Helllooo. I think I have finally opened a bank account. It only took two tries and honestly they haven't given me an account number yet so I am only slightly hopeful. Apparently they will call me. At that time I am invited to make a deposit. Ha. Until then, no volunteer stipend for me. I think the process of opening an account is an accurate view to how most bureaucratic processes work. The paper trail is seemingly endless. Speaking of which...
Wednesdays are assessment day at the Kisumu clinic. Holy shit. There were so many kids and the systems in place means it all takes so so long.. heaven forbid if the child came and saw us in 2001 and we have to locate their number.. and that is just the associated information collecting. As I have seen on past visits to this lovely continent.. 'This is my child.. she is eight.. and she has had this problem since a bout of malaria.. oh she was two when that happened' - so I am left wondering what were they doing in the intervening 6 years?? It didn't occur to the parents to come to the clinic when she was 4 just say? Or 5 years old? And I know to look up the developmental effects of malaria.. does it really cause the significant disabilities that parents attribute to it, or are the issues there, and they are using illness as an explanation?
It's great though that the clinic assesses and refers (and has place to refer) these children. The staff are very very organized and seemingly good at what they do. They also care about the families coming in. On top of all this.. during their days the staff don't eat because there is no "lunch arrangement" so I was trying my very very best to swallow my miss crabby pants, scowly face, growly tummy attitude that I felt coming on by 3pm and they were all as charming as ever. I have to start packing lunch.
My coworkers are lovely, patient, kind, and move at a leisurely pace. I was going somewhere and one of them said 'you can stroll this way' and I thought that was on apt description for our movements. Having said that then.. you really have to allow all day for one site visit. Tomorrow I have ambitiously scheduled two schools, we'll see how it goes!
So apart from assessment day.. Tuesday I went to the Vihigia assessment center (about 30 minutes from Kisumu) and to a school visit with the autism specialist Clare. It was a school I will also train in, and it is located in approximately the middle of nowhere western Kenya (though only 2 matatus and a boda-boda ride away). It was a good day though and I was able to solidify my mental plans for how I am going to approach this project.
Today we went to a school in Kisumu district. I will also be working with this site.. though there is a melodrama unfolding within the special education team which I won't go into now. The teacher's are very welcoming.
So.. must eat some lunch.. finish up some work and then read read the plethora of manuals and documents related to this project that are stacking up in my living room.
Speaking of home.. settling in nicely, and have started turning a blind eye to most creatures smaller than 5" (gecko/lizard things have an exemption.. because they are really animals it seems, so I leave them be.) Anyway, there have been only two huge beetles/bugs/roaches I have taken to with the can of Raid.. and so imagine my displeasure when I woke up this morning to find one of these mungo beasts INSIDE my mosquito net. How bloody rude. I mean really. That's just unacceptable. That's my little boudoir, my cozy bed. I raided him and flicked his massive carcass against the wall.. I hope he wasn't faking death. I will be very disappointed if he isn't still on his back when I get home (a thought that just occurred to me). It also crossed my mind that if a bug that big can get in, perhaps my mosquito net isn't going to be so effective?
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