture.

She is tired from me keeping her up last night.

I got the picture of the dead chickens!

Frustrations and Successes (or I think so far)

Today I set out to get a sim card and to attempt to learn how to get registered as a nurse.

So a couple of girls from the lodge where I am staying joined me in walking to town.

I found a sim card, could not open my phone, finally a Malawian was so kind and helped me, then bought the wrong minutes (well I should say units,

when I say minutes everyone looked at me with blank stares).

Once I got my minutes I tried to call the number I had for the nursing council.

Busy tone, every time.

This used all of the units I bought (that was when I finally bought the correct ones).

So I split off from the girls and went to an internet cafe to try to find the new number.

Walking to the internet cafe alone was slightly more intimidating.

Men were yelling and calling me sweetheart, I did not have many people approach me,

except children begging for money.

But it was still intimidating.

I got to the internet cafe and she told me the internet would be too slow for me and I would not want it.

She looked at the address I needed to get to and told me to go down the street to the mini bus.

I got to the mini bus and they just pointed down the street.

So I walked down the street and a taxi driver approached me, as soon as I pulled out the address book there were about six men surrounding me (none of which know personal boundaries).

I laughed out loud at their wanting to help me, they are all so desperate for business, which is very understandable.

One man told me to come and he would take me there.

He pulled the floor mat off of the wall (I am still confused as to why they were all hanging there).

Then I got in the very damp (confused about this too, I figured I did not want to know) front seat, and we were off.

I always forget that they drive on the opposite side here, every time he turns I think we are going into oncoming traffic, and much like their not knowing personal space they also do not understand the importance of keeping space between vehicles.

At one point I told him that I forgot he drives on the side I am not used to.

He laughed so hard, he said he saw my hands fly up to pull the steering wheel in what I thought was the right direction.

The cab driver took me to the address I thought I needed to be at.

Guess what? 

Wrong effing place.

Thankfully my cab driver waited for me and a woman came out and translated for him.

Then we went to another place.

I filled out a form and payed fees, they gave me a receipt and said thank you I could pick my card up in two weeks. 

This was not right.

So I talked to a woman in the office and she told me that I did my steps backwards.

She came out and translated to my cab driver where I needed to go.

I went to the next place.

The woman told me, yes I have received your emails.

Do you think that she ever emailed me back? 

No.

So then she scolded me for not having come in the morning and for not having my proper paperwork.

She said what am I supposed to do with you now?

Well what the hell do I know?!

Just tell me what to do!

Of course I just pulled the, "I'm so sorry I just do not know what I am doing, I am here and willing to learn card".

She gave me the forms to fill out and said I needed my transcripts sent.

Awesome.

I'm sure getting my transcripts sent right over will be no problem....not.

Well I emailed every single person in the office of registrar at William Jewell.

In the subject line was "emergency transcript request."

I plead my case.

They said I needed to print the form and fax or scan it back and they would be willing to send me an email form of my transcripts.

Oh yes I will print and scan that right back.....not.

The printer here is broken and there is no scanner.

Well I plead my case, filled the form out online, and got clever (at least I thought I was a genius) and wrote my signature on a piece of paper, took a picture with my iphone and sent it via email.

Thank God for the people working at WJC and their mercy on me!!

She said it would work and they would send me the email with my transcripts by the end of the day.

I cannot believe my luck. 

So I am supposed to go back to the office with my paperwork on Monday morning and hopefully things can get squared away and I can be on my way by Tuesday morning.

We shall see how annoyed the woman is with me on Monday.

Cross your fingers that it goes well!

So now it is the weekend and there is nothing I can do. 

I plan to go into town in the morning and check out the market place.

I sat at the bar tonight and a man told me many white women end up marrying African men.

Was this a marriage proposal?

Well he bought my drink, which was a double, double.

I was kind of joking that I normally fill the glass half full of rum (you all know I actually do).

Well this really excited everyone at the bar and they were all watching him pour my drink.

I felt slightly judged.

But hey, it was free and all I needed was one drink for the night.

Another guy (much younger) told me tomorrow he is going to teach me to play a game.

He also told me to find him in the market place tomorrow and was telling me about a concert.

I know that culture is very different here, especially with men towards women.

I will be going very cautious with being too friendly toward men.

I do not want to give the wrong impression and then offend them.

I am planning on attending a soccer game on Sunday, since I will have nothing to do.

It should be an interesting experience. 

I am going to try to take more pictures, I will not be so stressed this weekend and will try to remember!

Well I am off to shower and get in my super comfortable in my suffocating mosquito net.

Tomorrow will be a better day!

And I am happy that I am safe, and have been helped by so many kind people!

The babies are so cute in the way they seem to know to put their butt in the bottom of the sling and their feet up.
Most of them are sleeping while their mother's carry them. I think I have only heard one baby crying.

After I took this picture I realized that child was naked, I love it! This was on the walk to town they were bathing (I assume and doing laundry).

While I sat and waited at the wrong place.

Typical roadside stand. I was pissed that I missed taking a picture of all the dead chickens hanging from the bike.
That will be my goal tomorrow.

Longest day/last three weeks of my life.

I'm writing this while lying under my mosquito net in the hostel.

Not sure how this net and I will get along for the next two years,

I'm already feeling claustrophobic! 

So after the last two weeks of craziness,

and approximately 27 hour journey,

with lots of crying at random times,

I am actually here.

It feels so surreal.

I have also gone on about 30 hours with two terrible forty minute naps and constant back pain.

So who knows I could be hallucinating.

It has not really hit me that I will be here for so long.

I do not need to take a picture of everything I see, go buy everything I see, or rush.

I tried to just take it all in on the drive from the airport to the hostel.

These are the things I saw:

Lots of women with babies on slings on their backs (which I am pretty sure I need, it needs to come with a baby though),

A goat being prepared for dinner,

a girl riding a bike with approximately 30 dead chickens hanging off of the front,

women carrying so many things on their heads,

and a truck with at least thirty Malawians riding in the back.

Keep in mind I am in the capitol and this was all off of the main road.

I cannot even imagine the things I will see when I actually get to start working.

Tomorrow I have to go figure out how to get registered as a nurse and also get a chip for my cell phone.

It is rather intimidating traveling alone to such a foreign place.

I am ensured that it is a safe country.

In order to save money and get the full experience of Lilongwe I plan on walking to places tomorrow.

A native sitting at the bar told me no it was way too far, 

I asked him how far and he said 5-6km. 

I told him if I have ran two marathons I think I can take a three mile walk.

I'm sure he is thinking I am a fat American and will die of a heart attack.

It is funny everyone here immediately asks if I am American.

I am imagining they think I wear overalls and hang out on the farm back at home.

If only I brought my overalls to walk around Malawi in.