Yesterday Grace (another CSU graduate) and Ben (a 5th
year medical student) and I had our orientation at the hospital. We learned
that a hospital visit costs $2 which is actually quite a lot for locals considering
their average salary is only $200 a year. A doctor only makes $2,000-$4,000 a year! We
were hoping to get some hands on experience but the orientation took a bit
longer than expected. We went home with the other students and walked to the
Central market to get a few groceries. We got a bit lost but it was a great way
to practice our Swahili, we are pros now ;) Matitis! Boobies!
Orientation Day at the Mt. Meru Hospital
Grace, Sophie, and I started in the phlebotomy lab today.
The people working in the lab were very welcoming (well most of them) and one
of the coordinators, Owatcha, was a wonderful teacher and explained things slowly. We
learned some of the tests for different diseases, how to label vials, prep the
patients, and I even got to do my first blood draw!!! I wasn’t planning on
doing it right away but one the nurses just told me to have a go, and I got it
on the first poke! Feeling very accomplished already on the first day :) Tomorrow, Owatcha told
us that we would be running the phlebotomy lab by ourselves. I don't know if we are ready for that yet but it is encouraging to know he is comfortable putting it into our hands. I'm definitely hoping to do some more blood draws tomorrow though. What a great first day in the hospital! It’s
definitely starting to feel more like a new home around the apartments too. Grace, Sophie, and I
walked to the post office today and the market again to get ourselves even more
oriented with the area. We just finished the day with a circout (new coined
term for rooftop circuit workout) Also discovered a new favorite wine called
Balance, a South African Shiraz Merlot. So now I am just sitting at the kitchen
table blogging with my wine and dark chocolate…its almost like a little taste
of home :o)
Kwaheri Nawapenda!
Goodbye and I love you all!
Cody, me, Joy, Adam, and Grace on Palace hotel rooftop
View of Arusha from Palace rooftop
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