January 31, 2004 - Saturday
9:04pm - Homestay
Man, this is some crazy shit. Talk about cultural differences. There are big brawls going on outside because, from what I could gather, this father hit his baby, the mother got mad and I think started yelling at him, and then they got in a physical fight where people had to separate them. They continued to get in fights, though, and then he was chasing her around with a stick trying to hit her. That's when Ismael told me I had to "rentrer" to my room. Everyone was sort of laughing as it happened, but I think that's their way of dealing with it, because as they were laughing they told me to go into my room. Very strange for a culture that is supposed to hate violence so much! I was kind of surprised that the wife was yelling at her husband as much as she was; that seemed quite unusual for this culture to me, but what do I know? It seems to have subsided for now. How weird.
So last night was really fun. Trayle, Ilona and Brian made dinner for all of us health volunteers and bought us red boxed wine. The dinner was pasta salad and was so delicious. We were all chowing down out of three bowls with our hands and having a blast. That's the most I've eaten since we left Philly and it was so nice to feel full for once!
On a side note: I think my brother, Ismael, is a really good guy. I think my family is in general, but he is so patient with me and watches out for me, etc. I hope he doesn't pull any sketchy can-I-come-to-America-with-you stuff, because right now I really like the friendship we're developing. I also really like his friend (cousin?) Albert. He is equally patient and likes to try and speak English and is very helpful with my homework and stuff. I think they're both very smart, so that probably helps. Like tonight when the shit hit the fan Ismael was like, "We'll play tomorrow. Tonight there was war." Wow, that translates so crappy in English. I've already begun the franglais thing because it's true, some words just say it better in other languages.
So...I have a lot of catching up to do in this here journal. Yesterday for health we went on a field trip. First we went to a hospital where we interviewed the woman who ran the maternity ward and the surgeon. We saw a woman come out from surgery on a stretcher with the tumor they had just removed from her sitting in a plastic bag underneath the stretcher. That's something you don't see everyday in the States. The facility itself was very nice and clean, but I guess this place was unusual.
Then we went to the health center, which is the next step down [in cascading structure of health facilities in Guinea]. It was pretty basic, but not as basic as the health post here in Gbereyire. Oy, that was interesting. Basically a one room place with next to nothing. We will most likely be at a place like that. 'Twill be interesting!
Today was our internet trip into Conakry. Conakry is still way out of my comfort zone and I have a hard time imagining it ever in my comfort zone. It is really overwhelming in many, many ways. I'm glad we're getting exposed to it little by little, because it's a scary place!
Getting to write home, though, was good. I always leave with mixed feelings about it, but I'm glad to know that my family gets to hear from me, because now I'm worried sick that they're worried sick about me! Not having talked to them on the phone in 2.5 weeks is probably some kind of record. Crazy that I'm going to have to get used to this. I haven't been totally craving the phone yet, though, because I know I can't call home yet, I think. I almost don't want to call home until I really feel like I need to, because I know that's going to be a tough phone call. It's nice to think of the fam coming to visit, but also really scary. I honestly don't know how they would feel about this place. The money and time issues aside (which are big ones), I wonder if they were only here for a little while if they would get used to this at all. If they would be able to see past the poverty and the overwhelmingness and come to appreciate what I'm hoping/assuming I will appreciate about this place by then. I don't know, it's sort of daunting, but hopefully I will feel better about it all at site. Putting my family in a bush tax, though...that could be interesting. I can't wait to find out our sites in a few weeks. CRAZY!!
I'm very tired, but I don't want to forget to write about the ex-pat grocery store. It was so money, and everything was so expensive, but it was good to know it was there. Ice cream tasted quite delicious as did the snickers. I can't wait to make Milo at site! Ok, hopefully more tomorrow or Monday after fete de Tabaschi (or something).
