Medical Systems Around the World

We come from a culture that highly relies on medical & scientific knowledge.  This results in a high degree of faith and dependence on the US medical system.  I recently read an article by a man in a similar field of work as us, who held a strong view that our trust and reliance on medicine, as Americans, results in our idolizing medicine.  Being a nurse by training, I often get defensive of our medical system in the states.  But this gentleman had a great point which highlights my recurrent struggle of where I am putting my faith; in the US medical system or in the Creator of it all?  I will say, the Creator has given us much wisdom and ability.  As my father-in-law would say, "We are to use our brain and look both ways as we cross the street."  On top of that, I believe, by His grace, the Creator has given us great ability to use and do amazing things with medicine.  But, in the end, who is in control, doing the actual healing?  So where should I be putting my faith? 

This struggle of mine is intensified by living overseas as the medical system here is very different.  We recently learned a fascinating fact; less than 0.5% of the population here has Rh negative blood.  In the states, 15% of the population has Rh negative blood.  Which results in the states, in screening for the Rh factor and special precautions for blood transfusions and in pregnancy.  Here, on the other hand, the Rh factor is rarely considered.  For example, I have O negative blood.  This means I can only receive O negative blood.  Further more, during pregnancy, if there is a chance the baby could have Rh positive blood, I need to receive two shots of Rhogam, for my own health and safety.  We have had two very positive check-ups with a doctor in the big city.  During the first visit, we asked about Rhogam shots.  The doctor said they usually don't give them and they are difficult to get, needing to be ordered well in advance.  At first we were shocked, but really it is no wonder as 99.5% of patients will be Rh positive.  We feel immensely blessed because as it turns out, we can't have a Rh positive baby since both John and I are Rh negative.  So no need for Rhogam shots!  It still leaves the lingering concern of getting the appropriate blood should I ever need it.  But that is a big if and when.  So again, where am I putting my trust? 

In other areas, we continue to learn cultural ideas concerning pregnancy.  For example, if you desire your baby to be a certain sex, you should steal, yes steal, but from a family member, clothing of the desired sex and place it under or above your bed.  Neither pineapple nor durian should be eaten during early pregnancy, some say late pregnancy as well, as they are believed to cause miscarriage.  Cassava also should be avoided.  I was recently asked if Sprite is ok to consume in early pregnancy.  The most interesting and challenging for us to react respectfully to, is the belief in a creature or spirit that can suck out your baby through your belly button.  Therefore, pregnant women should not go out in the evening and they should carry onions, garlic, or another specific spice I am unfamiliar with, EVERTIME they go out.  Does anyone watch Grimm?  I can direct you to an episode that is a pretty accurate portrayal of this belief.  This is an area in which we hope to show our trust in the power of the Creator, but we are also challenged to be respectful of those that are seriously concerned about this creature. 

Language Learning, and more...

Upon arriving back in Barat our main goals consisted of helping the boys transition back into school, house hunting, language learning, and opening the academic center back up.  We have had a few unexpected developments in each of these areas. 

First, the boys transitioned into school unbelievably well, not due to anything we did as parents. 

Second, we have seen five houses thus far.  The process for looking for a house to rent in quite different.  There are not any magazines, papers, nor offices, listing rental properties.  Instead you mention it to someone, who will ask a friend, who will ask a friend, and so on...all word of mouth!  Our hopes in finding a different house was to be an area where the local Barat language is used more regularly and to give us a little more living space.  Three of the houses we saw were the same size as our current house.  Another, though quite large, would have required a great deal of work.  Every window on the second floor was missing as least one pane of glass for example.  The fifth house, seen by John, was at least a 10 minute drive from town and on the main highway/road.  During this whole process, the third unexpected development occurred. 

In mentioning to our neighbors our intent for moving, one specific family expressed their wishes we would not move.  This family is of Barat origin and both the husband and wife have increased their use of the Barat language with us, using almost exclusively Barat with John.  They have also expressed willingness to help us in our language learning, to the extent of inviting us over everyday should we so desire to practice.  This family has always been very kind to us, but their current intentionality has blown us away. 
These neighbors have four children, two of which attend the same school as Caedmon.  Very graciously, this family has been giving the boys, and I, as I am not ready to let them go alone, a ride to and from school everyday.  Many days of the week they also provide cold drinks for the ride home, which takes only about 5 minutes.

