Lena: President of Ireland

Posted 03:21 AM, June 20, 2006, by lenawine

Today the president of Ireland is coming to visit MS-TCDC. Apparently there is some sort of exchange program here with a school in Ireland and she wants to take a tour of the campus. There has been an influx of people, many of the them are wazungu (white). I saw her with her security team and reporters walking around the complex.

President of ireland.jpg

In other news, we started our first day of actual class today and much to my surprise, I was not in the lowest group. I made it into the middle level, which was a much needed boost to my confidence as I was beginning to feel that I was the least competent Swahili speaker here.

Now I am beginning to suspect that many of my colleagues are also clueless about what is going on, but they just don't admit it as freely as I do. I seem to be the only one here who ever acknowledges that I don't understand.

I think since going to medical school I have realized that there will be lots of times when I don't understand, and if I don't speak up, I likely never will understand.

Comments

Lena this is awesome! ! ! I can't wait to hear about it when you return :-)

Comment by: Debbie at June 22, 2006 05:18 AM

Oh, Lena- I know you posted this awhile ago and by now you're probably feel way more comfortable with Swahili and Tanzania, but I totally hear you about admiting there's lots of stuff you don't know as one of the big lessons from med school...such a good point and a good lesson, we only know about a tiny tiny corner of our little world most of the time. Congrats on the positive feedback...
j

Comment by: Juno at June 27, 2006 04:31 PM