NEXT baby STEPS

Since my last post a lot has happened, a lot has been seen and a lot has been done. Again, where do I begin?

I have seen close to 100 pregnant mothers wait all day for vaccines, and then told to come back later in the week because the vaccines ran out. I have slept every night with my mosquito net, tucked neatly around the edges of my mattress. I have caused many people to turn heads at me washing my clothes at the well and also carrying a 50 liter jerry can from the well to my house. I have demonstrated the importance of handwashing with 138 middle school aged children; showing them they cannot only use soap (which is expensive) but they can use ash.  I have acquired a mother, a father and 16 nieces and nephews. I have cooked three meals so far, all with an audience of the neighborhood children peeking through my window. I have eaten three meals a day with my doctor and his wife. I have been asked by multiple people if they can have my bicycle, and also all of my belongings after my two years of service. I have taken a 45 minute walk through the rolling green hills with a gentlemen, leading to his rice paddies; where I fell in waist deep mud and end up laughing at myself. I have observed my community for the past two months. I have evaluated that there major needs and concerns are lack of water and food. I have seen children play by the well on a hot day throwing buckets of water at each other. I have seen multiple pregnancies. I have cut one umbilical cord. I have read 16 books to date from entering Madagascar (look at right for a complete list). I have eaten fish bones, fish heads and crab shells (where else can I get calcium from?). I have eaten a coconut multiple times for a snack. I have used a bucket of water as a refrigerator. I have seen a grandmother spend her entire day sitting on the ground, weaving a straw floormat and basket. I have seen two still-births. I have seen multiple lacerations to appendages, heads and chests. I have seen a two inch splinter being pulled out of a young boys knee. I have played soccer with the local men with a ball of plastic bags tied together with twine. I have slept in a hammock. I have made friends. I have made my own delicious peanut butter. I have eaten countless leechis (a red-skinned fruit the size of an apricot with a white interior – extremely sweet and delicious). I have seen poverty, I have seen malnutrition, I have seen an ill-distribution of wealth and resources and I have seen an education system lacking in many aspects. I have made a trip to my well everyday for the past two months at 5pm with a group of about 5-15 children with soap and brushes…where we wash our hands and I talk to them about the importance of handwashing. I have seen a 5 year old boy with rotting baby teeth and a swollen belly. I have learned that my people need a lot of help. I have realized that I AM NOT SUPERMAN and I might not be able to change the world 100%. 99.9% is okay. I have realized I am overtly optimistic, which at times may not be a good thing. I have seen death at my fingertips. I have had malaria. I have entered a small community and have gained a family. I have been able to carry on conversations in Malagasy with the fellow people for countless hours. I have been asked to enter households, partake in their meals and exchange culture. I have entered my room with a scorpion laying on my bed. I have learned how to make a fishing net. I have eaten my weight in bananas. I have lost weight. I have grown my hair out to the longest it has ever been. I have taken cold showers with a bucket. I have had one parasy on the bottom of my foot (a sand-flea that burroughs into your skin and lays eggs). I have traveled for three days to get to the capital. I have to bike a great distance in order to get food for myself.

I have grown as an individual. I have laughed, cried, screamed, smiled, sang and danced. I have clapped, shook and washed hands.

I have learned a great deal. I am ready to help my community.

*These views are of my own but the style of this blog is in thanks to Jacob Morrin:

http://rabbitfood.tumblr.com/post/1437861110/getting-away-from-it-all

~ by healthymadagascar on December 9, 2010.