The Last Day in the Hospital for the Week

Last night about thirteen of us went to the Dark Knight at the Cinema.  It was so cheap compared to the United States prices, like the popcorn was only 100 Kenyan Shillings which translates to a little over a dollar.  Once we got inside the theatre a Kenyan Flag appeared on the screen with an announcer saying “Please rise for the Kenyan National Anthem.”  I found it pretty amusing they played it before a movie when we only hear our national anthem for sporting events but we all stood up and gave our respect to the picture of the flag waving in the wind as the speakers blasted the Kenyan Anthem. The theatre was very nice and huge; it almost felt like I was in America again! The movie turned out to be really good and I’m glad I ended up going.  We made it back to the house, some of us took motorbikes and some of us took tuk-tuks.  The record is four on a motorbike and eight in a small tuk-tuk, pretty impressive if you ask me! We made it back safely and went to bed.

This morning I got up early and took the first ride to the hospital.  My roommates went up to major theatre to see an osteopathic surgery but I thought there would be too many if I joined so I made my way to minor theatre.  The same matron was in there again today and was unreasonable crabby again.  Everyone was trying to avoid her nit-picking and complaining about how we were doing everything wrong.  I tried to stay out of her line of fire for most of the morning and was successful until she directed an outrage at all of us telling us we need to follow the rules, even if no one else including the nurses are.  I try to not take it too personally but it is hard when someone is constantly breathing down your back seeking out things to criticize.

This morning was pretty steady.  I assisted my friend Allison in changing a couple catheters and some wound redressings. I also got to take out my first stitches today by myself on this man’s foot so that was exciting for me!  Today we also saw a man who had dislocated his thumb and had already been here to have it reset.  Unfortunately it moved back to being dislocated so we dressed his wound and had to send him to orthopedics. We finished about an hour early today and headed back to the compound. I don’t have many pictures today because I was nervous to take any under the watchful eye of the matron. A small group of us changed and went to Cafesserie for lunch because the lunch choices at the compound are slim pickings.  There is only so much peanut butter toast, ramen noodles, or grilled cheese one can handle.  I had a cheeseburger and it was so delicious it almost felt like home.

                                                            The man's dislocated finger

Tonight we have to pack and prepare for our safari trip.  My roommates and I are going to head down to the Nakumatt (the market, like a small Wal-Mart) to get some snacks and drinks for the 8 hour bus ride to Nairobi tomorrow morning. We stay in Nairobi for a night then we drive to the Mara, 2 hours away to begin our safari.  I won’t be bringing my computer; in fact I won’t be bringing much because I hear you are very limited for space.  That being said my blog won’t be updated for at least five days.  We return late Monday so don’t be alarmed if I am not updating!  Talk to you all after Safari!