sweet jonathan

Monday, May 30, 2011

Today was the start of another week for therapy.  Cari, Anna and I were put with Dr. Tullos this week.  I was assigned to Jonathan, a four-year old boy who has cognitive impairments and is probably on the autism spectrum.  Dr. Tullos asked Shanna, who worked with him last week, who she thought would be good with him and she said me…. Because I had a “firm hand”. Hahaha I’m not sure how to take that but after an afternoon of one-on-one therapy with him, I now understand what she means.  I had to develop my own version of a restraining chair.  Thankfully, Dr. Tullos came over and helped me hold him down while we rolled the ball back and forth.  He loves when I sing to him and rub my fingers on his cheeks, note to self!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Therapy with Jonathan today was a success!! Stimulation with breaks every couple minutes did the trick. I held Jonathan in my lab and wrapped my legs around his while I guided his hand towards a fruit and vegetable chart with Velcro manipulatives.  He took the manipulative off and put it back on the chart.  Every other minute or so he got overwhelmed and made loud sounds and his body became stiff.  I put him in my arms like a baby, rocked him, and sang This Little Light or Mango Tree and he calmed down.  After I sang for a few minutes, we went back to the fruit and vegetable chart.  About 30 minutes of working and taking breaks, I realized Jonathan was self-stimulating by taking the manipulatives and rubbing his legs and arms.  Tomorrow I think we will work with the language packet that has objects with all kinds of textures like cotton balls and nail files.  Dr. Weaver’s daughter, Reagan, is an occupational therapist (OT) and will be joining us in about a week; Jonathan will be GREAT for her to work with.  Oh, and when we go to the playground in the mornings, Jonathon sits on the merry-go-round the entire 30 minutes. 

Dinner was fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans. Charissa said she wanted to take Leonard home as her souvenir.  After dinner, a couple of us went over to Mrs. Mona’s, our neighbor, who is a seamstress.  She is making me a queen size quilt for 200 kwacha, which is about $40.  5,000 kwacha = $1.  When we walked back, Webster, one of our night watchman, wanted to teach us a song in tonguen.  He let us know that we were asked to sing at church one Sunday.  While we were practicing, the power went off (which happens every other day or so) but we kept on singing….good times.  Charissa took some videos, I must say, we weren’t too shabby.

Our class developed a group blog for our multicultural class.  I will post the link below if you are interested (mom and dad).  This blog will focus on the speech-language pathology aspect of our trip… tune in if you like that stuff! I am in school with some great writers.  

http://csdinzambia.blogspot.com 

mango mango tree

Today reminds me of Sundays at home with Chesley. Movies, Frisbee, naps, and good food. Our first week of therapy was a success.  Oh, Charissa brought a pedometer and it turns out that each way to The Haven is 1.55 miles.  Therefore, I have been walking at least 4.65 miles a day.  All of which will help maintain weight because Leonard’s food is so carbalicious (no complaints though!) 

I think we have about 30 hours so far, including Monday and Tuesday’s diagnostic hours.  Kara lead Wednesday’s lesson, Cari lead Thursday’s and Tessa and I lead language enrichment for Haven 2 on Friday.  We sang Mango, Mango, Tree which is consistently stuck in my head now. The aunties sing it to the little ones, so naturally they enjoy it.  We taught them body parts and clothes.  Emma loved this lesson; she sang along with some of the songs and gestured during some too.  Anna took great pictures of our lesson.

I forgot to mention, Wednesday night Dr. Tullos (Triple D) and BWeave spoke to us about the possibility of a death at The Haven.  BWeave explained that the funeral is the day of the death and we must prepare ourselves because it is different.  The women wrap the baby in a cloth and all the men take turns covering the baby with rocks and sticks.  There is a section behind The Haven 2 designated for babies that pass on.  Dr. Tullos mentioned that in many villages, if the mother of a child dies, they burry the child with the mother.  The idea is that the child dies quickly rather than starves slowly.  BWeave also said that the day after, life is back to normal.

Saturday was my favorite day we have had here, thus far.  We woke up early, ate some breakfast, and drove an hour in Khaki Jackie to Choma.  Choma had a market spread out over about 3 acres with roughly 200 stands.  A stand is typically made out of cardboard….  Like I said earlier, the markets remind me that I am living in a third-world country.  I bought six chitangees, four of which I will use for a quilt.  After the market we all met at Spar, a popular grocery store in Zambia.  While waiting for everyone, I saw MANY kids digging through trashcans. Lauren bought two bags of chips and the second she went to grab one, two teenagers rushed over and begged for them.  She handed them the chips and they fought over them for a couple minutes until Lauren told/gestured to them they had to share.  I saw another kid with one shoe on and ALL of the kids had holes in their clothing. 

