last day in the field!

Fun day in the field – the first woman I talked to didn’t want to tell me anything. She just answered “I don’t know” to basically every question! But then I was able to talk to a traditional birth attendant, which was great and a couple of men, which was also really helpful. One woman, who was Judith’s neighbor (Judith is the CHW in Kirindo), came out as we were passing her house (she is probably in her 60’s??) and wanted me to take her picture. She ran inside to grab a special dress – so funny! I will post it for you to see – she posed and everything. Anyway, the rest of the day was pretty uneventful – the women gave good information, but it was basically the same information I have been getting (which is good, because that means I’m done). Today was my last day in the field – so weird! Tomorrow I have a few appointments with area health leaders and then I am finished with interviewing. Soti wants me to also develop some recommendations for how the clinic can improve in the nursing department and also overall, so I will spend some time thinking through that. I’ve already spoken extensively to the staff there to understand how everything works, their process for certain types of care, etc… so now it is about putting that information together and seeing if I can see any holes. The clinic is really doing such a great job – the community loves them!

It does feel a little weird to be finished - now I have so much information, I really hope that I am able to interpret it well. I am looking forward to turning it into ways to move forward that will support and help these women. Today, I also spent some time talking about family planning. I even talked about it with one of the husbands - he says to me, "6 children is enough - what do I do?" Well, I had some ideas and he was very open to them. Asked a lot of questions, didn't refuse anything I said - I hope something actually comes out of it.

When we finished, it was only 3 and Millie really wanted to make me some chapati’s (we were in Kirindo for the fieldwork, which is her village), so we headed back to her place and made them. This time I made the dough AND rolled them out (she still fried them), so now I officially can make them when I get back home! When we got to her house, Felix and Kayleen were there – they are so hilarious. Kayleen had drawn “specs” (glasses) on her face with soap and tied a piece of what used to be a mosquito net around her head. I have no idea what she was trying to be, but she was just laughing and running and singing. So cute. So we made chapati’s and then headed to Kirindo center where I was having Moses (the moto bike driver) come and pick me up. Except he came about 30 minutes later than he said (I’m used to him being late, but this was a little later than usual). He of course had a million excuses, “You told me to pick you up at the clinic” “Yes, but I called you at 3:30 to tell you to come to Kirindo instead – that was one and a half hours before you were supposed to come, so I know you weren’t at the clinic yet.” “Yes, but still, you told me different this morning.” “Moses, I use you everyday and I need you to be on time.” Anyway, I made him take me to the clinic anyway because I hadn’t been able to take everything with me for the day and I needed to get my stuff – he wasn’t super happy about that, but did it anyway. Now we’re even. J just kidding.

I won’t have internet now until Saturday night, so many updates to come then! I decided to head back to Kisumu on Saturday instead of next week, because it is easier to do reports/work on my computer there. Also, the girls I met in Kisumu invited me to come with them to Nairobi for a few days to see some sites there, so I am going to do that. Talk to you all Saturday!