It was a sad day......

Well I'm now at the PIH house in Kigali. Just got back from dinner with some of the other people here. I had spaghetti carbonarra(?) BACON,CHEESE, EGG!!! And a side of fries!! And 2 Coca-Cola. Man was that good!!! Of course my tummy is rumbling.......don't know why??!!
It was a sad day in the lab for me. We got all the samples packed up and ready to go, hung out a little bit, took some pictures.
Gaspard and Irenee walked me over to the house where I was to be for the ride back. I tried my damnedest not to cry.............no need to say anymore!!
It was one hell of a ride back!! Three of us in the front.....me in the middle of a split seat!! And I think there were 8 in the back!! About an hour and a half on those awesome dirt roads, my ass was so sore by the time we got here!! Almost hit a cow that walked in front of the car!!
Took a great cold shower and hung out until we went to dinner.
Well that's it for tonight........
Going shopping and to the Genocide museum and then at 1pm EST. I will be heading to the airport for my awesome 24 hour journey back!! I don't care how long it takes............I'm coming home!!
Thanks for following!
Love to you all.

Massachusetts........

Sitting on the porch listening to a favorite song......"Massachusetts"by Aaron Lewis

It's where I always am, it's where I long to be......because I'm home.....

I sit and soak in the scenery for one last night here. I think of all that I have seen,done,taught and learned.....

It is my last night at Butaro hospital.....there are such mixed emotions. I sit here with the tears flowing again......I so want to be home, but I don't want to leave. This place, this country, will always have a part of me.

 I have made such a great friend......Gaspard. We went out last night for some Mutzig and goat kabobs(boy I will miss them---never thought I would say that!) It was just the two of us and we really just bonded as friends. We have a lot in common, our love for our spouses and our children. We think the same when it comes to our profession and our work. I know we will always be in touch. He so wants to come back to Massachusetts and learn more. I told him he will always be welcome at our home. Hopefully all my family and friends will someday get to meet this wonderful person, my friend.He has been there for me when I have had my bouts of being homesick, and has given me words of wisdom when I have gotten frustrated. I was told he is a special person and I am thankful to God, that he is now a part of my life. I dread saying goodbye to him.......

I came back at lunch today to get some packing done. My little babies were all out in the street playing, they saw me and came running. I didn't have any snacks on me, but I told them I would be back in a little bit. I got everything organized and packed....except for those last minute things. I'm wishing Amanda was here so she could do her magic on my suitcase like she did when I was packing to come here!!! When I headed back to the hospital I grabbed the last of the snacks. They all came running when they saw me!! I told them this was all I had, there was no more. I asked them if I could take their picture, and they all got together and let me take some shots of them. I showed them the picture on the screen and they were laughing and pointing at themselves. I'll miss those snot-nosed little buggers!! As I walked away they were screaming thank you, thank you and one even said love you!! Talk about having your heart tugged at!! I post their picture for all of you, and for my godchild Eliza who,I hear,likes to see pictures of kids.....enjoy those beautiful faces as I have for the past two weeks.

So it is now time to get to bed.....the cows will be mooing soon.

Thanks for following!!

Love to you all...

At a loss for words.....

I'm sorry to say that I have nothing to write about today.....

I have some of my own questions that need I need to find answers to....

Thanks for following!!!

Love to you all!!

Birds, cows, children & villagers........

Today was a great day!!! I was teaching one of the other techs how to embed tissue. He did a great job!! One thing I notice here is that they are so willing to learn and do. I then did some cutting of the tissue and got it stained so that the blocks and slides will be ready to come back home with me and brought to the Brigham to be diagnosed.

After I had cut the slides I went into histo to change the stainer. I moved a basket that was on the floor and almost had a heart attack!!! A little lizard went running across my foot and under the counter!! I ran out to get Gaspard!! I'm such a chicken when it comes to lizards...... But sure I'll sit on the ground 5 feet away from a silver-back gorilla!!!! As I like to say " that's different"!!! 

At lunch I strolled around the grounds of the hospital and took more pictures.

I watched Gaspard do some grossing of tissue that had come in today. One specimen was a breast nodule that was from a woman younger than me! Very sad....more than likely it is cancer. Butaro hospital has a cancer care unit and  they are succeeding in getting people the treatment. The nurse, Ann, who came from Dana Farber is here to teach the nurses about and how to give the treatments. One of the other specimens was from a prisoner in a jail. It was a brain tumor that was removed. It was smaller than a golf ball, but good size!! I have to say it was the ugliest specimen I have ever seen!!!

