Day 11 - A New Record

Today (Tuesday - 7/28/15) was another busy day of visiting farms. It was also a record setting day, with the successful collection of samples from 37 cows. :) That is currently the most in a day, but we're going to try and beat that number in the next few days. In the morning, Sarah, Sharon, Mulugeta, Dan, and I went to 2 farms that had 10 cows each. We actually had a UoG driver to take us to the different Kebele's (neighborhoods), but then we'd have to walk to each of the farms. I've been doing fine with all of the smells and being basically surrounded by poop, but today something really grossed me out and I just can't get over it lol. At the first farm, which was quite clean comparatively, the woman was cleaning up the cow feces with her HANDS. She'd just scrape it into a pile and scoop up as much as possible, then firmly pat down the rest. That is when I realized the floor was probably made of dried feces. But seriously, with her hands? I mean the floor part is a good use of the waste I guess, but I can't get past the hands part lol. But overall, a very productive morning. :)

Cow with weird horns

Calves are so cute!!

Barn 1 (feces floor lol)

Sarah doing the PPD test

Sharon drawing blood from a vein in the tail

Dr. Stevenson got into Gondar this morning, and his son, Scott, and Scott's girlfriend, Kim, traveled with him. Instead of sitting in meetings with Dr. Stevenson, Scott and Kim came with us out to the farms. It was nice having a few extra sets of hands eager to help! We went to one farm in the afternoon, and it was a co-op, meaning about 4 farmers had cows there, for a total of 17. Although we had to walk quite a bit, the views were just beautiful. The Ethiopian countryside is seriously so picturesque! The co-op famr we ended the day at was in a neighborhood that seemed to have an unusually high number of kids. Seriously, they were everywhere. Usually the farmers shoo them away so we can get our work done faster, but not this time. One little girl really wanted to see what I was typing on the iPad, so she kept cuddling up to my side and pulling my arm down so it was where she could see. She was so curious! Once we were finished at the farm, we had to walk back to the main road and hail a TukTuk to get back to the hotel. The same little girl from the farm insisted on holding Dan's hand as we were walking back lol. The kids followed us back through the neighborhood, so I took a few pictures and showed them (they love seeing themselves in pictures). The were so happy and slightly overwhelming lol.

Walking to a farm

Walking back to the main road

A few little boys in the neighborhood

Once we got back, Dr. Stevenson offered to buy us dinner, since we took his son and son's girlfriend to the farms with us. We of course accepted (what college student turns down free food?), so I headed to the Taye Belay Hotel for dinner with Dr. Stevenson, Scott, Kim, Dr. Hoet, Sharon, Dan, Sarah, and Mulugeta. It was a fun end to the day. Our day off is tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to sleeping in until 7:30am. :)

Much love,
Joslyn :)

P.S. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7. I really needed this verse today. God's timing really is amazing. Thank you again Kristina for giving me these slips. God seems to know just what I need to read each day, because I just reach into the bag and randomly pick a slip. :)