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Monday, January 3, 2011 - First Aid Training

By Geoff Boone

After a early night to bed I was well rested and ready to start my day. As I started my day eating breakfast my energetic teammates started with an early workout of P90, an intense workout the guys at my firehouse do to show who's "Top Dog".

After Breakfast was over I worked on a list of things I would be teaching today at our community meeting. The three topics we chose to talk about with the community were Fever, Dehydration and the care of small wounds like cuts. Johanna and Amanda helped keep me on track when it came to keeping it basic for the community to understand, and it was much harder than I would have thought to keep it short and simple because I can talk about it for days and have a true passion for medical care. After a fast lunch it was time to leave for our meeting. It was a bit earlier than normal because we didn't have transportation; Patrick had to go back to Kampala for a day with the car. So the team set out for a couple mile walk to the school. The Meeting went great and it lasted a little longer than we expected because of all the great feedback the community had for us.

After the meeting was over we had a quick chat with the villagers and the kids love to hang on us and practice their English. We started our walk back and a few of the villagers joined us who lived on the way. Walking back is always fun even though it is hot, people tend to come out of their houses to say hello. As we got back home everyone went their own way to get things done so I took the opportunity to take a short nap. The nap was cut short when one of the boys named Alex I have been treating for a burn from a hot cup of Tea came by for me to look at his burn and to change his dressings. Things went well and I had the dressing clean and changed in no time. Alex is one strong kid, a real trooper and if I was in his position I cant say I would deal with the pain in the same way.

We had a bit of a late dinner and now the whole team and I are sitting in the living room talking about our day and taking turns getting on the internet to get in contact with the outside world and to check our Emails. Hope all is well! Signing out, and a goodnight from the VTT Team.

Monday, January 3, 2011 - A Home-Visit from the Mothership

By Amanda Wirtz

After a late dinner, Joanna and I ventured out for a stroll under the evening stars. It was 10:45pm - with bats flying overhead - leaping from mango tree to mango tree - we appreciated the sounds of the night: distant drumming, chirping crickets, squealing pigs, and the sound of goats rustling in the native forage. With no electricity in sight, we relied on the flickering of millions of stars and our battery powered headlights to guide our path as we strolled into the darkness of the outlying village. At one point, Joanna pointed out a glowing spider which quickly retreated into his burrowed home. We took a moment to digest our environment. I looked at her and the moving mound of earth illuminated beneath us. "We may or may not be standing on top of a giant termite mound", I said. We laughed and continued on our voyage. A singular kerosene lantern in the distance peaked our curiosity.

After a short discussion on the risks of satisfying our curiosity, we playfully approached our target. As we strolled toward a cluster of huts made of mud, brick, and straw - the tone immediately changed. A wild dog growled aggressively in the brush besides us as two figures appeared in the darkness. As if life was slowing to a halt, our hearts quickened; we had come too far to turn back now. We continued to step forward deliberately and at once, realized that we appeared but as beams of light moving in the darkness to our alarmed neighbors. Their steps were slow and calculated - they said nothing - but moved forward with the intention to protect.

Recognizing the potential danger of a miscommunicated visit, Joanna and I made some verbal attempt at greeting and quickly rotated our headlamps to illuminate our faces. Our Lusogan (their tribal language) is rather sparse - so we repeated anxiously the only thing we could recall in the immediate: "Way-va-ley-no, Way-va-ley" - "Thank you very much, Thank you". We laughed in relief as our neighbors recognized us as members of the Vocational Training Team and responded to our extended hand for a friendly shake.

As we retreated home, relishing in the surreality of our science-fiction-esque approach to a late night home visit, we were awakened even further to the savage reality of our unadulterated landscape. A giant owl swooped across our path, missing Joanna by several feet. As she launched herself into my path, screaming in fright... I responded in kind. We laughed fearfully, as we scurried toward our seemingly safe abode. The adventure continues…