July 20

This lovely secondary school student could be a model, couldn't she? She is carrying a bundle of dried banana leaves on her head. As best as I can tell, there are at least two kinds of bananas grown here. The ones which are eaten fresh like fruit are very tiny (see other picture) and taste much like the bananas we get at home, just in a smaller "package". Larger bananas are not as sweet and are only suitable for cooking - usually frying. Those of us in the Americas would call these plantains, but they do not use that term here.

Finished a couple of hospital projects today successfully - hooray! Took the "3 mile walk" with Lisa after lunch - I will miss that walk. At this altitude, everything looks different - more distinct & colorful - than it does at sea level. Something about the thinness of the air. The road is steep and made of dirt & rock, so it has made for a nice little challenge. Had my last meeting with the English Club this evening. Two doctors and one nurse were there tonight, and I think they enjoyed the yellow fever exercise I made for them (courtesy of the book which I just read about yellow fever, "The American Plague"). We all had a good time! Windows remain open here pretty much all year 'round for ventilation, and we enjoyed listening to the hospital choir practicing nearby while we studied together.