Highway to Hell

6/10/11

That's exactly what it sounds like outside our window currently. 

Thanks again to everyone for all of the kind letters and messages and even pictures of frogs (John Boozer) and song lists for a hypothetical mix tape (Christie).  They’ve been fun, and kept me in good spirits again today. 

So today.  I got through work just fine and dandy, but no school visits, just computer stuff.  I do get to do a different type of outreach next week specifically for the HIV clinic patients, not the school visits, so I’m looking forward to that, even though I’m not sure what all it entails.  Anyway, after a long day of work, I came home in a good mood, and I was stopped by the caretaker on my way in the gate, and she told me to pack up, we were moving tonight.  I was a little annoyed because this has been going on for the past few days.  A Canadian professor came walking unannounced through our apartment to ‘tour’ about 4 hours after Kay had left for good.  The next day we were told to stay in the house, they didn’t need it after all.  That night he came knocking on our window, scaring the mess out of two single girls alone in a house, and said he was moving his stuff in that night, and expected to sleep there the next night, without roommates.  I’m sorry because I know lots of good Christian (including my parents) and good non-Christian people are reading this, but douchebag is the only word that comes to mind to describe this pompous microbiology professor.  So I walked into the house this evening, and he came out, and said “oh, you’re actually leaving.  I’m sorry, I didn’t actually think they’d make you leave.”  Seriously? I mean, seriously?!?  Anyway, he offered to buy my dinner out of guilt, and since it was close to dark, I let him because I didn’t have food at home, and Lucy wasn’t home, and I wanted to eat and not walk home alone. 

So after dinner, Lucy and I packed and crossed the campus in the dark with suitcases and all to our new home.  We walked in, and it’s a pit of despair.  We’ve both been on the verge of tears/laughter all night because it’s bad.  And Lucy travels.  A lot.  To the dumpiest places on earth, like India.  And lives in hostels for weeks and weeks.  We’re not really complainers, but it was dirty because it’s right off the road, and the windows don’t close ALL the way.  People can’t get in, but dirt and noise definitely can.  It sounds like an airport hotel outside our window.  Also, it’s an apartment, and our neighbors include a baby that hasn’t stopped crying all night, and some ridiculous hippies with terrible music above us.  At least the ants here are smaller, which pretty much means they’re just regular size.  I boiled water to refrigerate for tomorrow, and it’s still a darker color than the other bottles.  I’m drowning my sorrows in a jelly doughnut (not nearly as good as the ones back home).   I’ll be fine for a few days, but I’m pitching the biggest fit I can muster to be moved to a house (I know there’s a room in one with some girls my age from the UK) once Lucy leaves on Wednesday. 

Even so, I’m still in better spirits than the other night.  My U.S. supervisor will be here tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to seeing a familiar face, even though my friends here might already seem a little more familiar these days.  I’ve got good books, good music, good letters, and 2 days to sleep in, if I can block out the noise. 

So today, I’m thankful...
1. that Dr. Alex was back in town.  He’s become a good friend, and I’m grateful for him, and Dr. Amir.  Carpooling has been great for making friends.
2. for Benadryl.  I’m going to need it to sleep tonight.
3. for nice Africans, who laugh with me, and include me in conversations, even when they forget I don’t know the language they’re using. :)
4. for cute kids toddling around the clinic.  I felt bad though.  If I thought being a nurse scared small children, try being the first white person they’ve ever seen. 

Hope you all have a quiet night.  Love you!