indian26

So, I finally made it back to Mozambique. My sister and I traveled back and spent a few days in Maputo. She was sick and our luggage was lost for three days. We ended up going to the local hospital/clinic because Judy was still sick. She got to experience the local health care at its finest.

Then, we went to my town for a few days and then up to Barra Beach, about 5 hours away. Barra beach is so pretty. We then went back to my house. Judy really liked my market and hanging out with the locals.

We are in Maputo right now for a conference on HIV. We are planning a trip to South Africa next week. Then, it's back to the grind of teaching.

Since I have been in Mozambique for one year, I had to do a mid-service checkup. This consists of a dental cleaning, blood pressure, PAP, and three stool samples. Three!!!!!! The PC doctor has to check our stools for parasites. Yikes!!!! I hope I didn't lose all that weight because I had a parasite...... I thought it was all the walking I do and the tomato and onion diet, but it might be a parasite eating away at my fat. Anyways, Judy is trying to assist me in doing my stool samples, but I think I can manage it on my own. The stool sample cups are a little bigger than a film canister.

So, I only have one bed in my house, which means that Judy and I have to rotate sleeping on the floor. After I was sleeping on the floor for three nights, I made Judy sleep on it (under a mosquito net). So, I was almost asleep one night and Judy starts FREAKING OUT because there were two small bugs on the net. So, I climbed out of my net and killed the bugs. Then, there was a praying mantis (walking stick) on the mosquito net. So, Judy refused to sleep on the floor and I refused too (because my back hurt). Judy crawled over me and ended up sleeping in my twin size bed with me for two nights!!!!!!!!

We walked to the lighthouse in my town, which is about 5 miles one way. It was so hot, the sun was a killer, and Judy got all these blisters on her feet. She kept telling me that I was walking too fast.

We visited my school, church, and the local market in my town. The people in my town kept asking why Judy was younger than me and married. They didn't understand how I could be the older sibling and unmarried. And then this lady kept trying to give us a chicken to eat, but Judy and I didn't want to kill it ourselves.

Judy helped wash clothes and dishes in small buckets. Once, I gave a bucket of water for her to take a bath. When she was done, about 3/4ths of the bucket was still full. I asked Judy how she took a bath if the water was still there. I guess she just washed herself all over with a wash cloth. So, I taught her the "correct" way to take a bath using all of the water and no wash cloth.

Well, hopefully I will have more stories to share after we return from South Africa. Judy will have lots of pictures to show everyone.

Ate ja (until then)
Judy and Jill