Monday, Dec 20, work day #1

Dr. Tadios picked me up at 7am for 7:30 meeting; nine trauma cases over the weekend, four of whom died within 6 hrs. Break for tea and then to the O.R. With 8 am case finally starting at 10:15. Helped with 1 1/2 cases; left early to meet Lynn and Rachel. However not before some pretty depressing sights and events that left me wondering whether I really want to be at the Black Lion Hospital for a month. It's probably like Boston City hospital or Bellevue in the 1930's, only worse. No lights anywhere, poorly maintained, often 24 patients to a room, three feet apart . . . And that is the good part.

Meanwhile Rachel and Lynn were having a wonderful time with Naomi, their 19 year old guide, who loves Rachel. I met them for lunch at the Ghion hotel that has huge magnificent gardens with birds every color of the rainbow. We ate outside watching the birds, the palm trees and large trees with red, purple, orange,fushia and other colored flowers

To back up a little . . . Sunday afternoon we met at Rick Hodes' house with two Denver and one Montreal family freshly arrived in Ethiopia.






All of them along with us and Rick's 17 kids introduced ourselves and then an orientation for the newcomers to the work of the JDC in Ethiopia. We treated all of them to pizza and cake and then Rachel taught the kids how to make friendship bracelets while they braided Rachel's hair in Ethiopian style (think fashionable dreadlocks).

For dinner, our Danish friends at the B&B recommended a traditional Abyssinian restaurant with Ethiopian food, music and dancers. Very colorful entertainment and food.


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