End of April and beginning of May

The end of April was pretty uneventful. When I got back from Kenya, I had to go to the doctor for my mid-service exam and go to the dentist for a cleaning…where she found a cavity! L I finished up some grant applications and turned them in (for the maternity ward) and went to Nyanza to the Pre-Service Training (PST) for the new group of health volunteers to teach the biology of HIV and the function of ARV medications. I also helped with a few exercises and told them about my experiences thus far. When I got back to Kigali, I went to a friend’s house for pizza and game night. We ate pizza and played Balderdash and I ended up leaving my phone in a friend’s car, so I couldn’t leave the next morning to go back to Nyamasheke. I was unable to get my phone back until Sunday at the volleyball tournament. We went out dancing Friday and Saturday night and I left my cereal and milk behind the bar Friday. Saturday, when we walked in I asked the bar tender and he had put my milk in the fridge for me and had my cereal waiting. I was happy! When we tried to eat the cereal though, the milk had gone sour and we only ended up getting one bowlful (cause I ruined two with the sour milk). I went back to site and it was child immunization week again. This time we were only giving vitamin A supplements and deworming medications, so no needles. Not to say that it wasn’t still difficult though! Lots of crying and kicking and screaming and spitting. I mostly gave vitamin A and got a nice spraying of it from one girl all over my face. On Thursday, I met up with my women’s cooperative and saw all the amazing things they had created while I was absent. One woman made a bag with braided handles that the other women were gawking over. It was really nice to see and made me very happy and proud of them. They totally don’t need me; they are so innovative and creative. Once I get the funding to help them buy supplies, they will totally be able to sustain themselves. I came into Kigali for the swearing-in ceremony for the new group of health volunteers. The ceremony was held at the American ambassador’s house (as ours was) and the food was amazing! After the ceremony, I came back to the office and hung out with some other PCV’s and then we went to Indian food. I met up with Adam and the boys afterwards and we drank until midnight when they wished me a happy birthday! Oh, and I saw my first snake the other day in Nyamasheke. Didn’t think they could survive in the cold, but I guess they can.