Lunch was fried chicken and French fries from Spar.  We all walked over to the Choma Museum and had a picnic.  Oh, and we had some Eat Some More cookies for dessert.  I wish we had fun names like that in the states.  After our picnic we walked into the Choma Museum but didn’t get past the crafts store.  We all spent at least an hour in there.  I bought gifts for Haley, Mom, Chesley’s mom, Ryder, and myself!  I got Ryder the cutest baby spoons EVER, they have little giraffes as the handle.  The actual museum part took less than 5 minutes. 

When we got back Lauren, Naiveen and I went to Mona’s to get skirts made out of our chitangees.  I saw a huge bucket of potatoes and asked what they were for and Mona told us about a big wedding going on at 2pm.  We were all invited so we immediately told BWeave.  Everyone changed and walked over to the church to experience our first Zambian wedding!  I have plenty of videos that I will post as soon as I get back to the states.  The entire wedding party danced down the aisle many times (all choreographed).  Finally when the bride came down, I realized she was looking down at the ground and never looked up.  I was wondering if this marriage was arranged but BWeave clarified that the brides are supposed to take the day extremely seriously.  The groom would laugh when his friends jumped up and danced around him but the bride never cracked a smile.  Towards the end, they would play songs and all the bride’s family would get up and dance.  Kara and Charissa jumped up to go dance with them, so naturally, many followed.  I stayed behind to take videos and pictures.  The entire wedding and reception was about three hours.

After the wedding, a group of us went to play ultimate Frisbee.  Thanks to Chesley, I was not too bad! Breezy kept calling me a beast… thanks babe for all the practice. :) After Frisbee, we all played some card games which Ian and Brain dominated.

5 naked african babies

Monday, May 22, 2011

I completely forgot to mention that we have three pharmacy kids with us, Brain aka Queso Grace, Justin aka Breezy, and Cameron (native to MS!). Cameron dated one of my friends from OleMiss, ironically.  The PHIZ (Pharmacy Harding in Zambia) kids are doing their externship at a HIV clinic in town.  Oh, and BWeave nick-named everyone the other night. Mine: Lil’ Kanders. If there is a lil’ kanders reference in other blogs, now you know.

So today was our first day of therapy.  Most of us took the short cut to The Haven, which is all countryside.  It’s pretty and all but ever since Ian (Dr. Tullos’ son) mentioned green and black mombas… I’m terrified they will strike when I am in tall grass (which covers the entire short cut).  The shortcut is probably three-fourths of a mile, while the regular walk on the dirt roads is about a mile.  We have one van, Kakhi Jackie, and it can hold about 10 of us (including Tessa laying across our laps), but we like to walk.  Plus, it’s gorgeous here… blue skies for miles and miles. We unpacked all the supplies and clothes when we got to The Haven and covered two huge tables. 

We went to Haven 1 (the babies) in the morning and Haven 3 (the sick babies/toddlers) in the afternoon.  All of us picked at least two kids to informally evaluate.  For the babies we looked for their developmental milestones such as tracking, sucking on a bottle, trunk control, crawling, standing, and walking.  Memory (the first little GIRL who stole my heart) was able to do all except walk on her own.  She is getting there, though! Yes, the little “boy” I fell in love with is a girl.  I found this out when I changed her diaper.  By the way, the aunties use towels and safety pins and/or this device that pulls the cloth together for diapers.  Yep, safety pins. Then we went over to observe the sick babies.  Douw and Andrew were two of the cutest toddlers I have ever seen. Andrew just wanted some extra lovin’.  He laid on my chest for over an hour.  Both Andrew and Douw were walking on their own and occasionally getting a phoneme or two out.  Then, I heard Tapagwa… a six-month old baby who looked about six weeks.  Her arms and legs were the skinniest I have ever seen.  Her mother died of HIV and most children that live in the villages need both parents to survive so her father brought her to The Haven.  Tapagwa could not hold her head up and barely grasped my finger.  That sweet baby will be getting a lot of attention in these next few weeks. 

To be considered an orphan the child must have at least one parent deceased.  The main goal for The Haven is to eventually get the children back to their villages, which sometimes happens and sometimes it doesn’t.  If they become too old to live in the toddler house (Haven 2) they move in with The Merritts’.  Dr. Tullos informed me at dinner tonight that The Merritt’s have adopted over 45 children.  All of which live with them in Namwianga until they are old enough to go to college and live in the dorms.

Showers are warm from about lunchtime to 4:30 so therapy ends around 4:00.  We walked back to The Man House (where the girls are staying this year), rinsed off, and then played some more “football” with our neighbors.  These four girls always come over to either color or play “football”.  I think their mothers work for The Haven.  The big sister, Misou, babysits her younger sister.  I mentioned chitangees earlier… African women use these chitangees for everything.  In Ms. Lowry’s words, they are functional! They wear them as skirts, they clean with them, they use them as a sling to put their baby in, they make them into dresses, wallets, etc.  Anyway, I have the cutest picture of Missou with her little sister strapped to her back in a chitangee. Goal: I will get a picture by the end of these next few weeks with an African baby strapped to MY back in a chitangee.