Every night when I get home, I love to sit out on the porch and just enjoy the view!!! It is a time for reflection and thought. I love the sounds of the cows mooing, the people talking, and the birds making some of the wildest noises I have ever heard!!! The sounds seem to travel up from the valley below.I will miss that when I leave. To be home listening to Memphis & Angus bark is a sound that I deeply miss and can't wait to hear. I miss Rudy & Rory trying to get up my lap before Memphis chases them away. I miss the sound of Rudy sucking on his tail!! I miss my fur babies!! Angus is going to have surgery on June 5.... He has a torn ACL and meniscus. Bill said the little man is depressed and probably in pain. Makes my heart break. Hopefully after his surgery it will all be better for him. He loves to play ball and just roam around the yard, and it something he has been unable to do.

I miss my husband!! He is my best friend and means the world to me.....

Well I'm very tired tonight and we have a lot to do tomorrow......

Thanks for following!!!

Love to you all!!

Goodnight!!!

P.S. the bugs are big!!

A frustrating day..........

It was back to the lab today. Mondays and Tuesdays are the busy days for histology. There were a lot of specimens for Gaspard to process. I worked on re-organizing the histo lab for a more smoother work flow. Irenee worked on doing spreadsheets for the training of the other techs that will be learning how to do histology over here.

There are some things that I still need/want to get done before I leave here on Friday. I was hoping when I got to the lab this morning that I would have answers to emails about lab issues and questions that I had sent at the end of last week. It was not until I called Bill, and woke him up, that I was reminded that it was Memorial Day today. So the emails I needed answers to, I would not be getting!! Anybody who knows me, when it comes to my work, I can get easily frustrated when things don't go the way I would like them to. Today it was one of those days!! The time difference plays a big part here. When I am starting the day, all of you are in REM sleep mode!! By the time my day is ending, yours is just beginning. I was told that things can go slow here, and now I see that! For me....that spells frustration!!! But I will move forward with what I can do for the remainder of my time here.

So I did a lot of research on the Internet to hopefully find the answers that I needed. I did find some answers, but I could go no further without some more help from my contacts back home. I take my work seriously, these are patient lives that I am dealing with. They are real people, not lab rats!! I do not want to jeopardize specimen quality. 

One thing that I want to do when I get home is to try to organize some sort of donation to the lab and to the 2 wonderful young men that I have been working with. Irenee and Gaspard do not make a lot of money. Irenee is married and has twin boys that are two years old. He rents a house near the hospital, I saw it from the road below.It looks very tiny and I am sure it is not like ours. Most houses have dirt floors, limited electricity. I would like to get things for his children....clothes, shoes, toys, etc. I know they would appreciate anything they were given.

Gaspard lives about an hour and a half away from here. He rents a room and goes home on Fridays to be with his family for the weekend. He is married and has a 4 year old. He was telling me that Kevin will start school next year. I would also like to take care of him with school supplies, clothes,shoes,etc.

They only get paid once a month........

The hospital was started by foundations, grants and contributions. There are the crazy little things that are needed here. It is not like our hospitals where we can put an order in and receive them.I have started a list of the things that they need and could use. 

It is crazy,to me, but no one has cars here!! They can't afford them, so they either walk or take crowded buses. But as I've been told, it is free to walk, money to take a bus....

If anyone who is reading this would like to help,in any way,please contact me at pjviens@gmail.com

At lunch, I did not eat much as I had a headache that was making me sick to my stomach. I told Gaspard I needed to come home and rest, I was of no value to anyone or myself.

It was probably the best thing I did. I slept for about two hours which settled my stomach and got rid of the pounding headache.

I started to get some things packed and put away. I will be leaving here in 4 days.

When I return to Kigali on Friday night, I will be staying back at the PIH house where this adventure began. On Saturday I plan to visit the Genocide museum. From everyone I have talked to, they have told me to make sure and go. The tragic event is set very deep into the people that live here. I watched the movie Hotel Rwanda on the plane....it is a heart wrenching movie.....watch it someday!!

I will also be doing some craft shopping after the museum. I have seen some of the work that the people of Rwanda do, and it is beautiful, so I am looking forward to spending time shopping!!! 

Well it is time for me to go to bed.....it was an uneasy day and I look forward tomorrow being much better.

