Cleanup, Inventory and Dinner with the nuns

 Today was the first day that we have woken up to heavy fog in the morning.  Although we have no caravan today, we still need to work! This is the first time that a caravan group has been scheduled to stay an extra day to complete an inventory. Usually inventory is done during the evening of the last caravan so we anticipate having tons of time to complete it.

One of our medical staff—Jeff—was invited to scrub in for a hysterectomy being performed that morning. The three GYNE staff (who had arrived a few days early) also participated.

 
All items in the medical, testing, logistics and pharmacy bins (including all drugs) needed to be counted and recorded.  Almost all of the inventory was being shipped to the next CACHA caravan that was starting in a week, in Shirati, Tanzania. Our medical lead, Pat was staying to participate in that caravan so she was taking all the bins with her. Only one bin was heading back to Canada. It contained some personal items and equipment that needed to be replaced or repaired.

Inventory took a couple of hours tops, so we had the rest of the day to ourselves. A good cleaning of the white house was in order, the bathroom being the main target. Many of us took the time to repack our bags for the impending flight home and to take some last minute pictures of the hospital.

"Massai Crystal"
Glasses that we had made from plastic bottles

Some of the group had decided that they wanted to walk up the hill one last time. Since we didn't feel like doing the hike again, we ended up taking a walk down the hospital road in a direction we had never taken. We found Dr. Eric's house and almost got hit by a huge tree that some locals were chopping down. Rick got a marriage proposal from some young school girl.

As a thank you gesture to the CACHA team, Sister Clarissa and the nuns invited us all for dinner in the nunnery. The nunnery has been a mystery up to this point as we have only been allowed onto the first floor to use the toilet and shower facilities. The place is locked up like Fort Knox past 10 PM and there usually is a guard dog barking from inside the building.



The gals

 Since many of us did not have dress clothes for the occasion, Stephanie suggested that the girls get dresses up in their khangas and the guys in their massai blankets.

The guys

We all laughingly agreed, and had fun, trying to figure out how to wear the darn things. Sister Clarissa later commented that if the locals had seen all the mazunga ladies dressed in their khangas, they would have started a new fashion trend. (Guess they were being worn in an unconventional way?)

When we arrived, we were greeted with smiles and beverages (beer or soda). Every chair had a crocheted piece draped over the back, a small round table in front of every chair with a doily and multiple imitation floral garlands hanging from the ceiling.

The meal was great (of course there was soup!). The nuns were very friendly and very curious about our travels (including what its like to experience flying in an airplane). The time spent was short  as the nuns needed to get up early. So did we! For most of the team, it's almost time to go home!