Today has been a tiny bit difficult. It started early like all of the days, and it has barely even started yet. Its barely nine o clock. But it was made even harder with a nasty comment from the little brother. I mean, its hard enough being away from home and this sad without him making it worse. All of the surgeries are done. And its only 9 am on the first Thursday. There are five planned for next week. So we have planned to go to a country club in the valley and take a walking tour this afternoon. Tomorrow we leave for Masai Mara game park, so Im not sure how good of an internet connection I will have. Hopefully it will be even better than Kijabe, with this silly orange stick. We are going to try to stay in the park until Monday, because there isnt a lot to do here at the hospital. We have discussed going to Mombasa on Wednesday, a supposedly beautiful beach town on the coast. I think that would be a beautiful distraction, sitting on a white sand beach for the last two days of the trip? count me in. If we do end up not getting anymore surgeries and we go to Mombasa, we will be flying out of Nairobi there, and then after two days, flying to Nairobi from Mombasa, then to London where we are going to spend a day sightseeing. Apparently you can get a pretty good rate for Mombasa that includes airfare, two nights in a hotel, and all of your meals for less than $300. Which I think is pretty impressive. Mombasa is a really historic town with a lot of Arab influence, where the slave trade used to happen. So Jake isnt too excited to see where Arabs used to trade slaves, but I just want to lay on the beach for two days. To be honest, if we aren't needed here I would rather just go home and sleep in my own bed and hug my mom and my sister and see my friends. But I guess we cant just change all of our flights around. So if we have to pick something to do, I think Mombasa sounds absolutely divine. I was in a relatively better mood last night, playing a little game of "soccer" with Jake between the clothes lines. Apparently, Im an okay shooter. WHO KNEW?!??! I was an athlete all along. I should have joined the soccer team. Haha. Dont worry. I only jest. There is also talk of staying in Kijabe on the days off to climb Mt Longonaut. I know that if that is an plan, I will definitely take part. But a 12 mile hike isnt exactly my style... But I dont plan on being a party pooper. Bruce really likes to take Jake and I to explore around Kijabe, which is nice. I didnt see much of it last time I was here, just the house, the hospital and the path in between. This time I have seen the International boarding school, Rift Valley Academy, alma matter of missionary kids, and the offspring of politicians alike, I have seen Kijabe Station, the town here, I have seen a part of the compound where the make prosthetics and braces. I have taken a new path to the hospital. I have just explored a lot. Its been a lot more fun that being stuck in the hospital playroom (our headquarters at AIC Cure Childrens Hospital) waiting for the surgeons to get out of surgery, or for Andrea to get the discharge papers so that I can mix medicine. There is literally only one surgery today... We obviously arent needed, so Im just gonna hop on a mutatu and come home? okay? Okay! Just kidding. I wish. I know I say it too much, and I need to appreciate the experience, but right now I want to be home. Every morning I wake up, and I forget that Im here. I get excited to text my friends, see Melina and Mom, and just be at home. And then I look around and I realize. I AM IN AFRICA. Its so much harder this time. Last time I had a complete and total blast while I was here. The two weeks flew by. But this time, each minute crawls by. I made Dad a Facebook so that Mom can talk to him while were here. She thinks he is going to get addicted and keep it forever... I dont doubt it. Dr. and Dr. Boyd are leaving tomorrow. Ann was on the phone with her daughter yesterday talking about how she would be home soon, and I was quite jealous. First off, cause I would love to talk to my mom and sister without all the hassle of trying to find internet, making sure theyre online etc, and second of all because i miss them and I want to see them now!!! When I get home I need to see my girls too. I miss my friends. Maybe it was easier last time because I didnt have any super close friends. And I was 13 so I hated my family, you know? Haha. Im only kidding, I never hated my family. But I definitely was more eager from freedom and time away from my family. This time around, I feel really dependent from my family and I miss them a lot. Jake and Dad are only a 1/3 of my family. I miss the other 2/3. Another thing I would like to address in this post, is the every present smell of the hospital, and Africa in general. It is a very distinct smell, Africa. The hospital and the clinic smells like Africa mixed with unchanged diapers. The one part of this hospital that actually smells really nice, is the nurses' bathroom. But Africa smells how one would expect. Very African.... Andrea just got a new high score on Fruit Ninja on my iPhone. Hahaha. We really dont have anything to do at this point... So i guess this is bye for now. Hopefully I will be able to blog from the game park and tell you all about the safari... If not, I guess I will see you Monday night, or Tuesday!
xoxo
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