Report from Rwanda, vol. 2

This is the second installment of our regular "Report from Rwanda" feature, written by our friend and regular Maternally Yours contributor Dr. Washington Hill, who is spending eleven months in Rwanda, Africa, as part of a Clinton Foundation through Duke University. 

Dear Family and Friends:

All is really well. It is what we expected. Saw “Lincoln” at a theatre here Saturday night. The ending was the same. Good thing the Union won!

Many interesting cases including spontaneous 16 weeks triplets.

I banged my knee and am hobbling a bit but will live. Pauline is fine and doing a lot of teaching. Everybody is taking good care of me. They think with the gray hair I will fall over any day now but I will fool them. Gray hair is a sign of an elder who needs to be respected.

This is hard work and it takes a lot of energy.  Everyone says it takes a month to get use to the altitude. Food is OK and there are lots of places to get a decent meal. Marriott is finishing their hotel. Lots of starches at the canteen here at the hospital. Rwanda is hilly so there is always a lot of exercise every day. Days at the hospital are from 7:30 AM at report till about 4-5 PM. There must be 50 people at morning report. This is a short week as Friday is a national holiday. Yeah! Reception this week at the Embassy for a new person. Security is what you would expect.

We are all safe and Rwandans are nice people. Found an English speaking church Sunday with a guest pastor we knew. Urania, a MFM from Yale, goes home Thursday so I will be it for a while. Rest, malaria prophylaxis and lots of water are important.

There are a 100 of us here from all over the States coming and going. Those coming bring our stuff!

The quality of the students is all over the place but they will get better. Making up quizzes to see if they are learning.

The weather is like Sarasota. Ninety yesterday which also saps your energy!

We went an bought a table and bookcase for the apartment at the lumber place. What an adventure!

Nobody has died this week and the team here is making a difference. We believe we are here for a purpose. Hopefully my check is in the bank.

See ya. Off to hear a student presentation.

WCH