Things I miss about home
on Shona in Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone), 17/Jan/2011 07:41, 34 days ago
1) Clearly there is only one real answer to this– my husband.2) But it wouldn’t be a good blog entry without a longer list! So I also miss the following:3) My family and friends from home.4) Yogurt. Actually you can buy this here, its just so expensive that it’s a massive treat.5) Fruit’n’fibre. For those of you who know me well (Steph) you’ll realise just how much I miss this! Again, you can actually buy this here, but its £5-6 a box. And when you have a budget of £7.50 a day, it’s just not worth it. Especially when, in order to enjoy fruit’n’fibre properly, you also need the next item on my list.6) Milk. Fresh milk. There is UHT and there is powdered stuff but its just not the same (in fact I don’t drink it at all!)7) Cheese. Laughing cow abounds but otherwise you’re paying £5 for a small block of cheddar. (Note for all the dairy products it also helps to have a working fridge i.e. constant electricity, which Freetown doesn’t have). Fred’s parents made our Christmas by taking out (among other Christmassy things) goat’s cheese!8) Cycling in Oxford. Fred cycles to work every day and I have considered it but think I might be risking my life.9) Strawberries, courgettes and broccoli. Although there is a tonne of other gorgeous fruit and veg you can get.10) Brown/wholemeal bread. The white stuff is very addictive though.11) Sodiums, potassiums, blood gases and microscopy for CSF. Although sometimes I’m glad I don’t know a child’s electrolytes, as I’m sure it would scare me so much, and there’s no potassium to add to fluids anyway. And no PICU for the massively acidotic children to go to. But microscopy would be hugely helpful!