1st Day Here!!!

After a VERY long flight(s), I finally made it to Nairobi!!!

Immigration took awhile; it would have probably been easier to have just purchased the visa onsite…but I eventually made it out.

I got out of the airport probably around 11:45pm Kenyan time, after traveling for ~30 hours… I think, I am not exactly sure–time zones are confusing concepts. After I got out of the airport, I met my driver, who is really nice. He is from Limuru gave me an introduction to Kenya and Limuru.

After a delicious breakfast, I had a short orientation about the project before heading to the hospital. This is a private hospital (Limuru Nursing Home), and it was a great first day! Lots happened! I made some cotton balls and taught several new mothers cord care. I got to observe and assist some with 3 C-sections. The best part of this was being handed the baby, cleaning him, cutting the umbilical cord, and being able to show it to the mother to see him for the first time.

The worst part of this, was that, after the mother’s surgery, I accidently rolled her into a wall…I felt so sorry. But it is a very tight space…

Also, most of the time the doctors will motion towards something (they might say a word (in English or Swahili), and it is sometimes difficult to figure out what you are supposed to do. But, its all part of the challenge!

To go into the OR, we put large scrubs over our normal scrubs. They were x-large and so I kept tripping over the pant legs… This is the shoe rack for the OR: only these shoes can be worn in the OR. However, there are slippers with a blue bird on top if you need to make a quick trip out of the OR.

…And this is outside of our cottage. I am staying at a Christian training centre/campus here:)

More stories later!

Happy Adventuring,

Gabrianne