Hey everyone,

Last couple of days have been eventful. We went to the food market with witness yesterday to do the weekly shop for the house which was an experience.She was making deals left right and centre whilst we stood there being harrassed and one man came up to me and i innocently said 'Jambo!' and he offered to buy us. Laura got told off by one woman for taking photos as apparently its like taking part of their soul, then two women came up to us and said 'hi give us money.' The actual market was amazing though so much fruit, veg, fish, herbs and meat but they all sell the same stuff so they get very competitive, even witness whos a regular got dragged around a bit.Later on we had our first proper swahili lesson which was funny, a teaher came to our house and taught us lots in preparation for our first day at the hospital...

First day at the hospital was today...me and laura were on the paediatric ward and they were very impressed that we could talk a bit of swahili and im glad we could as the nurses dont speak much english (even though all the doctors notes have to be written in english meaning meaning the nurses cant read them and so have no idea whats going on and wahts drugs to give but they didnt seem to mind) there were 11 beds in the ward but 2-3 patients per bed (single beds) plud their mums or dads...cosy. There were flies everywhere. The doctors were really friendly and made me and lauras write out all of the patients names, diagnoses and treatment in the record book. We then had to do the drugs round, if you can call it that. The nurse was literally giving any amount of any drug to any patient. glass needles etc going everywhere. Before we started today the other girls in the house told us to forget everything we'd learnt on the course so far and you have to. no proper drugs charts, no name bands no checking. Crazy! Thank god lauras with me on the ward. Oh and when theyre cleaning they make all the patients leave the ward and stand outside despite various diagnoses of malaria, pneumonia, hepatitis etc. Got to go my times running out.

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