Aaron's Public Health Outreach Trip

On Wednesday, I left the health clinic grounds to go on outreach with Erin. We drove about a half hour away from the clinic, parked, and began a hike to the health post where the staff would give treatment to people of the community. Erin forgot to mention, however, that it was a 2 hour hike through the blistering sun each way. I survived…barely.

When we arrived at the health post, people began to gather around either to get certain vaccinations or to see the white faranjis. It was funny though to see at least 30 children gather around simply to see me and Erin. For the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to be a celebrity. Most people in this village were a little shy at first, but after the first few people shook my hand, everyone wanted to.

Next to the health post also sat a hut that a big family lived in. As we sat, Erin and I watched a cow walk right into the house. Out of curiosity, we followed. The family graciously welcomed us into the house, and offered us a doughnut-like pastry and some chai. Erin was more daring than I, eating most of the doughnut. I ate merely a crumb.

On the walk back, we stopped to each lunch on the trail. One of the staff members had brought a full pot of injera with some sauce, lentils, and potatoes mixed in. It was kind of a free for all with our bare hands. I had learned shortly after I arrived in Ethiopia that this would be the customary way to eat Ethiopian food. The thing that may have diminished my appetite was watching the staff members dig in with their hands that they only washed with dirty water after handling patient after patient. Once again, Erin was braver than me.