Sunday, May 20, 2012

A Trade Agreement

Weekends and Nairobi are always fun and tiring.  Its nice to have a change of scenery, browse the stores for imported goods - looking for any little reminders of home: Betty Crocker cake mixes, SunMaid dried fruit, Frosted Flakes, Kellogg's cereal bars.

This past weekend, during my trip into Nairobi, I decided to visit some of the local vendors in their dukas - or shops- to look for some souvenirs to take home to family and friends.  I have mentioned before that this type of shopping in Kenya can require a lot of bargaining:  The Negogiations Were Short.   This time I decided to help stack the odds a bit more in my favor and arm myself with items o trade for the souvenirs, in addition to cold hard Kenyan shillings of course. 

So, I began to look through the house for things that I would not be using before my departure in June...gently used items....any "extras."  I found quite the cache: some ink pens, two packs of post it notes, two gently used t-shirts and a pair of shoes, a rain poncho, some stickers, bug spray and a few toothbrushes.

On Saturday, I set out to the dukas with Visiting Doc, who came along to witness Kenyan Trading in action.  The idea of walking into a shop...even a small one...and asking to trade something to get a lower price is not often seen in the US, so Visiting Doc was interested to see how this all worked out.

At the first vendor, I found two picture frames and a small soapstone bowl.  The vendor scribbled his price on the bag of a newspaper....I frowned at him and scribbled by counter-offer.  Then he frowned.  "Oh....that is too low," he complained.  I pointed at his scribble.  "This one is too much." 

Let the negogiations begin!

He scribbled another number.  So did I.  Finally, I hoisted up my bag like a mzungu Santa.  "Can I give you a trade?" I asked.  He began to look through the bag and the ink pens caught his eye.

"Oh...my children are needing these for school."   I pointed at my second number.  "I will give you this one plus 6 ink pens." 

After some minor haggling attempts.....and my refusals.....we reached an agreement...and news of my trade bag began to spread.  Soon, I was trading ponchos and shoes for a carved ebony elephant and t-shirts for wooden bowls.

At the end of two hours, I left quite pleased with the amount of goods I got for the amount of money I spent plus the traded items.....and of course - as always, the duka owners were happy too!

Satisfied with his new poncho...just in time for the rainy season!


All my purchases...


Hand carved ebony elephant


Wooden bowl with giraffe and baby


Wooden bowl with cheetah





Saturday, May 12, 2012

Knot Finished

During each rotation, I invite the OB interns to my house for a hands-on lesson in knot tying.  We practice on pillows....chairs...the couch....anything except Teddy!  After the lesson...we chat together over dessert and tea.

Practicing on the couch....
Practicing on couch...chairs...pillows....

"Push down with your finger!"

Just beautiful....!

The surgeon's artwork....


Friday, May 4, 2012

My Interns

Some are now scattered over the Kenyan countryside, working in their "home" hospitals...Kapsowar, Nakuru, Kisii.  Others toil in the tiresome and wonderful wheel that is Tenwek...greeting me with smiles at lunch. 

There is Pride when I think of My interns and the way they finished their long year with laughter and grace.


Theirs are the hearts of servants, working hard and long...not asking for recognition. 

I am so thankful to all of those I have had on my service - past, present and future.  Thank You for reminding me of this easily forgotten fact on the days when my temper was short...and the queue was very long.  I am thinking and praying for you all always. 



Oh that You would bless me indeed
and enlarge my territory!
That Your hand would be upon me,
and that You would keep me from evil
that I may not cause pain!
1 Chronicles 4:9-10