fishy hands

2 Scissors, 2 sticks of glue, lots of paper, and even more smiles. A typical morning in the "Green Room" at the 57 3 57 Children's Hospital where I started volunteering this past Monday. Arriving around 10am, I spend the morning cutting, folding, drawing, and today, I got to be Aya's left hand (here left hand was too brusied from needles).

I work with the in-patients who have cancer. I hang out until 1:30ish teaching the children and their Mom's different crafts. These aren't complicated, technical crafts, just simple, easy, fold here, cut there, glue this types of crafts I learned growing up.

Every two weeks, the hospital has a party for the children, so this week, I made crowns for the boys and girls on the 6th floor where I've been working. The excitement of the Mom's seeing their children receive this is reward enough! The Mom's are the nurses. They are at the hospital, dressed in grubs, rolling the IV machines around, pushing buttons, and doing whatever else they can to keep their children comfortable and happy (which isn't always easy).

To get to the hospital, I catch a taxi to the Metro Station, take a 30min metro ride, and walk about 15 minutes through a part of Old Cairo. Old buildings lining streets full of goats, sheep, and blood from the local butcher shop; the clanging of ironsmiths, tin buckets full of coal, and old wooden stands full of delicious looking fruit whose vibrancy contrasts the dark hues of the old buildings.

Walking through these steets brings a smile to my face. And yesterday, brought me fishy hands. As I began my little hike up the stairs to the metro, a few older ladies grasped to the railing with grocery bags full of fish. Relieving them of their load, I waited at the top, returned their fish, and went on my way.......with fishy hands.

While being squished by smelly men in the metro (I couldn't find the women's car again), the fishy hands served as a good reminder of why I'm here -- standing far too close to a pit full of un-deodarized arm..........

Brief Glimpse

On 5th January, Lianne and I left Egypt to travel with like-minded friends in order to experience another part of the Arab world. Our journey begins:



3 hour flight, 1 hour drive through, 1 windy road through backroads, we arrive at our orientation destination. Still recovering from a week sick in bed, the last thing on my mind was making friends. Boy, was I in for a surprise...a few surprises!



Orientation included information about the countries we were going to visit (our group of 15 split into 3 groups), places to visit, culture-appropriate behavior, and other travelling need-to-knows. I and three others comprised "Team Bahrain:" a fun-loving couple from Southern California, a Swiss-German-Jordanian, and myself the Half-Japanese from Hawaii.



The four of us became a little family and really enjoyed our time together. The following is the first entry into our team journal, which I wrote each day. To read the others, please visit http://thepowellpeople.blogspot.com/
11 January 2008Home: Hospital mazes and hyper-markets - Welcome to Bahrain!

And so, Team Bahrain begins: Aaron, Allison, Sarah, and Janean. Here we are, sitting at Gate 6 amused by our honorary 5th member, 20 Questions entertaining us with random questions such as, “Is it bigger than a pound of butter?” or “Does it bring joy to people?” Minding our own business, ignoring the awkward stares of others, our team bonding continues interrupted by a giggly toddler who decides to attack innocent Allison. It was more of a hit-and-run, minus the run. A waddle is more like it, and accompanied with a child’s rendition of the evil laugh, this little tyke succeeded in his endeavors, and his memory will forever be recorded in the happenings of Team Bahrain.

20 Questions in pocket, luggage in tow, we finally land in Bahrain. Minus passport control’s suspicion of Janean’s identity, everyone made it through just fine. Hungry, tired, and full of eager anticipation, we load our cart –

Seven pieces of luggage, check
Five team members, checkPassports, check
Hungry stomachs, double check

Stepping out of the airport, we are quickly greeted as the “three Americans and one Swiss-German-Jordanian.” I suppose no one had difficulties identifying us, obviously. Loading our luggage into two vehicles, we begin our journey through the extensive city of Bahrain toward the American Mission Hospital, which will be home for the next two weeks.

Parking across the street, we strap on our backpacks, roll our suitcases, and trek our way across the street, open the door to the hospital, and breath in the warm air in relief – we’re finally home! Elhamdulallah, right?

Or not. Little did we know what lay ahead: too many corners, a few elevator rides, one bridge, various doors until, at last, room 505 – Home sweet home! Following sighs of relief as we sink into the living room couches, quick introductions, we make our way to Bahrain Mall – food our goal. Nothing will stop us now.

One hour later, here we sit, Allison and Aaron, the Cali couple, enjoy Japanese grill; Janean, the half-Jap from Hawaii and Sarah, the Swiss-German-Jordanian indulge in tasty Persian Grill. Diversity is an understatement. Finally fed, we begin our journey through the hyper-market.

Yes, hyper-market, not to be confused with supermarket. Just imagine the excitement, or lack thereof, as four of us tired and fed, stroll, or lag rather, through too many aisles, filled with too many options, thinking of one thing: bed! With a common goal in mind, we persevere, pay, load up, and head home -- not so hyper. Day one, done.

i'm baaaack!

i've returned from my adventures abroad. well, i'm still abroad...but now i'm not abroad abroad.

instead of giving you a play by play of the past three weeks, i will highlight a few events, lessons, and thoughts. this will be best for you and for me. as the team journalist, i kept a faithful account of daily occurances and as a consistent journaler, recalling my thoughts and lessons will not be difficult.

however, i am going to bed right now. in the meanwhile, prepare yourself for what's to come. i'll try to make it worth your wait :) i hope all of you are well (i'm not sure who "all" entails).......but anyway. before i start (or continue) rambling, i'm going to stop.

goodnight, good morning, good afternoon....good bye.

o man. oman. ba rain. bahrain. gulf. golf...what more do you want?

i was in oman.

am in bahrain.

will be in united arab emirates.

and you will be updated, of course. lucky you!