3 cups of tea

There really is something behind the 3 cups of tea phenomenon.  You see, we drink tea together every day.  It is an important part of Afghan culture.  The staff at the hospital have moved from being warm and generous to absolutely and sweetly affectionate.  So here are some photos of the people I have had the pleasure of spending time with this past week.

Monisa, an expert in obstetric fistula:

Haji Mohammed Sharif Amiri, a natural leader and fantastic nurse:

By the way, most Afghan nurses are men.  They have a hard time hiring enough female nurses to care for the female patients.

Here is Musa who took over for me in the explanation of depolarization to one of the new nursing grads... which is perfect really.  If we can help instil the value of knowledge sharing....  well, wouldn't that be just ideal?

Dinner tonight was, um, interesting.  A very traditional run to a local market produced this:

Yes, that is a stack of fish...heads and all

And no, don't worry...I didn't run to the market.  The security situation still has us limited in terms of mobility for us westerners.

I learned something interesting and disturbing today.   Government run hospitals are 'free'.  But ( and here is a big but) services inside are attached to either fees or bribes.  Example....nurses won't change dressings unless paid by patient to do so.
Frightening??

It is so incredibly good to be part of a teaching hospital.  I am meeting doctors and nurses from far and wide, including neighbouring countries, who have come to learn. 

Oh, and thank you to Joe for the wonderful aromatic and delicious Alaskan coffee!  Yum!

Tomorrow a team from K-Love radio station arrives.  They will be following the story of a little boy who is having his cleft palate repaired on Tuesday.  This should be an experience!