I think I mentioned it earlier on, but the reason why I’m not off on Saturdays is because I hope to travel for 2 months towards the end of the year, so I’m collecting vacation days. It’s a sacrifice. This means that I haven’t been able to travel much up till now. But next semester (I still think in semesters, despite not being a student) – I hope to make a minitrip to Kenya, perhaps Egypt and Djibouti. My boss’ friend advices against going Somalia, because of the apparent lawlessness of the country. Of course this just makes it even more tempting to go there. Come on, wouldn’t you be tempted on going Mogadishu and having a chat with the world famous pirates?

Last Sunday I decided to go exploring in the neighborhood. I wanted to check out the source of noise in the morning: the neighborhood mosque and church. And, well, to continue using my fabulous camera. I’m extremely happy with it, just that i need to figure out how to use it

Mohammed, my Mosque guide with a very fierce look. Not really sure why.

The Church:

Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed into the church – it’s only open in the mornings, and Sundays are never early morning, for me. The Mosque was open for people who wanted to pray, but the minaret was closed – so, again, wasn’t allowed in.

Random pictures of the streets:

What do we do we actually do when we meet? We sit and listen to gazals by Jagjit Singh. And nod our heads to the music or something. Some with a glass of beer in their hand – others with apple juice in their hands. Orange colour of the beverage is a must. To put it lightly these Punjabi meet-ups suck. Someone has to do something about it. That would be me.

Juice or beer? Don’t worry. It’s juice.

I am officially starting Shere-Punjab Bhangra group (Ethiopia Branch) on Sunday! I have spoken to the Boys (2-3 other Punjabi guys) and they’re in. I’ve made a mixed tape with the music. We gonna rock!!! And after that I don’t want to see them again until next session. Cause I can’t stand ‘em. Freshies. Writing this on a public forum is probably not a good idea – but what do I not do for my fellow readers?

Virpal, a true Bhangraman 

Those who know me well, know that when I am restless, I tend to write a bunch of gibberish on people’s facebook walls and stuff. Now, it seems as if it’s gone over the blog too.

It’s all good. Keep the love coming. Keep on motivating me. And in return I promise to move ma hips to that salsa music! Love and xxxxx to all my readers out there!

Ps. pictures of salsa will be uploaded as soon as I get the guts to take the camera to the salsa sessions!

Well the most obvious thing is – if a medical device breaks down – we (me and my “mentor”) check what’s wrong with it – what to do to fix it – what spare parts are needed. Apart from that we assist in operations (widening of the arteries when they have been clogged and/or patient has had a heart attack -  implantation of stents), interventions and implantations of pacemakers etc.

Basically we supervise and check that the machines are working – and in the case something stops working – we have to act immediately. We also have to help out regulating the operation table that’s being used by the surgeon.

First time I attended a pacemaker implantation I was fine standing a few meters away. But since I’m new the physician instructed me to come closer and see as the match-box size device is implanted. Yes I witnessed how he incised the skin, “dug” into the patients inner tissue to make space for the pacemaker.

Now all of that was fine, even the blood sipping out was fine. Until the wound suddenly started vomiting out blood. It was pouring all over the place. The sterilized cloth covering the patient was not sterilized any more. It was full of blood and other inner body matter. Not nice. Now I know why I chose not to become a nurse/doctor. I don’t fear blood and stuff – but this was just another level – with the inner tissue/meat being dug into and blood pouring out. The pictures in my head are enough –so I didn’t take any with my camera.

Meet Doctor Singh Ji. The stethoscope was added just to pose the photo.

On a serious note, sometime I also have to explain the patient’s condition, diagnosis, and suggested treatment to his/her family when they only speak Hindi/Urdu. This is essential when the family is consulted on what treatment should be given.

More else do I do? Well, apart from the above, I’ve been preparing an inventory list of all of the machines – to be able to have an idea about what machines we have, what condition they’re in and thus start making a prevention maintenance schedule (bla bla bla). And I’m making a website for the hospital! I’m also helping out in the purchase of medical devises: evaluating products, their specifications and prices etc etc.

I also explain how to use some of the medical equipment that we have. For example, some nurses are very familiar using the ECG equipment, but not as familiar using the ventilators – in which case I explain what each button/function does and when it is to be used. I love doing that since it means interacting more with the nurses/humans than interacting with the machines alone

It’s extremely important that the nurses are comfortable using the machines so that they’re confident while using them, and don’t use them incorrectly

But mostly, I sit with the nurses and doctors in the emergency (ICCU) unit and drink tea. Do it the Asian way. Chai.

My lovely colleagues from the ICCU.

So what do I do at the hospital?

I’m a tall handsome male. Working in a hospital. I wear a long white gown. So I must be a doctor most people would say? The only thing missing is a stethoscope.