Thanks for following....

Love to you all! <3

Back to Butaro and my house...

This morning I got up an took a nice hot shower and then went to breakfast. I had the ham(?) and cheese omelet again. I think I am now addicted to Akabunga!!! Hot but good!!! Later on I sat out on the covered dining area and had some coffee and read my book. It is so peaceful and serene here. The view of the volcanoes makes me remember what an experience I had yesterday with the gorillas!!! 

When it is time to go, Emmanuel and his wife, Jacky, are going to drive me back. First he would like to go to to a new place called Red Rocks. It is a camping area, community gardening and art center. We are shown around by Greg and another guy( nope don't remember his name!)  I am shown how they make banana beer, the gardens, and the general area. 

Emmanuel takes me to the bus station where the people crowd into these small buses(more like mini vans) that take them to Kigali and other towns that are too far to walk to. There are people everywhere!! Jacky happens to see her friend Domenique and she is going to join us for the ride home to Butaro.

As we drive back I am taking pictures all along the way. When we drive by the children in the roads and in the little town centers, all I hear Umuzungu !!! I've told Emmanuel that when I get home I am changing my name to Umuzungu Viens!!! I think it has a great ring to it!!!

Emmanuel is gracious enough to stop at various spots along the way for me to take pictures and for him to take pictures of me with the scenery. He likes my camera and is enjoying using it!! One problem when you travel by yourself.....you are never in the photos!!!

I am finally back at PIH house. I quickly upload 1 picture from my gorilla trek onto Facebook and publish my two days of blog.....sorry some of you had to wait to read about my days!!! 

Heading back to my house, my little friends come to greet me. I have nothing to offer and they look sad!!! Don't worry kids,I go back to work tomorrow!! 

I can't believe that one week has passed and I am in the final week for being here. Time does fly!!

I callled Bill and he tells me Facebook is lit up with likes and comments on my photo!!! I knew that picture would grab some attention!!! When I get home(to Feeding Hills) I will upload some more of the babies, juveniles, mothers and silver-backs. I only have about 500-600 to choose from!! 

I have just come back from having dinner with Gaspard & Vincent(?), shit ....forgot his name!!! We had goat kabobs and some Mutzig beers!!! I have to say I'm loving that goat!!! Except tonight there was one outside making his noise and it kinda made me a little weird to be hearing him and eating his friend!!! Oh we'll.....

It has been a memorable and fun weekend....

Off to bed...

Thanks for following...

Love to all!!!

Gorillas in the Mist........

The alarm clock went off at 5:00. That is when the power generator is turned and I have light and hot water for my shower. I'm so excited that in a few short hours I will be heading to Volcano National Park to trek for gorillas!!! It's hard to imagine that I will see gorillas in their environment and not behind fences like at the zoo. I will be in a natural zoo!!! I had a wonderful breakfast. A ham & cheese omelet!!

After breakfast my driver, Somali, comes to pick me up and brings me to the park. We have to present the permit and passport. Only 80 people are allowed per day. While we are waiting for everyone to get entered we have coffee and are entertained by the Socola traditional dancers. Men and women with drums, chains around their necks and feet. It was very entertaining and beautiful.

Then we are put into our groups. My group consists of a couple from Nairobi, two gentleman from Dallas, Texas, another couple from Charleston,South Carolina, a guy from India and my self. Our guides are Julie and Francoise. The amazing thing is Francoise worked with Dian Fossey!!! He is a well respected and known man around here, and I have the honor of trekking with him!!! He has the funniest sense of humor! Talking about how the male gorillas like to do the "giggy-giggy" as he jumps up and down pounding his chest!!! We are going to be trekking for the Kwitonda group. There are 23 gorillas in this group, the largest family they have here.

So after the grouping, briefing, and information, we go in our perspective drivers trucks and off to the base of the volcano. Now yesterday's ride was a thrill ride , today's was the bumpiest ride!! We are basically driving through the fields, there are tracks to follow- if that's what you want to call it!!! I was really waiting for the truck to bottom out!! We got stuck in mud a couple of times, and then finally we arrive. Thank god I don't get car sick.....

We are assigned porters who will carry your back packs and generally help you along the way up to the gorillas. I have Andrew. Before we enter into the jungle, Francoise shows how you can get water from the eucalyptus trees that are very abundant here. It almost takes like coconut milk. So if we are to get lost, we have a way to stay hydrated. Standing at the beginning of this area are the guards of the fields. They protect the people's crops from the buffalo, elephants that will come down from the mountains and eat the crops. These people love their AK47's!!! They won't kill the animals, they just scare them off. 

