"So much to say, but not really sure what to say…"

First and foremost, I am curious what you all would like to hear as my time progresses in Namibia - Stories of people’s lives? Interesting things in about this unique African culture? What I am doing on a daily basis? Hospital life? Trials? Triumphs?
I also would enjoy hearing about your life and what you have been up to over the past couple of months. I have been here for about four months now and feeling somewhat disconnected with all of you so please share with me a funny story about your life.

Brief highlights:
“Stories of people’s lives?”
The longer I live hear the more I realize that almost every person has a unique story that often contains a lot of hurts and trials and triumphs. Kahilu and Ernest are two of my better friends and we have a ton of fun hanging out. They are really helpful in teaching us cultural things and allowing us to experience things uniquely Africa. As I have learned more and more about their life and story, I realize they too have a unique story which is really not so unique for Africa. Neither of these boys have fathers in their life. Kahilu never has known his father and Ernest’s father has passed away. I think I have met one or two families here that have two parents in the home.

“Interesting things in about this unique African culture?”
As I mentioned above something uniquely African is the unique family unit. Nuclear family is not at all similar to the nuclear family in America. Frequently, mother’s send their young children to live with their grandparents. The family I stayed with last week had a great nephew living with them even though his biological family lives only a mile away. Confusing. Most of the time I do not really know what child belongs to whom. While family is highly valued it is not so much the nuclear family that is valued but extends to the extended family. More or less family is those you live with and around. It’s hard to explain the concept of family because is some aspects family is stronger in Africa and in other aspects is much looser.

“What I am doing on a daily basis?”
Working at the hospital - theatre, community health - villages, team days, and meeting with random people or visiting with friends. Last Friday I went to a track and field meet for several hours in the afternoon. Most days seem pretty full after work, but a good majority of the time I do not really plan out my weeks or days in advance, I just let the day progress… that is the African way!

“Hospital life?”
Last week I saw something I have never seen before nor do I ever want to see again.
I saw a hand completely hanging off the bones in your arm. Image seeing the end of radius and ulna (arm bones) while having ALL of you tissue around your bones fall off so your hand it only hanging on by tissue. Yeah, it looked like I came out of a horror movie.

“Trials?”
Hotness! It is suppose to be the rainy season but it has only been raining about once a week. It is has been SUPER Hott so please please please - Pray for rain! I have never loved rain so much. Last night when I was once again was unable to use a fan (our electric went out) it was quite disheartening.
I have a ridiculous number of bug bits.
I slightly sprained my ankle today.

“Triumphs?”
Biking. I bought a bike so I am able to get around a little more quickly. This has been very helpful for all of last week I was able to commute from Kaisosi village. I was a little nervous about biking in the heat and very sandy/ bumpy roads. Just image biking on the beach in July! It was not as bad as I thought it would be and I made it!!
On Thursday evening Laura’s bike (my roommate) was stolen. We were mad to say the least. However, the amazing thing about this small town is today Laura and I were walking to OK Foods for groceries, and guess what, we saw her bike. We ask who claimed to own the bike, but no one said it was their bike. About 20 seconds later we were crossing the road with her bike!!!

“So much to say, but not really sure what to say…”