Fact is, most patients at the hospital think I’m a doctor and ask me random questions regarding their diet, their condition etc. Or they just randomly call me “doctor” in a random conversation. For example, there’s this really sweet Greek family here, who apparently “loves Indians” – so the wife of the patient always smiles and says “hola doctor", como estas?”. And although it does feel good being referred to as “doctor” (oh come on! You would too!) I do try to think of a way to tell them I’m not a doctor (Although I could just say, wait I’m not a doctor…I’m an engineer!….However It doesn’t seem like the appropriate way to do it).

Then again, I do understand they think I’m a doctor – since I followed a nurse to the patient, commented the high pulse and low oxygen saturation, as seen on the pulsoxymetry, and the nurse regulated the values on the ventilator. Of course they’d think I’m doc! Anyway! More pictures from the hospital:

My office, as it was before I got here:

It’s still as messy, I haven’t cleaned it. We’re two engineers. It’s going to get messy again. Plus I’m busy doing important stuff on the hospital. Who has time to CLEAN?

More from the hospital to come!

My travel company.

It is however here, that I saw how poor people actually are. But still people live their lives joyfully and play foosball and whatever else they do

This hoarse obviously had stomach problems… Just like I had in that city..

Random people requesting to have their pictures taken

This kid and the dog became my models for testing the different settings on my camera. The aperture setting, trying with and without the flash etc. I probably have 100 pictures of these two.

Now going there, yesterday, took about 1.5 hour due to traffic, but today I managed to travel 35km in less than 20 minutes. That’s an average speed of 105km/h. On a road in Africa. I wasn’t expecting the roads to be in such a good condition, and I could’ve easily managed to travel 40km in 20 minutes, if it wasn’t for the traffic police who thought I drove too fast. Yes, my Ethiopian license has been withdrawn, and I got a fine. That is quite an achievement considering I haven’t gotten my Swedish license withdrawn after driving in Sweden for almost three years (despite causing 2-3 car accidents and what not). Actually when I think about it – I’m not a very safe driver when it comes to long distances (I guess)

Considering that I’ll get the license back tomorrow after appearing at court and

paying 140 birr (equivalent of approx $10) – it’s not too bad. But I would’ve preferred not getting caught to begin with. Bohoo

The outside, with “ma car”. Picture of the door (No idea why I took that picture). Anywho! Pictures of the inside:

Living room area. The living room is connected to the dining room and the kitchen:

The kitchen, on its hand, is connected to two tiny rooms – one is more like a mini lobby – which is connected to a small bedroom. There’s a staircase to the left – which isn’t visible in the picture. It leads to the bottom floor – which is where the security guard, the household helper and a kid (don’t know who he is, from where he came or anything – he just lives there) – lives. So basically I’ve got the two floors to myself.

Going up the stairs: to the left lies my room, which is right next to my bathroom.

My room, as it is – with no make up done to show how neat I am. I’m a mess. Luckily the household helper helps cleaning and clearing up and I do appreciate all help I get (as that lets me slack even more…) The reason why the positioning of the bed is different in the two pictures, is because the household helper randomly felt like rearranging the furniture in my room – without asking me. I’m considering which setting I like the most. The former, where the bed is in the centre of the room,  gave me light from both sides- as there are windows on both sides of the bed (on both walls) – but there wasn’t much space to sit on the floor and play my instruments. The new setting gives me more floor space but I only get light from one window (on my face) in the morning, that is, the one in front of me (opposite to the bed). Hard decisions in life….

The household helper got so tired of seeing my unpacked bags lying around for such a long time (I hadn’t had to unpack for like two weeks) – she unpacked my bags, folded the clothes and put them in the drawers. Which is why I never find what I’m looking for. Boohoo!

Anyway, the crib! Pictures continue:

The toilet.

Beside the toilet is the veranda and the extra bedroom I’ve got. This is where you stay when YOU come and visit (I shall try  to arrange a blanket for you when you confirm you are coming). This “you” of course is directed to anyone who wants to come and see Ethiopia

The veranda and some random pictures of the view taken while I was testing my new camera:

The kid who lives on the bottom floor, who lives with the security guard and the household helper (no he’s not their child…)
The dogs, Dino and…. don’t remember the name of the other one… serve as security for the house. And to ruin my sleep at night when they randomly start barking at nothing particular. And make my hard difficult when I get home as they bark their throat off as soon as they see me – scare the sh*t out of me (pretty traumatic having a huge dog run at you..)

All in all, it can be stated that my accommodation is pretty decent, and that its the least of my concerns here. My concerns are rather trivial to be honest – how to manage to fit everything in the day – work, piano lessons, working out at the gym and/or salsa, blog and/or facebook (my rather awkward notion of relaxing) and sleeping enough! So far the sleep has had to suffer – but then again, I can always sleep when I grow older