Off we go....but first they tell you to tuck your pants into your sock as there are fire ants that will crawl up and bite you!!! We head out and it is flat at first, and then the climb up begins!! Thank The Lord I have quit smoking!!! With the high altitude already making it hard, smoking would have made it much worse. As we go along it is thick with bamboo and brush. The porters chop, with big machetes,away until we meet up with the park rangers. Guess what they carry.....yup the ol' AK47's!! But these guys are here to protect the gorillas. They walk through the jungle keeping watch over the families and also helping the guides to locate where we have to go. Francoise stops a couple of times to show us how and what part of the bamboo that they eat. I tried a little piece. Not too bad, no real distinctive flavor.

It was probably about a 40 minute hike up the mountain, when we come to another stop. The gorillas are around the bend. We have to put all packs and walking sticks down. We can bring nothing but ourselves and our cameras. They ask to not have your flash on, it will agitate and scare them off. Alrighty!! Don't really want to do that to them....

As we start around, I'm shaking like a leaf with excitement and fear of the unknown ahead of me. Julie is walking behind me , when she says to me to look over there!!! All I can see is black objects, as we get closer I can recognize and see them. All emotions overcome me and I just start crying, tears are just pouring down my face!!! This is truly one of the most amazing things I have ever seen or done in my life!!! Julie is very concerned about me, I tell her that I just can't believe this!! She hugs me and hands me a tissue. We walk down a little more and not even 5 feet from me is a silver-back, a mom and a baby just sitting there!!! Looking around and there are gorillas of all ages. Some of the young ones are playing. Some of the adults and silver-backs( there are 3 in this family- with one dominant) are eating,sleeping or kinda just hanging out!!! They almost pay no attention to all of us. Francoise makes grunting noises to them. He is communicating with them and it is fascinating. One little baby starts to come over towards us and Francoise makes this noise and the little guy turns and runs off!! They do not want the gorillas to have contact with us, though it does happen occasionally. The gentleman from Texas was grabbed at the leg by one of the juvenile males!! It was quick and not meant to be mean. 

We are only allowed to be with them for one hour. It seemed like we were there forever, time kinda stood still.......thank God....this is one time I wanted time to go slow.

At one point I had a baby above my head and he was intentionally hitting me with the vine he used to climb up and then he was dropping leaves and moss on me!!! What a little bugger he was!!! 

I took close to 650 pictures of them.....not all good, but some really great shots. It is not easy to always take their picture because there is a lot of brush and vines in the way. As we were getting ready to leave, the Silver-back was sitting in an open area just eating bamboo. I did gets some real nice shots of him!!! 

Oh and how could I forget!!! Standing,watching this silver-back, Francoise says to me sit down over there  and he took my camera and took some amazing pictures of the gorilla sitting about 5 feet away from me!!! A lifetime experience I will never forget.....

This whole trip to Rwanda has been a eye-opening, put my life in perspective, incredible journey. I feel blessed to have been asked to do this volunteer work. I would come back in the blink of an eye. 

Thank you for following!!

Good night!!!

Love to you all!!

Now that was a ride to remember!!!!!

This morning I think the whole village of children met me at their usual spot! I knew that there  would be more children than the previous days. I came prepared with balls, fruit snacks and even some of the protein bars I had brought for myself. At one point the kids started to reach in my bag and I had to very sternly say "sibyo" (no!!). They all took a step back,it was almost funny, I don't think they expected me to speak their language!!! On to the lab I went.....

It was a slow day. The guys had to get the slides and blocks ready to be shipped to Boston. I waited patiently for any answers to emails I sent for lab questions. The time difference really stinks!!! When my day is almost done, the U.S. is starting theirs. That can be very frustrating!!! I haven't been getting answers to questions until the next day and it really seems like time wasted.......what can you do??

Gaspard's and I had our "lunch date"!! I have to say, I really like having rice and potatoes with vegetables....

Fridays seems to be departure day. The people at the PIH house take off for whatever plans they have made, Gaspard leaves for his journey home to his wife and little boy. I had my plans to go to le bambou lodge for my gorilla trek. Emmanuel ( the owner of the lodge) came about 5:00 to get me for the ride back to the lodge.

