Unexpected

Western medicine-0, Traditional medicine-1

After Caedmon’s first three days of school he stayed home for the next three days with pink eye.  It all started with a neighbor boy.  By the end of the weekend all of the kids on our street had contracted it, along with most of the parents too.  Even John and I got the pleasure of experiencing pink eye.  I quickly bought antibiotic eye salve, though most cases are viral.  The boys healed up pretty quick; where as I took more than a week to heal.  All of our neighbors healed up before I did, even those that contracted it after me.  Those of our neighbors currently breastfeeding used breast milk to treat their families.  Apparently this is a world wide traditional technique as our optometrist in the States has many Hispanic patients that use the same method and have had success with it.  I was definitely humbled as I hold our western medical ways in high esteem.  Some other advice we received, and I am still skeptical about, was to pull on your ear lobes or use shallots.  I am still not sure where the shallots were to go as they can have a strong enough effect just being chopped on a cutting board. 

A Visit from the States

After our pink eye fiasco a friend from the States came for a short visit.  Though this was expected, it snuck up on us.  We had a great time catching up and being encouraged as he too has worked overseas. 

A Trip to the Big City

After our visitor left, a close local friend had minor surgery in the big city.  It was an infection that needed to be surgically cleaned out.  Thankfully all went well, but now she has a nasty wound that needs dressing changes twice daily.  As she too lives in Barat, I have had the pleasure of putting my nursing experience to work!  I have been changing her dressings twice daily for her since she has come home.  For some it may seem like a nuisance, but for me this is a great pleasure as I can help her AND be involved in an area I thoroughly enjoy!

A Visitor from the Big City

When we returned home from the big city a local friend also came with us for a visit to Barat.  It was fun showing him around and introducing him to our friends here.  We took one afternoon to cook a local dish from his home area, an island off the southern shore we visited a year ago.  We ate grilled fish with rice cooked in coconut milk. 

 

Our friend attempting to start the fire to grill fish.  Coconut husks are used as the fuel. 

Finally our neighbor behind our house helped us get our little grill set up.  She knew what she was doing!

Our neighbor's daughter with Caedmon.

Our friend watching the fish.

Our neighbor's kids with Caedmon.

Now we hope to get back into, or develop, a routine with the boys’ schooling, our own studying, and life in general!

A Big Week

We started the week by going to school.  Caedmon had his first day at a local kindergarten on Monday.  We decided to try sending Caedmon to a local school again, 2 years after the first try.  This time he liked the idea, is sufficiently fluent in the local language to communicate his needs, and has many neighborhood friends starting school as well.  Though he has already completed kindergarten at home, we felt repeating kindergarten at a local school would decrease at least one potential stressor: any academic challenges.  This also sets him up to be the oldest in his class and hopefully more of a leader than follower.  Thus far Caedmon has been enjoying each day at school and is excited to return every morning.  I am especially impressed with this particular kindergarten as there is a very nice play area (meaning various play structures in decent condition), many play items and posters in the class rooms, and teeth brushing and hand washing are included in the curriculum (neither of which are not strengths in this culture).  We hope to enrolled Whitman in the preschool portion as soon as enrollment actually opens.  This apparently occurs after the kindergarteners finish their first week which seems to be mostly just orientation. 

Whitman and Caedmon ready for school on the first day.

On the way to school. 
We walk to the main road (100 yards to Caedmon's right), then catch a small public transportation vehicle to the city center, then walk two blocks to the school.

Play area

Caedmon

Whitman with our host family's daughter. 
She just made the 4 year old cut off for the 1st year of kindergarten.  If kids are able they usually attend two years of kindergarten. 

Classrooms. 
Upon arriving kids set their backpacks outside their classrooms then go play.

After playing for about an hour, the kids all line up by class.  This week has consisted of songs, snacks, and orientation in this area.

Whitman has been playing during outside play time, then leaves with me until pick up time.  Hopefully this will help him warm up to the idea of staying in his own class.  School goes from 7:30 to 10am.

 

On Wednesday Caedmon turned 6 years old.  We celebrated at home just the four of us and in the afternoon with a party and many friends.  After school we picked up Caedmon’s present of a bicycle.  It proved very interesting getting the bicycle home.  The way home is a very busy main street, so riding the bike was out of the question.  Thankfully it fit, just barely, into a small public transportation vehicle.  There were at least four adults on each side of this small bus like vehicle with the bicycle between all of our knees.  Half of the passengers had to unload just so the bike and us could get out as we were the first off. 

Cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Caedmon in his Wednesday uniform.

Opening presents!

Caedmon cutting his cake.  It is tradition here for the birthday boy to cut the cake.

We made a spider man head piñata and celebrated with neighbors, and many others who joined in.