Well today was the slowest day at the hospital so far. There was very little excitement in the ER (which I guess is a good thing). So Priscilla and I went on rounds with Dr. Harvey, learned a lot, and then returned to the ER. We took vital signs multiple times throughout the day, but mostly we spent a lot of time teaching English/learning French. There are two Congolese doctors and three American missionary doctors. Both of the Congolese doctors would probably be considered doctors in residency, but I would maybe go as far as saying they are at the level/or below that of the 4 medical students here for the summer. The Congolese doctors do know a lot, they are just very inexperienced clinically. Practicing medicine in Africa, specifically the Republic of Congo is challenging. Almost all hospitals lack some of the most basic instruments for measuring illness and injury. For example, Pioneer Christian Hospital does not have an x-ray machine. Doctors here have to rely a lot on observational skills, patient descriptions, and instruments not traditionally used when looking for bone breaks. Making a diagnosis here is often more like an intellectual guess at a mystery.

The rest of the day was spent at the Wegner’s house because they were hosting a goodbye party for Sarah Beth Harvey who is Dr. Harvey’s niece. Sarah Beth has been here over a year and is leaving this Saturday to return to the states. She is truly an incredible girl; she has made Impfondo her home and is completely fluent in Lingala. She has taught English classes, helped in the hospital, taken care of missionary kids, and has brought so many new connections between the American missionaries and the Congolese people. She is totally an African now and is very proud of it! So please pray that her transition back to the States would be smooth and safe. She really doesn’t want to leave and is scared to start a new life back in New York and possibly college this coming fall. She would love to get a teaching degree and come back to Congo and teach in the near future so if this is God’s will for her life please pray that she would be motivated and supported in that by her family and friends!

On a random side note, here are some observations I have made since arriving:

1)    The Congolese have no idea what a high-five is. If you go in for a high-five, they will either shake your hand or hold on to it. I proved this hypothesis today. At first I thought it was just that the Congolese kids had not learned/practicing high-fives, but this was disproved when I went to give a high-five to one of the Congolese doctors, Dr. Noah (pronouncede: “No-ay”). Dr. Noah simply looked at my hand and said “what is this?” I then went on to explain what it is…he still thought it was weird.

2)    Congolese people seem to never age! I’m not sure if it is the super humid air that keeps their skin always nicely hydrated, or if it is because they are all in such great shape; but they look great! Seriously, I have mistaken so many 40-year-olds women for 20-year-olds! And don’t even get me started on Dr. Noah, he looks like he’s 23 at best, but nope he’s 35! He has been studying medicine for 11 years! I’m not saying that they look immature, they just don’t get wrinkles and everyone is fit!

3)    The Congolese people are super interested in us white people, especially ones like me that have blonde hair too. However, they are even more fascinated with Priscilla! Priscilla is originally from India, so she has darker skin but very sleek and shiny straight hair. This is what confuses the Congolese people. They are used to seeing darker skin tones, but they are not used to seeing naturally straight hair. Priscilla has had multiple people come up and touch her hair already haha. Whenever we are walking and say hi to a Congolese person, they often respond with “mundeli?” as if to ask what Priscilla is. We always respond with “India”, and they seem to understand, but most just respond with a word that means she is the combination of a black parent and white parent.