Have you ever seen a movie where the road is dirt and about 3 feet wide with a cliff on one side???!! Well yup, that was me....thank god the cliff side was on his side!!! It was the most breathtaking scenery you could imagine!!! Words or pictures just can't do it justice. Now I know why they call Rwanda land of a thousand hills!!! I think I have been up and down half of them by now!!! Because no one has a car, it is walking for every one. I know why they are thin and in shape!! But as we drive through the towns and the people notice me, all I hear as we drive through is Umuzungu!! I laugh and Emmanuel tells me that they don't mean it in a bad way. I know that!! These people have not seen too many of me!!! Unless they happen to go to the hospital. I feel pretty special....they probably go home and say "do you know what I saw today!!!!"

We arrive at the lodge, of course it is dark and I can't wait for morning to see the beautiful scenery. I am showed to my Banda...cottage, bungalow, whatever you want to call it. It is really nice. Every thing is made from bamboo....hence the name Le Bambou lodge!! There is a nice toasty fire  in the fireplace.

After I settle in I go to the main lodge for a Mutzig and some dinner, with a bucket of hot coals beside me!!! As I'm sitting in the bar area I look over at the tv and Gorillas in the mist is on. Love that movie. That's why I am here!!

Had a very nice dinner, don't ask what I ate, ' cause I don't know!! There was vegetables, "meat"balls,angel hair pasta, something wrapped in a tortilla, fish- I think!!! It was all very good. There was two other tables of people eating.....I was by myself. When I left I felt a little emotional, missing having someone with me. So of course you know what that means!!! Waterworks!!!! Back in my room, I am getting ready to jump into bed and write this and there is a knock at the door. It is a girl with hot water bottles to put in between my sheets!! Bill---are you reading this part!!'So of course she has this look of panic on her face because she can see I was crying!!! I tell her I'm all right I'm just tired and a little homesick!! So she leaves...... Two minutes later, Richard-the concierge is at the door!! OMG!! I'm okay!! I explain this all to him and tell him I just need to sleep. Okay he says and I basically have to kick his ass out the door!! 

I'm better now....at times this just does become overwhelming for me... And I am a sensitive,emotional person.......unless you piss me off!!

So here I will close. The power will be going off soon, and it's getting late as I have to be up at 5:00 for the big adventure!!! Good night to all my friends and family......I love you all !!

Thanks for following.

Can't wait for tomorrow!!!

Goat is good!!!

Well my day started out late!!! I kept pressing the snooze button on my alarm until it was 6:45 am!! Oh boy I'm supposed to be at work at 7:15!!! Shower....which I finally figured out how to get it so it was hot water....dress and off I go!!! Don't forget the fruit snacks!!! This morning the kids are up to 7 of them!!! I think the word is spreading about the "Umuzungu"!! That is kinyarwanda for white person!!! I hear that a lot when I'm walking anywhere!!! I stop and meet my little friends give them their fruit snacks and off I go. It was a slow day today in the lab. I have taught some of the other techs how to use Ipath(pictures of slides sent via Internet to the Brigham pathologists), wrote up a procedure how to process bone marrows, met Dr. Neo Tapela and some pathologists visiting from Washington state. I received a phone from PIH and immediately call Bill!! That was the highlight of my day!! To hear his voice, without interruption over the Internet, was pure joy!!! I immediately start crying!!! It is all just so overwhelming.

At lunch I took a walk with a nurse,Ann, from Dana Farber. We walked to where they are building the new infusion building. The workers are very skilled and do beautiful work. It was nice to see her and have a conversation with someone who speaks fluent English!!!

On the way back to the lab there is a little boy dressed in hospital jammies. He smiles at me and I at him, he wants me to take his picture. I take a couple of them and kiss him on the top of his little head. Such a cutie!! Gaspard tells me later that he is probably here for chemo.................why the children?? I don't know how many more heart strings I have left to be pulled.

After work, Irenee takes me for a walk into town and down to where the hydroelectric plant is. It provides electricity for the town. It is very fascinating and such beautiful scenery beyond. I hate to say but the scenery is better than I have seen in the states!! We talk of the land, the culture, the life of people in Rwanda. 

