Author: itsabouttime338

I’m back at FAME medical center in Thomas Village, Karatu Tanzania. It’s so nice to be back after Covid disrupted the past 2 years. FAME provides a high level of outpatient and hospital care to a wide area of north central Tanzania.

This is my fourth time back. It was truly like a homecoming with many “habaris,”, smiles, and hugs. It was even more amazing since I can only imagine how my terrible Swahili must grate their ears.

Our patient population includes a wide variety of surgical and non surgical patients. Many come from the Maasai tribe who live in homelands around the Ngorogoro Crater and Serengeti conservation areas.

Well, no, not yet. I’m still in Minnesota and its February, -3° F, and we’ve just had 6” of snow. the Mississippi hasn’t yet froze at St Anthony Falls but the quieter sections of the river have. BUT with luck I’ll be back at FAME medical in Karatu Tanzania in 5 weks!

It may look like a beautiful fall afternoon on the Mississippi but it was chilly. 37°F with a colder wind chill. I’m sure this university of MN crew kept warm during their practice but the river will ice up before too long. No snow here but several inches yesterday up north. Still, it was a great day for a 7 mile riverside walk to Minnehaha Falls (and a quick light rail ride back to downtown.

Tuesday saw the Minneapolis area and much of central Minnesota set an early snowfall record. While it’s not too unusual for some snow flurries or even an inch or so of snow in October, this was definitely an exception with 7.9″ (20 cm) of heavy wet snow. Unfortunately the heavy snow began just as I was 35K into a 45K bike ride. Not only that, it began just after my bike had a flat tire as I was enjoying an highly anticipated 3K downhill coast on my way home. Karma smiled, however, as this all happened in front of a Metro bus stop only 5 minutes before the next bus. I loaded the bike on the bus’s rack and headed back. It was just as well, I guess, as the heavy snow was starting and my toes were getting cold anyway.

Well, with upcoming events I’ll give this blog another try. After all, it’s about time…

Well, sometimes for my breakfast. Khao lam is made by stuffing a segment of young bamboo with a mixture of purple sticky rice, coconut milk, some sugar, salt, and sometimes taro. The open end of the tube is plugged with coconut husk and it’s all slowly cooked before a low fire.  To eat you unplug the tube, peel back the bamboo, and scoop out the cooked rice with your fingers.  I buy mine from a lady who sets up her basket outside the hospital every morning. It’s REALLY delicious and is a great breakfast with Lao iced coffee!

Well, I’m just ending my 2nd of 3 night shifts on the inpatient ward: 7pm-7am coverage 3 nights in a row. I sure haven’t done this in a while, say 10+ years…  I’ve actually been lucky with fairly quiet nights and great nursing/Resident coverage. I’ve even been able to take advantage of a basic but comfortable call room. Not so bad after all. 

I was able to follow live election coverage Tuesday at an Aussie sports bar (of all places) here in LP. It was packed with expats and tourists from Australia, Canada, and a few from the US. (One advantage about being in Laos is that the crucial last hours were during the early afternoon rather than early am.). As the outcome became clear, the noisy bar went silent. It was clear that the crowd was stunned: no applause, no cheering, no high fives. It was telling. I have to say that I’m not happy about the election outcome either. I’m very concerned about all of the things the now “loyal opposition” has argued for, especially access for all to health care. But it is called the loyal opposition for a reason. No matter who is the minority party I hope that going forward there is communication between parties and respect for the “others”.  Argument for beliefs of course but compromise when needed. There needs to be a better way for all.