Wow. It feels like, well, Africa. 100 degrees, 100% humidity. Every street is a spectacle. Over 30 hours of travel, culminating in one of those amazing, three-hour third-world bus rides. We had the nice bus - you know, the one with a TV blaring an African version of a telenovela. Made it to Elmina, found our host and arrived at our house here, the Java Museum of African History. That's right, we live in a museum. Or rather, in some cells behind a museum. Our family and a Canadian medical student are currently the only inmates. But we've got running water including a flush toilet, intermittent electricity the family who are caretakers of the museum, and us, are wonderful.
The jet-lagged 8-year old is an interesting phenomenon. Not compatible with the jet-lagged adult's conception of getting on time. Chloe stayed up through the night and read an entire novel. Impressive, but possibly not commensurate with the family unit's sanity. After four or five days, we seem to have adjusted. A funeral celebration began at 7:00 this morning at the house next door with blaring PA music and early-arriving guests; glad I tucked in early.
Kirsten has started work at the clinic, which is a couple blocks from the museum. She's busy, but seems to be enjoying the unique working environment. Lots of malaria. Some typhoid. The nurse beats children with a stick if they don't sit nicely for their exam.
Chris and the kids have been enjoying daily adventures around Elmina and Cape Coast after long mornings of home-schooling. The students are captive, the teacher is fatigued. Really it's going quite well and we fully expect them to be speaking fluent Spanish and doing higher math by the time we return.
Internet access is very limited, unfortunately. We'll continue to try to find solutions. But for now our blogging and emailing will be intermittent at best. Pictures will be difficult but I will upload some when I can. The cell phone works, sometimes, but only for voice, not data and it appears I can call you but you can't call me!
We're off to a beach resort this afternoon. Rain forest adventure tomorrow.
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What an experience!! Makes you more appreciative of what you have and don't huh! I dont think the nurses will have very high Press Ganey Scores but hopefully it doesn't create more work for you....yikes! Take care and be careful petting the "big kitties with the deep voices" ;-) Jodie
ReplyDeleteWOW!...sounds wild and wonderful. A toilet that flushes,what a luxuary. Mabe we could learn something from them about "behaving nicely". Take care and keep having fun!
ReplyDeleteDiane O.
I hope that we can still keep in touch even with internet inconsistency. I was afraid of that problem.
ReplyDeleteIt is great that you have the other amenities. I bet there are so many changes to your life.
Take care!
Conner wants to know if you are the American Exhibit at the Museum.
ReplyDeleteHave fun.
It is wonderful to follow this grand adventure. I told Lauren about Chloe's trip;she is hoping to write to her one day soon.
ReplyDeleteFlushing toilets !!!! Sounds pretty upscale!
Enjoy !!!
Susan O.