This past week I had the opportunity to work with the Rwanda Biomedical Center Malaria Department. We spent the days navigating through tea fields and swamps collecting mosquito larvae. I learned so much! I now know the different species of mosquitos, which species are carries of malaria and what they look like...So y'all ready for this quick malaria run down...Ok here we go!!
Malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium, which is picked up by female Anopheles from biting an infected individual. Only female mosquitos are vectors of malaria, and feed late at night and early morning. There are four species of mosquitos, however the most deadly form in Sahara Africa is the P. falciparum. If left untreated, malaria attacks the liver, and breaks down red blood cells, and produce blot clots that can travel to vital organs. The larvae are found in shallow, stagnant waters. The water must not be too deep or too new. Ok? Cool! So, after collecting the larvae we separated them into containers, very carefully, making sure we filtered the tadpoles and dirt. However, we left a little debris to keep the environment homeostatic. Oh, I also learned that they love to eat baby formula, Cerelac! I was like, "whaaaaaat?!?!?" By Thursday, they were nearly full grown! The researches were very welcoming. They provided me with boots so I could get down and dirty in the swamps along with them. They fed me lunch, and you all know I love food! I think they were secretly trying to recruit me, but that research life is hard! They travel all over the county, and often, sleep wherever there is a floor and mat available. They are in the thick collecting these larvae. I must say, I really enjoyed my time with them and look forward to working with them more! Who knew I would be a baby researcher?
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Leaving my host family was bitter sweet. I was desperately in need of privacy and quiet time. Seriously, living with three boys was a headache, at times. But the other day, Bruce, the 12 year-old, text me saying, "Again, tell your little brothers we said thank you! We love you!" The night before I moved out, I gave them a gift basket. In the basket was a scarf and the basket itself for Momma Bruce, some handkerchiefs for Papa Bruce, some bracelets for Florence, a necklace and nail clipper for Diane, and a lot of toys for the boys. Oh, and a soccer ball! But how they got the toys is the reason we are gathered here today.
If you've known me for sometime, you have heard me refer to my little brothers and my other parents (I have multiple sets of parents). I am Ms. Cheryl and Skeeta Bug's only child, but my Little Rock parents, Jameel & LaJarlyn (LJ) have two boys, Jameel II (J) and Jaxsen (Jax). Therefore, I have siblings. J is 10 and Jax is 6, I believe. I could be completely wrong by one or two years, but you get that they are young boys. They are mature beyond their years and little geniuses, if I must say so myself. Babysitting them was always so easy, because, even as babies, they seemed to be self sufficient, except for the whole feed and change part, but after that, they have always been self sufficient. One time, I was watching them over night, and was suppose to get them up, make a little breakfast and take them to school. But, I was awakened maybe 10 minutes before my alarm to a rumbling in the kitchen. I looked and said, "J what are you doing?" His response, "Making biscuits because I'm hungry." Oh, ok, go ahead with ya' bad self! LOL! Anyway, during my training months, the Wesleys sent me a box. Of course it was filled with things I needed, but the box also contained toys, a lot of them. J and Jax don't keep many of their kids meal toys because, really, they have enough toys and if you knew Momma LJ, she doesn't like things with a million pieces laying around. So in this box are a lot of kids meal toys, little stuffed toys, bouncy balls, and a football. I thought, "Oh my! Bruce, Benjamin, and Leonard are going to love this!" That last night when I gave them the gifts the smiles on their faces were priceless. I watched Bruce try to master the infamous "paddle and ball" we all enjoyed as children. Leonard, recovering from malaria, was sleeping and missed the party, but you better believe the next morning he was in full affect. You see, I've never seen them play with toys before, only sticks and a soccer ball made of plastic bags. (Don't misinterpret here, they are very happy kids, they eat three meals a day, and want for nothing. They just don't have toys). J and Jax had no idea the reaction these toys would produce. They only knew that they were sending toys to young boys in my host family. In their giving they learned that there are kids in another hemisphere that are very similar to them. Both sets of boys LOVE sports, and are very serious about their studies. They had no clue how much joy kids meal toys would bring. That night I made sure to send J and Jax pictures of Bruce, Benjamin, and Florence with the toys. In addition, I showed my Rwandan siblings pictures of J and Jax. They looked at the pictures for at least 10 minutes, before resuming to their toys. Jameel II and Jaxsen are amazing kids. Whether or not they realize it, at this young age, they have made an impact across the globe. Their fingerprints live on in the books of service. I am so blessed to have J and Jax as brothers, they are growing into the mold of fine young men, I'm sorry, Kings. J and Jax, thank for bringing smiles to my host family; thank you for making a difference! I love you! Until Next Time, Live in Love So, I've been at site for a week and two days and I have managed not to starve! When we last spoke, I didn't have a working stove or any furniture! Well one of those problems was solved...I HAVE A WORKING STOVE!! I traveled to two regional towns to find the right regulator for my gas stove. My go-to meals have been green beans, spaghetti, and potatoes! I still don't have furniture, because I'm cheap. But I assure you, I will order furniture this week so I can be off the floor by next month! A bed, I do have a bed!
This past week I felt the most unproductive I've felt in a long time. A lot of sitting, looking, and listening was done and will be the "thing" for a while. I am in the beginning stages of my "Community Needs Assessment" (CNA). During this two month assessment, I will be getting to know my community by interviewing health center staff, community health workers, community officials, headmasters, and performing home visits. The information gathered will help guide my work and my projects. Most importantly, it takes this big new world I'm in and brings it down to a size that I can better grasp. So far, I've helped with milk distribution day, where mothers with registered malnourished children come to get milk for the week. I've worked in the pharmacy, and weighed and registered newborns for vaccinations. This upcoming week, I will administer surveys to my health center staff and community officials, and see what else is happening in the other services my health center offers. As in nursing, an assessment is subjective and objective. There is much looking and listening to be done! This CNA will push me to integrate into my community. However, as much experience as I have in being the "new girl," integration is still difficult for me. I can easily talk to people and meet new people, but at the same time, I am a homebody! If I don't have to leave the house, I don't. I could spend the entire day with my head in a book or binge watching a TV show, and my friends know, there are only a few ratchet occasions where I do things unplanned. So, leaving my house to just walk around or sit in a boutique is difficult for me, but it is a very necessary part. I will try to do more socializing this upcoming week. This first week taught me so much. Cyondo will continue to push me out of my comfort zone and test my limits. Patience has never been my strong point, but I have quickly learned to just go with the flow. You know Keisha (my car) and I got up to leave whenever we wanted to. Here buses don't come on time, that's if they come at all, and meetings start late. My neighbors hang their laundry on my fence and sometimes their chickens poop in my entryway. The spontaneity and lack of control I have here is somehow healthy for me, somehow. These are times I am oh so grateful for the wisdom of my Papa Joyner. He never ends a conversation without saying, "Remember babe, don't sweat the small stuff, and everything is small stuff." Until Next Time, Live in Love... |