**Oh man. It is so hard to know whether to add my comments to this entry now or wait until you see for yourselves how everything unfolds. One thing I have already noticed in how bipolar my entries can be from one to the other. I definitely had that feeling the whole two years, but I'm surprised to see it reflected in my writing so early.**
9:04pm - Homestay
Man, this is some crazy shit. Talk about cultural differences. There are big brawls going on outside because, from what I could gather, this father hit his baby, the mother got mad and I think started yelling at him, and then they got in a physical fight where people had to separate them. They continued to get in fights, though, and then he was chasing her around with a stick trying to hit her. That's when Ismael told me I had to "rentrer" to my room. Everyone was sort of laughing as it happened, but I think that's their way of dealing with it, because as they were laughing they told me to go into my room. Very strange for a culture that is supposed to hate violence so much! I was kind of surprised that the wife was yelling at her husband as much as she was; that seemed quite unusual for this culture to me, but what do I know? It seems to have subsided for now. How weird.
So last night was really fun. Trayle, Ilona and Brian made dinner for all of us health volunteers and bought us red boxed wine. The dinner was pasta salad and was so delicious. We were all chowing down out of three bowls with our hands and having a blast. That's the most I've eaten since we left Philly and it was so nice to feel full for once!
On a side note: I think my brother, Ismael, is a really good guy. I think my family is in general, but he is so patient with me and watches out for me, etc. I hope he doesn't pull any sketchy can-I-come-to-America-with-you stuff, because right now I really like the friendship we're developing. I also really like his friend (cousin?) Albert. He is equally patient and likes to try and speak English and is very helpful with my homework and stuff. I think they're both very smart, so that probably helps. Like tonight when the shit hit the fan Ismael was like, "We'll play tomorrow. Tonight there was war." Wow, that translates so crappy in English. I've already begun the franglais thing because it's true, some words just say it better in other languages.
So...I have a lot of catching up to do in this here journal. Yesterday for health we went on a field trip. First we went to a hospital where we interviewed the woman who ran the maternity ward and the surgeon. We saw a woman come out from surgery on a stretcher with the tumor they had just removed from her sitting in a plastic bag underneath the stretcher. That's something you don't see everyday in the States. The facility itself was very nice and clean, but I guess this place was unusual.
Then we went to the health center, which is the next step down [in cascading structure of health facilities in Guinea]. It was pretty basic, but not as basic as the health post here in Gbereyire. Oy, that was interesting. Basically a one room place with next to nothing. We will most likely be at a place like that. 'Twill be interesting!
Today was our internet trip into Conakry. Conakry is still way out of my comfort zone and I have a hard time imagining it ever in my comfort zone. It is really overwhelming in many, many ways. I'm glad we're getting exposed to it little by little, because it's a scary place!
Getting to write home, though, was good. I always leave with mixed feelings about it, but I'm glad to know that my family gets to hear from me, because now I'm worried sick that they're worried sick about me! Not having talked to them on the phone in 2.5 weeks is probably some kind of record. Crazy that I'm going to have to get used to this. I haven't been totally craving the phone yet, though, because I know I can't call home yet, I think. I almost don't want to call home until I really feel like I need to, because I know that's going to be a tough phone call. It's nice to think of the fam coming to visit, but also really scary. I honestly don't know how they would feel about this place. The money and time issues aside (which are big ones), I wonder if they were only here for a little while if they would get used to this at all. If they would be able to see past the poverty and the overwhelmingness and come to appreciate what I'm hoping/assuming I will appreciate about this place by then. I don't know, it's sort of daunting, but hopefully I will feel better about it all at site. Putting my family in a bush tax, though...that could be interesting. I can't wait to find out our sites in a few weeks. CRAZY!!
I'm very tired, but I don't want to forget to write about the ex-pat grocery store. It was so money, and everything was so expensive, but it was good to know it was there. Ice cream tasted quite delicious as did the snickers. I can't wait to make Milo at site! Ok, hopefully more tomorrow or Monday after fete de Tabaschi (or something).
**Oh man. It is so hard to know whether to add my comments to this entry now or wait until you see for yourselves how everything unfolds. One thing I have already noticed in how bipolar my entries can be from one to the other. I definitely had that feeling the whole two years, but I'm surprised to see it reflected in my writing so early.**
These are absolutely fascinating, please continue posting them. It is really neat to get to see some of the emotions and experiences you were having.
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