Health Center

So this week for the most part was pretty uneventful.  Headed to the health center Monday and Tuesday this week learned how patient collections and filing worked.  Brian the current PCV here and I ran the patient check-in those two days. The 2 individuals who usually run that portion of the health center were gone and there was no one else to run it so we did. The ironic part of the whole situation is that in America if you walked into a doctor’s office and the person at the front counter was speaking to you in your own language but very broken we would ask to speak to the supervisor. However in Ethiopia there was no questions asked or no concern given that 2 Ferengi/white people were running the front counter.

Wednesday-Friday I spent out in the community visiting the different offices trying to understand what services are provided in my town. Usually the goal is an office a day, but during my walks I get stopped on a regular basis and invited to come in and have coffee.  This is all very traditional and common in my community and I try to take as many invitations as possible. I usually end up talking to some amazing people and I find more out about my town and other offices around the area. So I don't always get to my office a day.

The weather in my town is absolutely beautiful... We are heading out of the rainy season and into the dry season.  The days are very sunny with the average high temp being 80-90 degrees and at nights its also very comfortable 72-75 degrees.  So most days I walk around in skirts and short sleeved shirts or capris and a T-shirt. Ethiopia is known for its 13 months of sun and I think its living up to that. Oh by the way in the Ethiopian Calendar there are 13 months and not 12 and I just celebrated the Ethiopian New Year so its now 2004... HAHAHAHAHa!

Sham

"Life is tough wear a helmet"