Med hut...round 2

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I am back in the med hut in Dakar yet again. I've been here since Wednesday night. The PC doctor seems confident that I will be alright in the near future, so I'm hoping to catch a ride back to Tamba with another volunteer on Thursday. 


It was nice to get back to site, I think my family did miss me while I was gone. Especially the little kids, I got a really nice big greeting from all of them upon my return. Unfortunately, I got sick the second day that I was back in village and I think I must have looked really sick too. My family kept telling me to lie down, and they kept moving my location in the compound based on where the most shade was. On Tuesday night they even made me a special dinner of macaroni (which was delicious, although made with a ton of oil. Even so, I ate every bite). I hope that when I get back, they'll teach me how to make the macaroni their way. It was pretty intense watching the cooking, which was done over a fire in a big steel pot. I hope that cooking is a skill I'll be able to bring back to America with me, I'll have to make sure that wherever I end up living has enough room for a fire pit out back. 


In case you were wondering, I did indeed have a bed waiting for me when I got back to my village and it does make all the difference. I'm hopeful that soon I'll even have 2 beds. When I left for Dakar there were the beginnings of a cement bed in my backyard. Once that is completed I'll be able to sleep outside at night, it should be much cooler and more comfortable. There has also been discussion of a fence around my shower/bathroom, as well as a shade structure over it. Once done, it will be a pretty sweet setup. I'll make sure to post pictures soon. 


I've really been enjoying the children in my family. One of my favorites, Mehta, is about 3 years old and she is just adorable. She does this thing where she holds out her right hand to me so that I can shake it. Sometimes she'll just sit next to me and do this 4 or 5 times in a row. Very cute. Fatou, who is about 5 is also quite delightful. She likes to sweep my hut for me, she doesn't think that I do it correctly. How hard can it be to sweep? But apparently I really am worse then a small child in my village right now. They tell me that I need help with everything and right now the only thing I can do is smile, accept and say "thank you." I really am grateful for all the help, this would be way harder if they thought I was all set to go right from the beginning. I am hoping that I'll be coming back to America much more self-sufficient, even if there is no where in the states that I'll have to pull my own water and then carry it back on my head. How do you like that picture?


Asalaa maalekum,
Rachel