January 28th and 29th

Friday morning was ok, I helped at the hospital, going on rounds
in men’s ward with Solomon. Every day I learn a little something
new. Classes went pretty good today. They usually do on Friday
because I know that they are almost over for the week. Haha. I
had a pretty laid back evening to end my Friday. Saturday I spent
most of the morning working on sorting out some unknown
chemicals. I spent a couple hours in the afternoon wandering
around the Kamakwie area. I ended up by the baker and went
to buy some bread only to realize that I hadn’t brought any
money since I didn’t plan on getting anything. So I walked home
to get some money. On the way there I passed a big group of
kids who all wanted me to give them sweets. I told them that I
didn’t have any so they told me to send them some. And then
they told me to greet my pikin for them (pikin is child). I
immediately explained that I do not in fact have any children.
After I made it home and grabbed some money I went back
(taking with me some suckers for the kids) to the bakery and I
bought some fresh bread right from the oven, so wonderful. At
the same place I met the children I also met a lady who makes
this stuff called country cloth. It’s a hand woven fabric and it can
be quite nice. I was debating on buying some from her to help
her out since she said she sold everything and now doesn’t have
the money to buy any more stuff. I don’t know what she did with
that money but I thought maybe if I bought some I’d give her a
chance to actually make money. However, she wants 100,000
Leones (25 $) and I don’t even have any samples to see how she
does. I thought I give it as gifts since it is nice and you can do all
kinds of things with it but at that much I couldn’t buy many gifts.
I’m still not sure. After bringing the bread home I went back to
the school to work a little more. I got all the chemicals cleaned
up and identified what I could. There is still a good deal of
chemicals unidentified or too contaminated to be of use. I
returned home for dinner and just spent a relaxing evening
reading for a while. Now for bed, night all.

Blessings from Kamakwie,
Ryan Brooks