June 14^th (Thursday)

           Today Fiona and I went with Dorothy, Tiffany, and Joffrey to hand out praziquantel to school children at three different schools. Lwitadi, Chizozu, and Kanyanzi. We rode in the back of the truck and I was able to get the full experience of the African back roads today. (They also drive on the left in Zambia.) The praziquantel we were giving out is to treat schistosomiasis, a parasite they get from standing water (bathing or washing in it) and it destroys people’s lives and will eventually kill you. It is a highly prevalent disease in this area. I enjoyed seeing all the cute little school children (some REALLY didn’t want to take the medication).

In between schools we (Fiona and I) were trying to learn some Luvale and Lunda words that would be helpful to know and be able to communicate better. We went to a market close by where they were vendors. While there Dorothy bought us Fanta and Coca-Cola to drink for lunch and I also bought a chitengi there for 45 kwacha (Tiffany bought it as I didn’t have kwacha and I’ll pay her back with US dollars). Throughout the day we had given some people rides to and from different places along the way. We returned to the one school to get the afternoon class and there we had the beef and cheese sandwiches Dorothy made, fresh tangerines, and pop. Also, at that school I went to the bathroom in the pit. Let’s just say it was a true African experience…

On the return back to Chitokoloki there was a section of the road that Dorothy hit going at a good speed and there was a very significant pothole that sent Tiffany and I flying in the back of the truck while Fiona managed to hang on and if there wasn’t a crack in our seat before, there certainly was now!

Right near the end of our trip we picked up a man and woman who had quite heavy loads and a bike. We put the bike in the back and Fiona and I switched to the front passenger seat and Joffrey sat in the back with the couple, Tiffany, and the bike. We got back to Dorothy’s and her and Tiffany spoke of possible dates to hand out more praziquantel.

Fiona and I went back to our house (just next-door) and Nicole hadn’t returned home yet. So we started on supper (sidekicks pasta and back bacon) – it was quite tasty and quick to make. Nicole got home about half hour after us and reported that she had a busy day at theater. There was a BTL, amputation, and two other surgeries she participated in as the scrub nurse handing instruments to the surgeons. Also, she said a young boy came in who was not very responsive, he had apparently drank and basically overdosed on alcohol (he was maybe only four years old). By the time we had our supper it was late and we were much too tired to go to the English gospel meeting tonight. We hope tomorrow will be a little less tiring and not quite as long. Also, Thomas made up our beds with new sheets, so I’m looking forward to that.//