Gaspard meets us at the bar/ restaurant that we went to the other night. It cracks me up that when you order a beer, they bring you two!!! Irenee orders some bruschett(?) yeah it's not the bread with tomatoes on it people!! It's THE kabobs!! There is also some bananas that are baked, I believe. They also give you Akabunga.......it is the most frigging hottest sauce I have ever had!!! Yes, Jim Pepoon, there will be some coming your way!! And some for me too!! It comes in a little bottle like eyes drops!! I know why!!! As my mom would say, " that'll cure what ails ya'!!" And that's the truth!!! The goat was fantastic!! I had so many reservations about eating it,especially after just seeing one walking down the street earlier with Irenee!! But you don't know until you try it and I'm glad I did!! I'm not a big banana lover, but these were pretty frigging good, too!!

I have come to love Irenee and Gaspard as if they were my brothers. They have been so kind, sweet and loving to me. Oh I did meet Gaspard's wife today. She is beautiful. She was very shy, but when Gaspard introduced us she gave me a hug!! She speaks very little English, so we did not speak much. I wish I had my camera with me to get a picture of them together.

Well I must pack for my exciting weekend!! It's gorilla trekking time!!! I probably will not be able to post anything until Sunday when I return, but I will write of the weekend while I am up at the volcanoes and will download when I get back to Butaro. 

Thanks for following!!!

Love to all of you <3

Guess who's waiting for me?!!

This morning went I left the house for the hospital, it was a beautiful morning. I meet up with the Administrator of the hospital--- shit if only I could remember all these names!! As we walked down the street, I see three little kids standing in the road!!! Gee wonder what they are doing!!! As I get closer I can see the smiles on their faces! They are waiting for me. When I get to them they are giddy and smiling. So I stop and start digging in my bag. I pulled out two bags of fruit snacks for each of them. I had two balls and give them to them. I tell him how I came about having these little things for the kids, he just thinks that is so thoughtful and nice. I wish I could do more for them....

It was a pretty good day at the lab. I think I have solved the staining problem, the doctor in Boston gets the images we sent her and she is happy with the results. Phew...hopefully one problem solved. Next is the tissue processor....that will wait until tomorrow and hopefully we can get some answers from the company about what to do. I did a little cutting of the control slides that I had to test on the stainer. Sitting in front of the window looking out to the beautiful scenery isn't hard to take.

At lunch time I wasn't so hungry so I decide to walk around the grounds of the hospital. I decide to take my camera with me. Each unit seems to be in its own building. I pass the NICU ward and wish I could go in. Maybe if I asked I could have. Next was the pediatric unit. Outside is this little boy, just looking at me with these big eyes!! Through "sign language" I ask him if I can take his picture. He nods a big yes!!! After I take it, I show it to him, and he puts this big smile on his face!! Talk about melting my heart!!! If my daughter, Amanda, is reading this, the answer is NO I did not adopt him!! For some reason she thinks I will adopt a baby to bring home!!! Really?!! Doesn't she know she was enough for me!!! I love you to the moon and back Amanda!!! All my kids are four legged now. Maybe I'll get a baby gorilla when I go on my trek!! I finish walking around the hospital taking pictures of flower, buildings and some of the people. 

Back to work.....working on some stuff that needs to be done. I go out to the microtome to cut some more and guess who walks by the window? The little boy from the pedi unit. I'm thinking he must be going home as he is carrying some things with him and looks like his parents are with him. He happens to look in the window and sees me. I have never seen a smile so big!! I smile and wave to him. There goes my heart melting again. I hope I have given him something good to remember. I know I will remember him.

Later in the day Gaspard and I talk about going to get a beer and some kebabs for dinner tomorrow night!! Uh oh......I think this is where the goat comes into the picture!! Well, I guess I have to try it at least once!! 

When I got home tonight the moon was out and still a little light. I took my camera out and tried to get some shots. I think they came out pretty good. Sitting on my bed all of a sudden it is pouring buckets!!

It rained pretty hard for about 10-15 minutes. Then it stopped.....I went out to the porch and you would never know it rained....it was all dry.

I have to admit one thing....I'm getting a little home sick. I cried all the way home and sat on the porch and cried some more. I have books to read, games to play, but nothing beats home. I miss having someone around me. It is lonely here. The guy who's in the other room is never here and when he is, he's in his room as I am in mine. I haven't even seen this guy yet!! So it'll be nice to go out with Gaspard tomorrow. His family lives 2 hours away and he rents a room in town and goes home on weekends. I'm sure he gets lonely too, except he knows more people than I.

Well time to go to bed.

Thanks for following!!

Love to you all!! 

