weather, money, and medicine

India was definitely getting hotter by the time I left, so it was a bit of a shock to come here to a week of rain and cool temperatures that made me wish I'd brought more ankle-length skirts and long sleeves.  This week, though, it's been warmer and sunny.  I'm back to being happy to be in short sleeves.  I anticipate getting wet again this weekend, though, with some great views at Victoria Falls.  I just hope the sun holds out for our anticipated trip to Chobe Game Park in Botswana.

People ask us for money a lot here.  Or they ask to do our laundry or sweeping for money.  I tell them I do my own laundry (by hand), which is true.  I haven't found the best way to deal with or think about being asked for money.  Obviously, the perceptions of Western wealth on one hand are inaccurate - at least in my case, since I'm >$200,000 in debt for med school.  On the other hand, I do live a life of incredible privilege in so many ways, partly shown by the very fact of my being in this country.  So I simply smile apologetically and say no for the most part.

Medicine is quite different here.  Not so much because we see different diseases, although we do (I've seen at least four cases of cryptococcal meningitis in a week and a half, which I never saw in the States, although I know it happens; I've also seen lots more TB, HIV, and rheumatic heart disease here than in the States).  But because of the setting, even our first-line medications for common conditions are often different - for pneumonia or PID, for meningitis or CHF.  So it takes some adjusting and insecurity can come with that.  But I'm learning and thinking and asking questions, and I suppose that is good.