end o' week one

Happy Friday from Rwanda! Rob and I are chillin’ out at his place getting ready to go gorilla trekking tomorrow morning. This week has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster to say the least as I sit here reflecting over a nice cold Mutzig. I have been working with the older boys in the orphanage a lot, which I really enjoy. They are opening up to me and telling me how difficult it is for them to find funding for school. I spoke a long time with a lad named Joseph who is 19 years old and will be done school in a couple of years. He wants to study accounting but doesn’t know how he will find the funds for university. This is a common problem among the kids at my orphanage and this is what I have decided to dedicate my time to researching while I’m here. Joseph also asked me how I was planning on presenting the children from the orphanage as I show pictures when I go back home. I explained that I would only present them in the most respectful manner possible and that if there was someone that did not want me to tell their story then of course I would not. I also explained to him that the only way that I can increase awareness of their situation was bringing these pictures home and telling people their stories. I have some ideas for fundraising and have set up interviews with the boys and girls next week about their living situation, and their aspirations for the future. Anyway, enough about me! I’ll pass the computer over to Rob now. Oh, and the picture shows the fascination most of the kids here (and adults, incidentally) have with my hair…it’s so endearing and sweet, even if some of my evening is spent combing boogers out after the kindergarten ages.

I’d love the chance to introduce Roger and his wife, though I still haven’t been able to figure out his wife’s name. I’ve been here a week, and talk to her everyday…actually, she’s like my surrogate mom (love you mom) in that she makes me breakfast and supper and makes it her mission to get permanent hot water services for the apartment, and I know it’s terrible I don’t know what to call her other than ‘Roger’s wife’, but I just can’t pronounce it. He met her in Korea in the early 70’s, she maintained a strong Korean accent, and her name is something like ‘Uli’ or ‘Karen’. Anyway, I’ll get Ashley to ask Roger, because it’s way past the reasonable time that I can ask. So that’s the big happy family in the pic. Ashley, Roger, me, and Roger’s wife.

In the ORs again, we have a pic of Dr. Bosco (all first names here), me, Jean Marcel (nurse anesthetist), Claude (2^nd year res), and Christian (2^nd year). You may not be able to appreciate, but some of the guys have Canadian themed OR hats now. Because that’s awesome. The daily activities are a bit chaotic as far as I can tell. Surgeries don’t tend to get started until 9am, though we’re at the hospital for 7. I’ve been spending a lot of time reviewing anesthetic plans with the guys, pathophysiology, and some technique. I haven’t got much of a barometer with which to measure these residents’ progress, but talking with some of the surgeons here, there has been a marked improvement since the Canadian Anesthesia Society got involved. Happy to have a little role to play.

We’re off to plan the rest of the monkey walk, see if there’s hot water, maybe watch a movie and say good night to Roger and Roger’s wife. Night!