Whitman and Caedmon waiting for a ride to school from our newly intentional neighbors. 

 

Lastly, our intentions of starting activities again at the academic center were recently put on hold.  John received a visit, while at the academic center, from a couple of immigration officials.  For at least two hours they questioned him and lectured him on what he could and could not be doing on our current social-cultural visa.  It came down to not being able to teach, even if volunteering.  From the conversation, John gather the biggest issue was the perception of others.  Regardless of whether he was being paid or not, what people saw was John 'working' at the academic center.  Since this surprise visit, John has spent increased time in language study, literacy preparation, and at the local museum.  As unnerving as the visit was, it may be a blessing in disguise: forcing John to focus on other tasks!

As I continue  in language learning, I am trying to take advantage of the willingness of our neighbors.  The wife has invited me over to cook twice and even taken me before hand to the market to shop for ingredients.  A funny side note, in this culture it is very indecent to hold hands with a person of the opposite sex, but completely normal to hold hand with a person of the same sex.  So the wife held my hand the whole time we walked through the market.  I know in my head this is quite normal here, but it still feels very uncomfortable.   

Ingredients to make curry chicken; using 3 chickens.

From left to right: a type of ginger root, candlenuts (in yellow bag), lemon grass, shallots, garlic, and chili peppers.

We peeled and chopped, for at least 2 hours. 

I gave myself a blister peeling garlic and never before did my fingers burn from slicing garlic. 

Granted, it was a lot of garlic!

Snacks: thin fried pastry filled with fish and spices

What I expected to take a couple hours, turned into a five hour event.  Thankfully they served snacks and cold drinks.  We devoured them. 

After prepping outside, where it was cooler, we moved inside to cook.

Washing Area

Here the wife washed the spices, chicken, pressed the coconut to make coconut milk, and later washed all the dishes.

Cooking chicken with all the prepared spices. 

We ended up eating sometime after 2pm.  The food was delicious and there is nothing like seeing first hand how it is made.  It was well worth the time spent, though quite tiring as well. 

The Boys go to School

     Caedmon and Whitman, both, had great experiences attending school in the States.  They both were very excited their teachers, administrators, and classmates all spoke English.  The activities, physical classrooms, and school work also was enjoyable to each.   

Returning overseas, we all knew a great deal of what to expect.  Caedmon and Whitman each expected to return to local schools, after getting settled.  I, Erin, was concerned about this transition for them as I knew each had lost a great deal of language, especially Whitman.  Caedmon would be starting at a completely different school, half way through the year, and we didn’t know how many, if any, of his previous friends would be at this new school.  Since Caedmon would be at a new school, Whitman would be attending his previous, though familiar school, without his brother. 

Monday and Tuesday's Uniforms

     Many were lifting up this situation and all thanks to Him for the first week has concluded well!  Caedmon and Whitman both began last Monday.  We leave at 7am to be there about 7:15.  This is a schedule we are all still getting use to.  When I picked them up on Monday, they both said their day was "Great!"  After the first day, Caedmon began responding, "Not good, but great," each time I asked about the day.  They both finish at 10:30am, which leaves us time in the afternoon for a couple house of English homeschooling with Caedmon.  So far Caedmon has been excited each day to do his homeschooling lessons!  I've also begun writing lessons with Whitman, he's still not so sure about these. 

Friday's Uniform

    What a huge blessing!  In a weeks time, the boys have done very well getting up, dressed, ready, and off to school.  We have been getting rides to and home from school most days from a neighbor, which has been another unexpected blessing.  Caedmon and Whitman are thrilled to ride with these neighbors as they have become pretty good friends. 
     Whitman seems pretty officially enrolled at school as we have filled out paperwork and turned in the requested pictures and birth certificate copy.   Caedmon on the other hand, I am still unsure about.  When we first visited the school prior to his starting I asked the principal if there was paperwork to fill out.  She said not to worry about it.  A whole week after attending, Caedmon came home with one paper to fill out.  He rarely has homework and nothing has been said about school supplies he should be bringing.  The only reason this concerns me is because other parents have said their children often, if not every night, have homework.  And, I've seen children with multiple, sometimes color coded, notebooks for the various subjects at school.  Thankfully Caedmon seems to be understanding language sufficiently to follow instructions.  So, I just hope they are treating him like the other children and not giving the white western kid preferential treatment. 
      We are definitely blessed that transitioning back to local schools here has gone so very well thus far!