This was a couple weeks ago...

This week has been by far the best since I have arrived. I do not really know why. What I mean is I cannot really explain why. I have not done anything majorly extraordinary or exciting compared to the rest of the time here. I think it has to do with the fact that I started out the week actually wanting to get back to my site. I was excited to return.
I ventured off my site for a few hours and on my return trip home, I was not only ready to go back, but eager. That has not happened to me yet. Call me a late bloomer or whatever, but I was always sad to be returning to my solitude. Sunday, though, Sunday I embraced it. I was overjoyed with the fact that I was excited to return. And the week just got better from there.
I FINALLY got introduced to the chief of the community, with all the elders (guys). Other than the two nurses who brought me to be introduced, I was the only girl in a hut full of like 20 old men. It was interesting. Of course (you know me) I was beat red the entire time from being stared at. I also had no freakin idea what they were saying! It is interesting, though, that the chief has someone to tell him exactly what another person says. I know that makes no sense. I do not know how to explain it: someone will speak to the chief and the chief has another person (hired) to tell him the same thing. It is like he will not hear anyone but the hired speaker. I think it is amazing! I would want that job: be paid to repeat something to the head of the community.
Just when I was ready to go back to the office in Tamale and complain that my latrine was still not fixed (meaning I was using a chamber pot (I know, disgusting, right)) after three months, the man in charge (no names, but he is an Al Hajji- big man in the big city ) shows up at my site to fix it himself. What a great guy! Needless to say, I am glad I am not using a pot anymore. Now I just need to get rid of the bugs and repaint the area and it will be up to reasonable standards (not saying much compared to America, but hey, we cannot be greedy/picky). I also got my fridge, stove, and supplies from a volunteer that was on her way out. Livin’ the high life now!!!
Tuesday, I got up to do laundry. Typically, it seems to always rain on days I do laundry, but guess what: No rain! Sure, when I was doing laundry it started thundering, but since the dry season is upon us, no rain came! What a great start to the day; I could leave my laundry out and it would actually dry in one day for a change!!
I have to admit, I did not leave my house till later in the day. I decided to stick around till after I ate lunch to go to the clinic. That was a bad idea (they started immunizations in my village), but I did get a nap in (much needed). So, I walk over to the clinic and none of the women are there! The doctor told me that they were all in my town working on vaccinating all the children for measles. So, I walk on over to their stand, sit with them for a few hours, and find out that the best yam chips (big chunky versions of French fries) are sold in my town! Sweet! I could eat those everyday (dear heart/stomach: please do not hate me, there is not much else to choose from besides carbs, carbs, and fried carbs). I can actually say that I still am losing weight (I think) though. There is something wrong with that picture, right? I am not complaining.
Wednesday was spent in the town next to mine. A nurse and I were sent there to deal with more immunizations. Meaning: she gave the shots and I gave the kids the “toffee” (vitamin A) which I think might taste somewhat good. It was great! Of course, the community (older women, younger children included) crowded me like it was their job, but I had a lot of fun (thank goodness I am not too claustrophobic). It is funny: the kids would get yelled at for crowding me, so they would move back, but they would return less than a minute later, anxious to touch my skin to see if I feel like they do. I was wearing Capri’s, so they were interested in the part of my legs that were showing. Maybe five children touched my legs and quickly looked to see if I reacted to them.
Later, I walked home- three kilometers. The sun was out and bright by the time I started walking. Dry season is upon us! I just about died walking back (not really, but it sure was hot). I stopped by the nurses quarters and did not move for a good three hours. There, I ate corn (they grill without butter- still delicious) and tizit (why feed me so much?!). I also had a great opportunity to talk to one of the nurses who asked me a bunch of random questions about the states. I loved it! Answering questions like: “do white people go up to blacks and rub their skin to see if it is make up?” or “do you grow crops like this (corn)?” I stayed later than I should, just to continue answering all these questions the best I could. It is sometimes stressful thinking that whatever I say they will believe about the states, because my perception is from my experiences. Someone else might have a completely different outlook (which is great. Makes the Peace Corps special, because someone else might come in after me and answer the same questions differently). I usually try to generalize and think about the country as a whole, rather than my own perceptions. It’s difficult. It really makes you think outside the box. And, if you did not think my job was stressful or complicated or tiring before, I bet you do now!