We arrived in Niamey, Niger, on Sunday evening after about 30 hours of travel through NYC, Paris, and finally to Niamey...three continents in one day! Our trip was relatively smooth and uneventful, the highlights being Greg Santema, group leader of the trip, being offered a wheelchair at the airport (does he really look THAT old?!), and Dr. Carey, unbeknowst (I think I spelled that wrong) to him, singing excessively loud to his Queen music on his iPod on the trip from NYC to Paris. Michelle, Kristina and I were in tears from laughter before he realized we were laughing at him. I mean laughing with him, of course. In Niamey we are staying at the Evangelical Reform Church guest house. We have hot meals, real beds, running water (but don't drink it or you may pull a Charlotte from Sex and the City: The Movie), and screens in the windows, luxuries many Nigeriens do not have.
After settling in on Sunday evening, we set our alarms for 7 am (which was seriously unnecessary considering considering the sounds of barking dogs, bleating goats, and the Muslim Call to Prayer at dawn) for our first day of teaching at the University. Today's events included 4 hours of teaching to medical students about musculoskeletal exam, a trip to the U.S. Embassy (where we learned many insightful facts about Nigerien culture and current events), and seeing patients at the guest house using French (and Hausa) interpreters. Our patients appreciate our compassion and the special attention we give them. Another highlight of the day included playing soccer and baseball (which then evolved into hitting the ball, then playing tag, since the concept of bases was ultimately confusing) with neighborhood Nigerien kiddos in the yard (aka sandpit).
Despite the jet lag, cold showers, tummy aches from Malaria pills, and stuffy noses from the dryness and dust, we're learning to be flexible and we anxiously await many (more) adventures to come. Look for more details and photos in the near future (but photography is limited, according to the U.S. Embassy, unless we want an AK47 in our faces).
Peace, love, and Malaria pills,
Betsy
Weird that Betsy would include a sex in the city reference in the blog. Glad everyone made it safe. Did anyone get video of Dr Carey? Cause someone totally shoulda been on that. Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteNo video, but Betsy did get a picture of him sleeping with his mouth wide open.
ReplyDeleteLove love the blog. Talked to Betsy yesterday and she is resting and doing well:)
ReplyDeleteI too have a picture of Dr. Carey sleeping with his mouth open! Would have LOVED to see a video of him singing to Queen though!!!!!!
Questions:
1. Favorite thing about Niger so far
2. Biggest thing that surprised you
3. Funniest thing (other than singing incident)
I miss being there a lot! Say "hi" to kids in the courtyard!
Jeanne :)
P.S Do not miss goats in am
ReplyDeleteJeanne
Hey Jeanne!
ReplyDeleteEveryone misses you and asks where you are. Here are the answers to your questions:
1. Playing with the kids (Michelle and Kristina)
2. All the things that span cultures such as, hand gestures, slang, and trash talking while playing soccer. But also how things are different, like the men holding hands. (Michelle and Kristina)
3. Children laughing at Michelle's poor pronunciation of Hausa during our lessons (Kristina)
The Nigerien laugh aka all conversations with Iyuba, Chako, and the guard's children (Michelle)
We'll try to think of some more stories for you :)
Michelle and Kristina :)
P.S. The goat is nothing, you should hear the dog...