In the spirit of Christmas (it doesn't much feel like Christmas here since it is 85 degrees... but my house does have a plastic Charlie Brown Christmas tree that we decorated with tinsel and tiny lights) and in Tanzanian culture, I am spending this week giving gifts to the important people in my life here in Tanzania. Adellaide is the international nursing student coordinator and is getting all things that a nurse should have in her pockets-- a UNC notepad, pens, highlighter, and calculator. Vera is the Duke liason at KCMC and is getting earrings. The clinic nurses are getting American pens (a highly coveted possession). And the doctors are getting bubbles and stickers to entertain the children in clinic. There have been some Tanzanian mamas who welcomed me into their homes and fed me (wayyyy too much), so I am giving them durable grocery bags to take to the market.
Hospitality and gratitude are very important parts of Tanzanian culture so it feels good to show my thanks and appreciation to everyone that has helped me thrive here.
I am getting excited to be back for Christmas. Dad told me that all he wanted for Christmas was me back on American soil, so I'm giving him his gift a little early and coming home next Monday.
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