Time is Ticking!

Only two weeks until I'm back in New York! Right about now is when my brain/heart get confused and get stuck between missing home and anticipating missing Kenya. But such is life. Here is an update on what has been going on:

Sad News: I didn't get a chance to post this last time because I was trying to write about my trip... While I was away at the Mountain, Tusker was put to sleep. Some of you might remember Tusker as the amazing dog that gave us the story of the goat leg. He was my best dog friend here at Daraja, he gave me dead gifts and often slept on my bed. He smelled and was dirty but I loved him very much. The last few days of his life I knew it was over, I was helping to had feed him and he could barely lick milk off my fingers. I left for Mount Kenya knowing that was it, but it is still very sad. He has a very special place in my heart <3.

They're Back!Well, some of them. The form 3's returned on Saturday to start their tuition studies (they come back two weeks early to study for an exam that is another year away!) I'm very glad to have them back, it was so quite without them. Yesterday we had a scavenger hunt - I will have to post pics because it was pretty amazing!

Working at Cottage Hospital:In my free time I have been trying to get to the local hospital to do some volunteer work. They have been very welcoming and I am already learning a lot. I worked the morning shift today, and it was eventful. I got their just after one of our patients suddenly died - I saw her Sunday and she was ok, she was HIV positive and had meningitis but we had been counseling her about her future. She was afraid to tell her husband and we had finally gotten her to agree. Then she dies, 31 years old. Turns out the husband is HIV+ also and has been taking ARVs. He didn't want to tell her. She had two children under 8 years old. Please people, I am begging you!!! If you think you have been exposed (even if you don't think you have been exposed) go get tested! I honestly believe that the more open people are to testing the easier it will be to break this stigma. It is like the stigma kills people here, they are so afraid that they don't seek treatment. On a good note, we had a women come in to have labor induced, and that was very cool to watch. I'm exhausted and ready for a nap!

I am off to Tanzania tomorrow to drop off another volunteer who is studying abroad there until September. Wish me luck!