Tuesday 7/21/2009 11pm

One of my hidden talents is catching mosquitoes. At first I was sort of swatting at them with my fist, but I worked on my timing and now I can open my hand to find the dead pest in my palm. There aren't too many, maybe 3 or 4 a day, maximum. Before I left I was under the impression that they would be pervasive, but they're really not any worse than at home. Maybe they move more slowly, but I am able to spot them, walk over to one, and just grab it out of the air. I also think it is funny to play a mean trick on them by which I turn my headlamp on underneath the mosquito net; they see me but they can't get me!

Today I brought a package of cookies to share with the rest of the staff room. Then I put the empty box in the middle of the table with a sign that said "free cookies, help yourself!" The 10 or so of us in the room at the time found this hilarious. Unfortunately, with so little food available, adults tend to politely decline available food so that others will have something to eat first (the fact that they accepted my offer to share comes from my bringing goodies in so often; initially people were reluctant to accept, but now they've warmed up to it). Nevertheless, no one who came in after I put the box on the table took the bait, save for one person, who really didn't understand the humor inherent in only pretending to offer food to citizens of a starving nation. And I've officially learned the hard way why practical jokes are risky; I may end up feeling horrible about it in the end.

The kids at By Grace are heartbreakingly lacking in medical attention. Thank god that Tiffany is a nurse... she found 2 potentially fatal hernias today that everyone else ignored, thinking they would just go away in time. I've seen more infected wounds than I ever thought I would. I've learned not to call on children that have their heads down on their desks; they are sick. Oh, when I see a sick, malnourished child try to lift his/her head... how can I describe it? I think it's something like how I might feel at the end of a live production of Old Yeller (not one where they really shoot the dog!).

Before I came to Africa, I received my assignment for creative arts and PE instruction, and my directions were to bring all my own supplies because they aren't available here. But if I could re-pack for this trip, I'd skip all the construction paper and crayons, forgo the frisbees and yo-yos, and just pack vitamins, OTC meds, and first-aid supplies. I'd rather see the kids bored to death and lacking creativity, but healthy - even if measured by 3rd world standards.