As the Stomach Churns

Well, this post is long overdue.  Where to begin...
Itinerary:

I leave for Mukumu, Kenya on November 7, 2011 where I'll be working at St. Elizabeth's Hospital.  Here's my itinerary for you quizzical folks:  I first fly from Detroit at 6:00pm and land in Amsterdam at 8:05 am (2:00 am Detroit time).  Then I catch another 8 hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya.  There, I will meet up with the branch of Catholic Medical Mission Board in Nairobi and stay overnight. From there, I take an hour flight to Kisumu, Kenya.  When I land, I'll be picked up by a staff member from the hospital and we'll drive 70km on the pothole-filled dirt roads and arrive in the little town of Mukumu, Kenya.

Where I'm working and living:

I will be staying in a house with another volunteer (Patricia), who arrived just a few days ago, on the grounds of the hospital.  I will be working in the pediatric unit at St. Elizabeth's Hospital.  I'm very excited and nervous to be working there.  I don't have much experience working as a nurse in peds, but as many of you know I do have a lot of experience working with kids as a nanny/babysitter.  I've received an email from Patricia saying that our house is very nice with 7 rooms.  She's told me that there is sporadic electricity and water.  I've already prepared myself mentally for having to poop in a hole in the ground, so I'm not too shocked by this. :)

Preparation:

There has been a lot of prep work for this trip, so in a way my journey has already started.  A couple of weeks ago, I had to get my immunizations for the trip, which in itself was a mini-adventure after going to a regular clinic and realizing that they didn't have the shots that I would need.  The clinic was very good about directing me to a travel clinic in the Twin Cities, where I became a human pin cushion.  I had researched the immunizations I would need previously and anticipated only three shots, but the travel clinic had a huge list of immunizations that I would need (Tip for those ever going abroad: go to a specified "Travel Clinic" to see what immunizations you'll need to get because they are very up to date on that; more-so than wikipedia).  I ended up getting 6 shots (4 IM and 2 SubQ for those medical junkies out there).  Needless to say, I felt like I had been in a weight-lifting competition later that day.  I also have to take anti-malarial drugs the entire time I'm in Kenya, so I'm still fighting with the insurance company to let me get a years supply of drugs.

The second prep-chore I've been working on is student loans.  I have found that acquiring a forbearance is my best option  for the loans, since my loans are unsubsidized.  After a handful of exhausting calls to the loan company, I was told (very curtly) that I can't make that change until I'm out of my grace period which is conveniently when I'll be in Kenya, so I've been given an international number.  I'm finding that communicating with the representatives of these big companies is like poking my eye over and over with a dull spoon or like trying to get directions from a parrot who can only say: "Sorry, I cannot complete that task".  When I'm rich and famous, I would like to do a study of the change in blood pressure of people after they transition into the 'real world'.  I think the results would be substantial.  These people don't comprehend that I can't just make a phone call anytime I want in Kenya.

Finally, I have to buy small odds and ends.  For example, the water is not safe to drink in Kenya, so I had to buy a Steripen which kills the microorganisms in your water with UV light.  Also, I've been told they don't have bug repellent available over there, so I just bought out Scheels' supply of bug spray in St. Cloud, MN with a few quizzical looks, considering it's currently 43 degrees outside.  Lastly, I bought a 'teach yourself Swahili" book with CD.  I've heard that most people speak English, but I'd really like to try to learn this because I have a feeling it'll come in handy.  Plus, I thinking learning different languages is pretty fascinating!

Communication:

I am thinking about getting a pre-pay cell phone while I'm over in Africa, since I've been told that typically that's the best form of communication and the phones are relatively cheap.  I've also been told that I will have internet access and I will be able to skype, but Patricia, my future roommate, has told me that so far she has only been able to use her blackberry to utilize the internet.  Plus, I'm told that the electricity typically goes out numerous times a day or for long stints.  I'll see if I have an address, so anyone who so desires can send me some snail-mail, which is always appreciated.

I appreciate all of the love and support I've been shown throughout this entire process.  Prayers are always greatly appreciated.  You all are just amazing.  God has blessed me with such a great web of support, even from the most unlikely of sources.  The other day, I trekked to the store to purchase a new purse, since the seams of my old one finally blew out (held together by a safety pin compliments of the always prepared elementary teacher Barbara Koenig).  I made my way to a store in the mall with a lot of African looking garb and found a beautifully embroidered purse.  The owner of the store happened to be from Ghana, Africa and just talking with him was comforting.  He told me that even though each country in Africa is very different, the people all have the same heart.  I felt like God was talking right through this guy to me.  I felt a lot less anxious after speaking with him.  Plus, he gave me a huge discount on the purse. :-)

I suppose I should close now because it seems that this post is pretty lengthy as it is.  I have to admit that I've acquired my wonderful mother's gift for gab over the years.

Love and Blessings!