Ilal Kanye? (where have you been hiding?)

Ilal Kanye, indeed - a sentiment I have been hearing a lot from the schools I promissed to de-worm. Antiye, I respond (I'm alive)... but unfortunately, we're still dealing with the typical bumps in the unpaved roads of africa. Was supposed to start the sample collections today - but we we got home too late last night from kisumu to hand out sample containers to the children (it rained yesterday so the roads were a mess). Due to the rain, we ran out of solar power at the clinic, so I can't turn on the microscope. Tricky Business. So it seems project MIGHT start on wednesday, thursday more likely. Wulalalalalalo.
The good news is that no matter what happens, the regular de-worming days at the clinic will happen. It would be great to know the worm burden of the Lwala Community so that we could report on that and act accordingly, but most important is to DECREASE that burden regardless of what it is.
I have spent a few more days in Kisumu with my friends at Walter Reed and was quite proud of myself when I identified hookworm, whipworm, roundworm, and schistosomiasis mansoni all on my own in about 30 seconds flat. Hopefully we see some rapid diagnosis like that at the clinic - fingers crossed.
Life in Lwala is quite hectic these days - fred and I have been traveling back and forth between Kisii, Rongo, and Kisumu a whole lot more than we would like, but as always - it's worth it. We are hoping to send in our reports to the research institute this afternoon (weather and time permitting). We also have about 10 guests on the Ochieng' household... while katie (my kenyan kindred spirit) has left with Lindsey Young for safari, we still have our 5 vandy undergrads, Dr. Bill Young, my good friend andrea (aka Dr. Dre), and a guy named Ian - a canadian who works for Real Medicine... a non profit looking to link Lwala up with some great connections and medical supplies. \it's great to have all these people so eager and excited to help and to work for lwala - but it is a lot. Msungu Ochiko! (9 white people)... we are quite a sight walking down the road to reach the main road for transport. Quite a sight indeed. I think we are overstimulating small children left and right.
It has been an interesting dynamic amongst all of the Msungu. Now, with so many americans in the house, there is a decided sense of urgency to be productive at all times... to plan and to organize at each meal for the following hours or days. Quite the opposite of what my first few weeks were like in Lwala. It is difficult to reconcile... do you let go of all of your ideals to adapt and fit in with the surrounding culture and community - or do you say to hell with that, I am here to accomplish something, and nothing's going to stop me.
In other exciting news... Sukina maber ahinya! (my braids look so smart!) That;s right... hiked into Rongo over the weekend to get my her did. In a whimsical fit of lord knows what, I asked the hairdresser to do whatever she thought would look good. Well. Well, well, well. She gave me a kenyan do, indeed - most of the women here have it - and it looks gorgeous on them. It's basically cornrows that swirl up into a bun. On this here Msungu, however, it looks a little silly. Apparently, my head is slightly oblong and my scalp is whiter than the skin under my famer's tan. Regardless, this coupled with my accelerating language skills has fooled a couple people into thinking I actually might be a kenyan... not really - but they seem impressed... I'm having lots of fun with the language - and everyone is eager to help me along.
Hhhmm, what else? Bike taxi total: 3. Water carrying on head total: lost count... the braids add an extra challenge... but whatever... you ain't bad. I got that bucket-on-head technique down pat.
Ok, would love to write more but fred and I need to securipost our documents to Nairobi. Will keep you posted when i can.
And special thanks to JNB for one of the best packages ever - everyone is going to love the soccer ball and uno cards... don't know how, but you got it all right... and this here little lady is going to love her some kashi.
And to Lindsey and Kate - i saw lindsey's "husband" again in rongo today and he kept asking me where all my sisters were... I responded with a grunt and a click... ok, not really... but i tried.
big smooch
jobaby