(Heads up, I'll post pictures tomorrow, forgot my cord in the hostel)
I
seriously can't stop sweating! These 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees
Fahrenheit) are definitely something I have to get used to. I started my
day with a big to-do list. I was still running around with little to no
cash. I had about 15 cedis (about 6 dollars) to last me until I got my
pin for my card. I didn't have a given time when I had to be at the
university. I knew the students had to be in the OR by 9. A doctor had
told me yesterday that the morning meetings are at 7:30 but I didn't
know if that was every day or not. I decided I really had to get
everything else taken care of today so that I could stop worrying about
it and focus on working.
I headed to the building with
the internet first to check my messages. I proceeded to the OBGYN
office because I was in search of a doctor that my dad's colleague had
told me to talk to. I was directed to the reproductive health services
building. I was asked to wait in the waiting room. I'm not a huge fan of
just sitting around because it makes me extremely sleepy. Eventually, I
was asked to come out of the waiting room. I was introduced to the
doctor and he took me into his office. I informed him that I was with
Group D (He is part of group B) and that I needed scrubs in order to
work in the OR. His nurses brought me some. I think they might be a bit
short but I'm just happy to have some. We chatted a bit about what I
expected to do while I was here. I decided I would follow the students
of Group D for the next two weeks while they were still on their OBGYN
rotation and then hop around a bit. He offered me the opportunity to
come and work with him a few days as well. I asked him if he thought it
would be alright if I spent the day getting everything in order. He
assumed that would be no problem at all and wrote down the names of the
doctors in my group. I thanked him for his help and headed over to the
surgery block. My orientation is improving by the hour.
Once
in the OBGYN operation theater building, I looked for a person who
might help me locate one of the doctors on my list. When someone in
scrubs finally emerged, I seized the oppurtunity and asked him. Funny
enough, the leading consultant of my group happened to just walk in. I
intorduced myself and asked if it would be okay if I spent the day
getting my things in order. He was completely ok with it and told me to
meet up with the group tomorrow for the delivery room....at 9:30. How
relaxed is that?!
My friend had found one pin for me
but for a card I was hoping was back at the hostel. I really couldn't do
much else without money, so I walked back to the hostel. Its about 20
minutes either way. It was getting really hot too and my water supply
was dwindling. Back at the hostel, the porter took me to introduce me to
the warden. She was a very lovely lady that welcomed me to Ghana and
thanked me for my interest in her country. Lucky for me, the card that I
still had in my room, did in fact match the pin my friend sent me! I
took a 5 minute break to cool off and was back on the road back into the
town/university area.
First stop was paying for the
hostel in the admissions building because I was afraid they would be
closed otherwise. I paid my month fee in US Dollars which I had brought
along. Next stop was the bank terminals. Its a big glass box with
multiple stalls and ATM machines from different banks. I was so happy
when I was able to hold Ghana Cedis in my hand. With cash in my wallet, I
was able to get my receipt photocopied for the warden, buy some juice,
buy towels and toilette paper and even bought an avocado and papaya to
take back to the hostel. The best purchase (aside from the toilette
paper) was the fresh coconut! It was only 1 Cedi!! That is only 38 US
cents!! The coconut water is so delicious! after drinking the water,
they machete the rest of it open and remove the meat for you to take
with you. I could have a fresh coconut to drink every morning :)
Having
completed all the important things on my list, I headed back to the
internet building but unfortunately, the internet wasn't connecting. I
had been running errands non stop and it was only noon! I headed back to
the hostel for some rest. Hung out, ate and partially napped a bit
before heading back into town. I wanted to see if the internet was
working. And it was, otherwise this post never would have made it up.
The
walk over here was so much fun. The kids were coming out of school. I
am an exotic being for them. They will wave and shout hello from their
cars or even if they are just walking far away. It is the cutest thing. I
walked past two schools and each time I was held up by a huge group of
kids that wanted to shake my hand, talk to me, ask how I am doing, where
I come from. I asked them how school was, if they had learned anything
and if they had plans for when they get home. Seriously the cutest
things. They all just look at me with big eyes. Kids would even shout
over to me if I was on the other side of the road. Precious. I think me
and the kids will have to hang out more.
The kids
weren't the only thing accompanying my journey. The taxi drivers were
beeping at me constantly. They would honk more intensely at me than the
others. Thank you, but I enjoy walking. I am the daughter of my mother,
we are walkers.
With basically everything in order, I
will be able to join Group D tomorrow and start seeing babies be
delivered. Speaking of babies...I LOVE the way the mothers here carry
their children. Fun fact: countries like Ghana that still carry their
children have a lower rate of hip dysplasia. (have to keep this a bit
medical)
Hopefully I'll have cool stories to report tomorrow!
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