थे अद्वेंतुरेस कोन्तिनुए The adventures continue

Saturday, July 2, 2010

Well the week has gone well, and as the title says, the adventures continue…or as Neeha reminds me, “that’s how they roll!” – which probably isn’t so funny here on the blog, but it sure keeps us in good spirits when things go not quite as planned. So, where to start….

Wednesday we headed out to Foster (remember, that is 4 four foster homes that Gladney runs)…made our way through our kiddos on our list and did a small circle time-type group in the toddler room. We were trying to model a start (hello song), middle (several songs and a short activity), and an end (clean up and goodbye song). The caregivers chimed in to help with the names of the kids during hello and goodbye songs, etc. It went quite well….There is a lot of reflux running amuck in all of the infant rooms. I am slowly trying to educate the caregivers, but will do moreso when I have a translator with me – the doctor has come in while I was in one of the rooms, so I was able to have him translate some suggestions for one of the kiddos I am working with to keep him in the baby seat after he eats, and to give him a break when he is arching, etc... during the feeds…

Thursday was our day of being independent making our way on our mini-bus taxis…Foster in the morning, and made our “rounds” and then headed back to head to the government orphanages (two of them). One, Kebe Tsehei (sounds like kebabetsehi)…This orphanage has about 125 kiddos…ranging from birth to 10. At the age of ten they split to other orphanages specifically for boys and girls…It is not in good shape, and at times, we really needed to be aware of our facial expressions and make sure we didn’t have that “you’ve got to be kidding” look on our faces…the good news is some Italian agency has funded a new building which is supposed to be done next week – that in itself will help. There were at least 20-25 babies to two caregivers (where others came in), lots of bottle propping, and lots tiny, tiny what I am sure are premies….There is a school there for kindergarten – 8 years old – not clear on how our grade levels match theirs)….Kids were running all over (very happy to see us “forengees” – or foreigners)….summer break has started so they are not in school right now). The area that Kelly and Keely (two PTs from last summer) either mapped out or put in for an outdoor play area is still here – tiled, fenced in with a gate, and looks as if it is being used, though it wasn’t the day we were there.
The next one was Kechenie (I don’t think that is the right spelling). This is mostly a girl’s orphanage, after the age of 8 and up…before that there are also infants (probably about 20 or more). This was a much friendlier feel (both the grounds, the buildings, and especially the director). The director is great. It is so clear that she genuinely cares for the children, and is trying to do what is best for them. They have a clinic with two nurses on sight, a school that has yet to open (due to disagreements with the gov’t and the neighborhood), and a playground (that was put in by some American organization). Nice.

Thursday night I had the mystery fever – low grade, a bit achy, and looking back, think I had one Wed. night, too, as I just couldn’t get warm or stay awake….but by Friday, I think I had beat what every was stirring….the most annoying thing are these mystery bites…ugh. I think if I didn’t have Benadryl, I would be literally out of my mind. I am not sure what is biting me…but they are get pretty bumped up, stay pretty red, with a blister, and itch like nobody’s business…they don’t go away, they come in multiple bites (like what ever is biting is biting, walking a couple steps, biting again, etc.). MISERABLE! - if anyone knows what bedbug bites do, please let me know, or have any ideas….definitely not mosquito bites….

Friday we split our day between Kebe Tsehei (meeting Alex, the pseudo-PT) and working with the kids….Lice must be pretty prevalent as everyone was getting Nixed….Anyone know if lice can go from your clothing (e.g., if the kid’s head touches your shirt) to your head? Hmmm…I did bring some Nix with me…..of course I itch with just the thought….Anyhow, we worked with about 6 or 7 kiddos there…headed back and then made our way to Foster for the afternoon…

Friday night we went “out” – Ahmid, Neeha, Liana, and I went to watch the Guana-Uruguay world cup game….it was great. We were in this huge arean type building (maybe more like an empty warehouse) that had chairs set up and space on the floor and probably about 8 screens (a bit smaller than movie screen size) put up for the game – people were everywhere – it was a bummer when Guana lost – crazy!

Some funny things…Neeha got the privilge of sitting next to a chicken (yes, live) on our mini-bus taxi the other day….what a crack up. I thought she was going to end up on my lap, but then the lady (sitting next to Neeha) put the chicken on the floor). We haven’t gotten caught in a down pour but once so far….which brings this tid-bit…According to my Ethiopia book “culture smart” that Neeha is reading aloud, “the main rains begin at the end of June in Addis Ababa, many foreigners choose this time to leave the country.” Hmmm…perhaps we should have chosen different travel dates!

Well that brings us to Saturday morning….taking it easy; we were going to go somewhere outside the city with Yemamu (he works for Gladney) but he seemed to have double booked himself and was going with Liana up to the mountain and to see a program for kids with HIV/aids… I have to do some homework and take a quiz…Neeha and I will find something to do this afternoon- probably call Amid…tonight going for Ethiopian food (which is not my favorite, but okay) and during dinner there is an Ethiopian show of dancers, etc. from the different regions of the country….I’ll let you know how it goes. – sorry this is so long. I haven’t been able to type at the internet on my blog because it turns it to Arahmic, which just makes me giggle….so I had to wait to do it at home and transfer from a flash drive…
Okay, so now you are caught up…until next time….