"I think there's a point where you realize the world has just been revealed to you" -Ophelia Dahl

Okay I had to come back to the house and take a much needed nap! It's now 10:30 and I am now wide-ass awake!!

So what better time to write and share some thoughts with you.

The quote at the top came from the book that I have been reading. It is called Mountains Beyond Mountains. It is the story of Dr. Paul Farmer, who is one of the founders of Partners in Health.

Over these past few days working at Butaro has really put my life into a different perspective. I realize deeply that my life is not that bad.....it is actually great! 

The past two days walking to the hospital has given me the chance to see and observe a totally different life. 

The kind of life for families that exists over here. When I wake up in the morning I can hear the village people (no-not the YMCA ones, Mikey Johnson!) already tending to their chores for the day. The cows are mooing, birds are singing, the people are talking and sometimes I have heard singing.

After I get ready for my day I head down the road, past the guard shack(good morning guard and your AK47!)and now I see the "real world" for these people. The adults are on the mountainsides digging farming plots, burning wood, planting and just generally beginning to put in a hard days work. I have not seen a man use more than just a shovel to carve into the side of the mountain so that they will be able to plant their crops of beans, carrots, and potatoes. The houses they live in are cement or mud. They only look to have maybe one or two rooms inside. The women have been outside doing the laundry in huge pails, scrubbing and rinsing. No Kenmore Elite front loaders!!l

The children come to see who is walking down the street. Whether it be morning or night, they speak in English "good morning"!! They seem so happy to see you and talk to you. This morning went I left I grabbed a few rubber balls and some fruit snacks that I had bought on the advice of a previous volunteer!! As they were standing watching me come closer and saying good morning I knelt down and went into my by bag. When I brought those things out, big smiles from all of them! Thank you, thank you they tell me! It broke my heart but made me feel sooo good inside!! From what I have seen they don't have many toys, and I'm pretty sure they don't get fruit snacks in a bag. I'm sure they will be waiting tomorrow for me to come down the hill!!!

Off I go to the hospital. Looking behind me, I see them with big smiles on their faces!! The adults look, and I believe, are wondering what just happened. Their looks of confusion, confuse me. Are they happy I just did that or are they concerned? I tend to go with they are surprised and in some ways are grateful for just the kindness that has been bestowed upon these children.

As I arrive at my lab, there is clinic and pharmacy appointments starting. The first morning there must have been 100-200 men,women, children waiting in lines to be seen and/or taken care of. The African women wear the most beautiful dresses with the  matching hair wraps. The men are dressed in their Sunday best. The babies are sometimes strapped to mommas back, older ones will be toddling around. Everyone just waiting  patiently for their turn. 

It is sad to go into the lab and to read some of the diagnosis of these people. Breast cancer, lymphomas, leukemias. Yes we all have these back home, but we have immediate care with all the doctors and caregivers and immediate medicines. They have had symptoms for sometimes years and finally are being able to see a doctor. A lot of these people are also HIV and/or TB positive. 

THE WORLD HAS JUST BEEN REVEALED TO ME........

My work day was good. I was able to get some things started that needed to be dealt with, started some new projects and got emails of other things that need to be done or worked on. It will be a busy day tomorrow. 

So as I sit here eating my Twizzlers and Beef jerky( I need to keep up my protein,) I will close for now.

Thank you to all my followers,family and friends for tagging along on this incredible journey and experience with me....🌍

With tears streaming down my face 😭.I love you all!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💋

Too tired!! 5:50 pm Tuesday

Stick a fork in me, I'm Done!!

Too tired!!!

Thanks for following!!!

Good night

Day one of work

This morning I awoke to incredible views. High upon the hill I looked down on the village and the fog surrounding the village below. I felt so at peace, with the world and with myself. The sounds of the birds and the animals was so tranquil. I could have sat on my porch all morning. I took a cold shower ,got dressed and Molly (one of the physicians ) came to get me for the work day. Every day is a staff meeting in the conference room. The walk to the hospital was a killer!! I have quit smoking- yeah for me!! But yet the walk to hospital 'bout damned near killed me!! I was thinking "am I that outta shape"? I have been walking with my PA Kay at BMC occasionally at work, and i don't feel this bad!!  Until Molly told me that we are at a higher altitude than Denver Colorado! Oh, okay it's just the lack of oxygen up here!

The houses and people that live outside our "guarded" area are so friendly. The children scream good morning!! There is the cutest black cow-I will get pics of him later. When I say "guarded" I mean AK47 in the mans hand!! Nervous but a feeling of protection! 

