Amatikulu

We arrived in Amatikulu after an hour and a half drive. Sixteen of us went there while the other twelve went to Impendle. We arrived at their health center where a guy meet us and told us about the community health workers (CHWs) and what they do. Our rural homestay mamas were already there – they are all CHWs – and had been waiting for us for hours. We went to the homes with our mothers which were all spread out really far. Amatikulu is by the coast but we couldn’t see the water from our house. We walked quite a bit to our house from where Thula dropped us off. They sent us with a roll of toilet paper and a jug of water.

Our house was in between sugar cane fields and many many cow pastures. I had to dodge the cows to get to the toilet. Our house had electricity but no running water. That night we chilled with mama and her four kids – 5th, 4th, 1st, and kindergarten. She made us a huge plate full of beans and five pieces of steam bread – which is the bread they all make here. Then we went to bed after we watched Generations of course. Our house is basically one big room and then another separated bedroom. We slept with mama in the bedroom and the four kids sleep on the bed in the living room. Woke up experienced the pit latrine..which is at the neighbors house. We chose not to use the bucket mama and the kids use to pee in in the house..yup! Mama feed us weet bix for breakfast then we went out on her CHW rounds. It was 38 degrees Celsius which is like 96 it was ridiculously hot! We walked to four families houses..checked on a TB patient, a woman who had a stroke, checked for breast cancer, and high blood pressure. Then we went back to the house..mama feed us bologna sandwiches with butter – it’s the condiment of choice. Then we passed out. Mama then had a full meal for us for lunch which was two hours later. Then about four hours after that mama had a full plate of dinner for us. We played hand games with the children at night. None of them speak English really at all.

There were rats in the ceiling..that was cool. And it rained the entirety of Tuesday night. Which on a tin roof is ridiculously loud..but it was fun. Wednesday it was still raining so we didn’t go out on any rounds. So we sat in the house all day which never in my life have I had that much free time with nothing to do. I appreciate things to do now haha. Mama fed us continuously the entire day. We politely refused food twice for instance when mama tried to feed us six egg sandwiches for breakfast we told her she could have some of ours. Anyway, Mom, Dad you might have to bring home twice as much food when I get back. I am going to look like a whale and honestly you can’t laugh cause there is legitimately nothing I can do about it. We all looking forward to our ISP times to try and detox for those of us not staying with a homestay family. We are hoping because it is so hot out and we sweat 24 hours a day..literally in our sleep as well..that we are losing some of the weight we are gaining.

Anyway overall its been really fun and interesting to see how they live. Haven’t bathed in 4 days..homestay mama in Cato is def gonna call me out on it and tell me I stink. Perhaps she will have a bath prepared when I return home today. Oh and before we left Amatikulu we went to the craft center and made beaded bracelets with the local women. We also bought some of the stuff they had made..so I may or may not have gifts!

Oh and by the way I got everyones cards…thank you Mom, Gma and Gpa, and Gran and Pa!!!!