December 14th

So, this morning I really wasn’t feeling well so I spent most of the
morning relaxing in bed. I had to go over to the school to take
them a list of the chemicals they need for the WASSCE. On the way
there Solomon saw me and took me over on his Honda, then he
brought me back to the house. I waited there for a little bit then
Solomon called me to go down to the market with him to up the
things we would need for dinner tonight. We rode his Honda of
course, I walk more than they do, haha. Anyway, we got peppers,
ground Cassava, ground nut paste, rice, and coconut oil (we
already had the meat for the dish, the chicken Emma killed). After
that he took me up to the house to wait for 4 when he was going
to start cooking. I just read for a little while and then headed down
when he called. He is actually a really good cook. The sauce for the
rice was a dubious green color but really it was great. We spent
the next several hours just hanging out and talking, then Solomon
had to go help his uncle and then ended up going to help with a C-
section so Samuel, Emma and I went on a night walk out to
Kamakwie 3 and back. It was nice, then I waited at the hospital for
Solomon to get done while Emma went and packed since the lights
were on due to the c-section. After he was done we went up and
visited with Emma one last time before she goes tomorrow. It’s
going to be quite sad to not have Rebecca or Emma anymore, and
as far as I know there won’t be any more English people coming
the rest of the time I’m here, just boring Americans (haha, just
kidding). As an aside as it wasn’t really something I did, but I have
to say that Solomon is just an awesome guy. We talked some today
about his working here and what he has given up to work here. Any
NGO (non-government organizations) would pay him 1.1-1.2 million
Leones a month and provide him with a Honda. Here in Kamakwie
he earns a third of that, 400 thousand Leones, that’s 100 dollars a
month. He does so because the hospital helped him go through
schooling and he believes that it is only right that he work here for
the next 6 years his part in them helping him get schooling. Not
only is he making so little compared to what he could but he lives
here in Kamakwie, which is not a very desirable place for anyone to
live. On top of that he works way more than he is required too and
does work beyond just his own role as a CHO. Despite having
agreements to work for the hospital other people have gone and
left for other places as soon as they finished their school. His
dedication to his work and commitments is just admirable. He
has a girlfriend in nursing school who understands and supports
his decision to work here and even plans to come live and work in
Kamakwie when she finishes, which is a really good sign for him I
think. Anyway, I had a wonderful day and I hope you all did as
well, night!

Blessings from Kamakwie,
Ryan Brooks