the good:-- my commute to work...traffic: occasional pedestrian, flights of stairs: 1, time in transit: 20 seconds walking, 6 seconds jogging.
-- being gently rocked to sleep by the boat.
-- my "food soulmate," meg...we both always get double helpings of dessert (and sometimes even eat our dessert first), don't like raw tomatoes, have severe snack attacks late at night, love spicy foods, love anything with peanut butter on it, both game to try any ghanaian dish, etc etc.
-- african-style worship services on sunday mornings.
-- no studying!!
-- the graciousness and exuberant hospitality of the ghanaian people.
-- meeting people from all over the world...so far i have received open invitations to stay at homes in south africa, london and australia.
-- saturday night movies projected outdoors on the aft deck.
-- my roommates, for not only being hilariously fun girls but also for putting up with my grisly, non-morning-person self each AM.
-- the two scottish folk dances (ceilidhs) we had last month, complete with a live band (including accordion!)...think square dance.
-- red red and fried plantain...mmmmm.
the bad:-- my commute to the toilet...climb down from top bunk, being careful not to slip and fall onto concrete floor in my sleepy state, go out the door into the hall, quickly dash down the hall towards the stairs hoping that no one sees me in my pj's, go up one flight of stairs and down another hall, finally reach bathroom and pray that it is not already occupied in which case i have to climb a second flight of stairs...argh (but hey, at least i have access to a toilet)
-- lying awake in my cabin listening to the jackhammer-like noise that the ropes make when the boat rocks too enthusiastically.
-- 63 consecutive days without a dr pepper. and counting.
the divine:-- watching the ladies who had vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repairs celebrate their newly restored bodies during their "dress ceremony" (wearing traditional african dresses, singing and dancing and praising God to the beat of an african drum) .
-- the fact that every single person on this ship, from the most highly esteemed surgeon to the engine room worker to the cook, is here to serve the people of ghana...and does so with joy, compassion and a great sense of humor.
-- the fact that my dry spell may be ending...the ship recently received a container from the US and i have heard first-hand reports that cases of dr. pepper were seen being unloaded from it today...woo hoo!
-- that God has finally given me peace about a specialty choice...but you'll have to wait til next time to find out what it is! (i know, i'm cruel. however, for any of you out there who would like to make a prediction, feel free to do so by posting a comment on this blog entry...there may or may not be a prize for those who guess correctly. and if you are among the 3-4 people who i've already told, you are ineligible for said possible prize).
# posted by Jenn @ 6:51 PM