So after our staff meeting, which is mostly in French , I head to the lab with Gaspard. They introduce me to the rest of the lab techs-please don't ask me to remember names!! 

The histology lab is very impressive. Autostainers, processors,web cams, and the such. This lab could put some in the states to shame!! 

Gaspard, Irenee and I work together to figure out the staining problem on the stainer. Gaspard shows me how he grosses the specimens that he has received. We did some control blocks for gram and liver and colon. Me being the Tasmanian devil has to learn how to turn it down a couple of notches. It is a very relaxed slower pace. Of course there is not that many specimens right now. 

I did some correspondence with my supervisor Suzanne( thank you for help ;) ) and Jim Pepoon. I am bound and determined to get this lab in a good place before I leave.....

Lunch was good. I ate the meat- they tell me it was beef!! Rice, potatoes,carrots,peas, sauce-which I would like to get the recipe- was actually filling and good!! Here I take Like one large spoonful of everything and the other have MOUNDS of food on their plate.I am full,Gaspard tells me I don't eat enough! Go get more! 

The rest of the day runs pretty good.

Gaspard asks me if I would like to go into the "city"after work for a bieri!! Sure! So we meet at the PIH House with one of the other lab techs. Take a nice bumpy ,darker than dirt, walk into town. Thank god for flashlights! We stayed for a couple of beers each. Now for three of us,I had a large mutzig and small one, and the other two had 4 beers----- grand total.......$8.00!!! Sorry but you can't beat that with a stick!! The two gentlemen walked me to my door, past Mr. Ak47 who questioned them about me and where we going. It was a very nice time with them to find out a little more personal things, Gaspard has a baby which I hope to meet while I am here.

It's just day one , and I feel a connection to these people. They are becoming my family. I don't even want to think about leaving,because I know it is going to be hard for me......

Well it is 11:30 pm....time to get some shut-eye, I got lots to do tomorrow.

Thanks  for following!!!

Love and kisses to you all 💋❤❤❤❤💋

Kigali

I was up at 7:30 and ventured down stairs to the main room of the PIH house. There to greet me was a beautiful little girl named Lilly. She is one of the daughters of Jaqui and Collin- the house residents. For four years old she is quite vocal and very smart. Did you babies are in their mothers uterus until they are  born!! there are some adults who don't know that!!!

We ventured out to the back yard and her and I took pictures of the surrounding area. I let her take her own pictures of a leaf and she was thrilled!!

After hanging out, I decide I would take a 30 minute nap-set my timer- and proceeded to shut it off and slept for another two hours! Guess I needed that!

After showering Maya, Molly and I started to walk into town until we found a taxi. We went to the bank and to the store. I got 600 rwfrancs for 1 dollar!! I walked out with a bundle of money!!! Then we went to the store where I bought some laundry soap to wash my undergarments- it is custom that the people who will do your other laundry will not do those. That's okay, I don't need you seeing all my VS bras and underwear!! Got some coca-cola, water and a brush- as I forgot mine!!

Taxi drivers I think are relatively cheap here. It was only 4,000 for a ride back to PIH. Home it would have cost easily $25-30.00.

When we got back it was time to pack up and head put to Butaro Hospital. 7 people in a Land Rover...not too uncomfortable. Whizzing out of town on paved road was not too bad. It was the last 1 and 1/2 hour on dirt road that was the killer!!! Because when it rains, it forms ruts, potholes in the dirt and that makes for a bumpy and swerving road!! Andrew, our driver, was very good. Finally got to the hospital! Had some dinner.....French fries-fresh, not frozen! Rice and some cabbage and carrot sauté that was really good. They had pasta and some kind of sauce....looked to have some sort of meat( maybe this is where the goat comes in) but I did not want to try that tonight! I'll save that for later!

I'm staying in the doctors house #2..... There is a surgeon in the other bedroom, but he is still at the hospital and have not met him........there's always tomorrow. And right now i have met sooooo many people that I can't remember names!! I'm not sure of mine right now!! The only thing I dont like about this house is there is no Wi-fi.....really?? I'll just be bringing my computers to the hospital to load my blogs and do more computer work!!

It is 9:30-way past my usual night time!! I have to be up and ready for 7:15 for a staff meeting.

So my friends and family It's off to bed!

Thanks for following!!

Love to you all❤❤❤❤❤❤