PCV in Kenya: Week 43

Monday

I started today’s training day with an education session about blended pedagogies. The trainees then had language for a few hours so I had some time to relax and read my book. We went to Jebrock for lunch and the hoteli had dengu and chapati (the best 😊). After lunch, it poured down rain so the afternoon session ran a little late. We got back to Sosa round 6PM and I watched “Abbott Elementary” before going to dinner.

Tuesday

This month is already moving by so quickly. I woke up and ate breakfast then made a point to meet all the volunteers as they arrived for hub day. A car drove me to the Peace Corps office in Kisumu so I could have my mid-service doctor appointment. From here, I walked to the dentist to continue my mid-service appointments. It was the quickest dental cleaning of my life. I did some grocery shopping then met Marissa for lunch. It was great to have lunch together 😊 We split ways after this and I was soon on a matatu home. When I got home, I move Nala’s things back into my house and showered quick while we still had power. A storm was rolling in which usually means we will lose power. I ate my piece of Java House cake for dinner then called it a night.

Wednesday

I was supposed to go to school today but physically could not. I slept horribly last night and didn’t think anything of it until it was time to get up for the day and my entire body was aching and I had stomach troubles like no other. I checked my temperature which was over 100 degrees so I called the PCMOs. They gave me some small things to try, but they couldn’t bring me the real medicine until tomorrow. I also had to do a malaria test to rule that illness out. This involves pricking my own finger and testing the blood in a container similar to a self-COVID test. I have a hard time with finger pricking in general so I was super proud of myself for successfully completing the malaria test without having to call someone to come prick my finger for me 😊 I made pancakes then spent the rest of the day sleeping because I was feeling so bad.

Thursday

Thankfully, today was a holiday, so I had another day to recover from my illness. I woke up less achy today but very much still had the same stomach troubles. I felt well enough to do a quick market run so I could get fresh food in my house. Back at home, I made humus and ate it with carrots for lunch. After lunch, a Peace Corps driver showed up with my medicine which was very exciting. I spent the afternoon finalizing things for the November trip 😊 For dinner, I ate avocado toast while watching “Abbott Elementary”.

Friday

I woke up feeling so much better today. I went to school and taught review lessons for Biology for my two streams of classes. I was so proud of my students for taking their notes like they were supposed to earlier this week. I went home for lunch to take my medicine and rest a bit before going back to school for GRS. It was another great lesson. I went home and ate dinner. Before I called it a night, I had to fix two of my nails. The polish came right off today for some reason.

Saturday

I ate breakfast and got to school around 9AM. I reviewed Biology and Chemistry topics with my students because they have their end of the year exams next week. Jack and Mary came to school around 11AM. They are members of the newest cohort of volunteers that recently arrived in Kenya. They are part of the group that I have been helping to train the last few weeks. Jack is an education volunteer and Mary is a health volunteer. My students were so excited to meet them. They were able to watch some of our revision lesson and they stayed for our GRS lesson. After school, the three of us walked to the market and ate lunch before walking to my house. We rested at my house for a bit then walked over to Sue’s house so they could meet her and her family. It was so good to see Sue. I’ve been busier than usual so we haven’t done as many things together as we usually do. We got back to my house so Jack and Mary could pick up their bags then I helped them start their walks back to their houses. It is so exciting to have new neighbors! They will be moved here officially at the end of November. Back at my house, I made egg toast for dinner and called it a night.

Sunday

I had a lovely slow Sunday today 😊 I walked to the local duka to pick up eggs and milk and was back home before 7AM. I made cinnamon rolls and café con leche and enjoyed these while finishing Season 3 of “Abbott Elementary”. I then got out my bracelet string and worked on a few bracelets, taking a break for lunch and a nap. It was so nice to have time for a workout before making dinner today. I watched an episode of “Superstore” and the first two episodes of “Veep” before closing out the week.

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