Muranga

Muranga,  it rained today. Muranga means rain in Swahili.  It is very dry here.  They haven't had rain since January so it very dry and dusty.  When we headed toward the clinic this morning I thought it was comfortable outside. After morning devotions (outdoors) it must have dropped several degrees. It was cold.  The people here  bundle their children 5 to 6 layers of clothing.  I understand this is the cold season.

We saw 100 people today,  many children, babies too.  A couple babies had high fevers partially due to all the clothes.  There are a lot of people complaining of the same symptoms.  Interestingly, we are not getting the long list of complaints about every body part.  I did hear that the complaints change from the nurse to the doctor.  Nothing new.

Chuckles for the day:

The talking box...... One of the physicians was telling us about some of the former students who are going to school  in the US.  He asked them what they found the most interesting about America. One said the roads, that people actually follow the rules.  The other said the" talking box".  The talking box turns out to be that box we talk to when we order at  drive thru restaurant.  We were joking about Mc Donald's and such when one of the volunteers pulled up his shirt and said " I guess I'm one of them."  He had a McDonald's red t-shirt, golden arches and all.

Then there was the lady with the t-shirt that said......." My next husband will be normal."  I can't say she knew what her t-shirt said.

My personal favorite.

They have these colorful scarves with African sayings.  I asked some of the volunteers what  I should look for  in a saying on a scarf.  They liked something about God.  I brought up up the name Bwana.  They then explained that  Bwana with a capital " B" meant " God." Bwana with a small "b" meant "husband."  I thought that was pretty funny. Funnier still, when you are talking, how would you know which Bwana you are talking about, with a big "B" or a little "b."

Another day comes to a close.