Tuesday, May 22, 2011

Today was another day to informally evaluate the little ones at Haven 2 and 3.  Today I found out my sweet Andrew who has HIV also has syphilis.  He is the sweetest boy at The Haven (in my eyes).  All he wants to do is lay on me and he takes my arms and wraps them around him tight. In the middle of our evaluation, five naked African babies came running into the living area.  It was possibly the funniest and cutest thing I have ever witnessed. 

Dad, every night Leonard has fresh tomatoes for us.  Every night. You would be in heaven.  He made mack and cheese for dinner tonight. We learned that Americans are one of very few cultures that eat their large meal at night.  Lunch here is the mega meal, which is why everyone takes a nap before the afternoon sessions or work.  After dinner we played a big loooong game of Phase 10.  First time to play that game, takin it home with me. Then I got in bed and read some James Patterson. I have been going to bed so early, like 9 or 10.

Wednesday, May 23, 2011

First day of group therapy! I am in Cara’s group with Cari, Anna, and Ben. In the mornings we do language enrichment with Haven 2 kiddos and then we moved over to Haven 1.  Cara said we were wingin’ it today, so we sang a bunch of songs, read a bunch of books, and then made crazy sounds for Haven 1 babies.  Miller made a “t” sound today, first time I have heard anything come out of his mouth. Dow told me thank you and bye and Andrew waved bye to me.  Second years- Hamilton is chunky, smiling like crazy and starting to make some sounds! Hamilton was skin and bones last year and had failure to thrive.  Good feedback this morning!  

The first few days

I am officially unpacked and living in Namwianga, ZAMBIA! After three plane rides and a six-hour bus ride with a short stop at "Tooters" for lunch, we are here.  The plane rides were not bad at all, thanks to Dr. Weston (and ambian).  The six-hour bus ride wasn't bad either… we passed through many villages.  Lots of fruit, potatoes, charcoal, baskets, and carvings for sale on the side of the road.  There were multiple police stops along the way.  The luggage truck got a ticket for not having a mud flap.  Oh, and our bus died on the way from Lusaka so all the guys had to get out and push it until it started- the adventure began early.

I ordered egg rolls at "Tooters" which ended up being... an egg on a roll.  I have realized in these past three days that the English used in Africa is very literal. For example, the cake Leanord, the chef, makes says "Apple Cake with Chocolate" - it literally says that on the cake… funny right? Leanoard plans on cooking us one Zambian meal a week and we are not to act disappointed/grossed out/etc under any circumtance. I am living with Anna (native to Searcy), Lauren (native to LR), and Ashley (native to Pennsylvania).

Anyway, this is amazing…already. Dr. Weaver (BWeave) threw out the idea of everyone coming back next year... uh oh.  Ashley came to Namwianga the first year HIZ-PATH (Harding University In Zambia) started, three years ago.  She walked me around Namwianga/campus/compound/whatever you want to call it.  There is a university (you can major in education, history, math and the bible), an elementary school, middle school, high school, dorms, auditorium, cafeteria, football (soccer) field, and basketball court. Every student at this school is either; funded by an American or their parents pay (which is rare).  It is roughly $200 a semester to fund a student.  

I can't believe this place began with simple donations people made, whether that be time or money.  I walked around the campus and all the kids were so kind and happy to see Americans.  School is not required due to the families need for the children's work but Ashley said the attendance rate is high.  

I have only been in Africa three days and I am in love. I guess I fall in love wherever I am but man, I could totally live here for a while.

Saturday, May 20, 2011

I slept for nine solid hours, the most I have slept since leaving the states. Leanord made oatmeal with brown sugar for breakfast.  He doesn’t talk much but he sure does make some good food.  Today we rode in Kahki Jackie to The Haven and embraced 80 opening arms.  There were three different houses; one for infants, one for toddlers, and one for sick babies (sick being…. HIV, TB, or failure to thrive).  The sick babies need us the most so we will be seeing them every day.  We spent over an hour at The Haven, enough time for me to fall in love with Maureen (or Memory, not exactly sure of his name yet... aunties told me both).  He looks to be about six months old and is a complete jokester.  I will have plenty of pictures of the two of us.  His neighbor was Hamilton, the baby who was skin and bones last summer.  He came close to dying many times but made it, thanks to the aunties and all.  The aunties are great, they seemed so happy to have us.  

Leanard made spaghetti last night with bread pudding!!! Of course, that made me think of my Momma (wasn't as good as hers though).  After dinner we played Mafia for a while and then I went to sleep and got nine hours... I obviously am needing my sleep.

Sunday, May 21, 2011

Today was a day to relax, get organized and play "football".  We unpacked the huge 18-wheeler storage bin full of supplies such as language enrichment packets, protocols, office supplies, feeding cups, paper, journals, and diet coke for BWeave.  After, we played "football" with the locals.  That was a blast... they are good! I kicked a little girl (looked like she was six years old) in the chest (on accident!) and she didn't even flinch!