LIfe in Butare

Life in Butare is quite quaint.    Butare is a small university town (very small) with one road going through the middle of it.  It is a very important city in Rwanda and is often considered the country's intellectual centre.  It is the home of the National University of Rwanda which is the only university in Rwanda.  Who would expect that is also the home of Rwanda's best (as determined by Robin Petroze) soft serve ice-cream .  Today Michael and I indulged in some wonderful soft serve ice-cream.  It was quite a treat.  This place also roasts its own coffee which was quite delicious as well.

The ice cream came after an interesting day spent at CHUB.  CHUB is one of three referral hospitals in the country. These are the only hospitals in the country that has anesthesiologists.  (The other two are CHUK, and King Faisal).  We spent the day working with 4 residents (3 first year and 1 2nd year) as well as the anesthesia techs.  The cases were mostly orthopedic and Gyn.  It has been a while since I have seen a hysterectomy and I realized not much has changed. 

Over the past few days I have really come to appreciate all of the education, equipment, medicines, and resources we have back at home.  Despite our shortages, we are a land of plenty when compared to what the physicians must deal with everyday in Rwanda.   The medicines available are very limited even in the referral hospital.  Today was a good day as we actually had propofol available to us. Strangely enough, thiopental is plentiful here and we are unable to get it in the US.  I can't figure that one out.  

Operating Room at CHUB

We found out today that the first shipment of Lifeboxes donated by members of the Canadian Anesthesiology Society are on their way.    I have been asked to plan a small ceremony to present them to the leaders of CHUK and CHUB (the hospitals), the Rwandan anesthesiologists and residents as well as the MOH on behalf of CASIEF.  It is incredible to think that they have been able to raise enough money to donate over 250 Lifeboxes to Rwanda.  A pulse oximeter will now be available in every operating room in Rwanda as well as in many other places.  

Michael and I are now headed out to eat chinese food for dinner.  It is called The Chinese restaurant.  Will continue this email when I return to let you know how it goes:) Wish me luck.

The Chinese Restaurant

Okay, so I have now returned safely from the "chinese restaurant" which by the way was rated the best place to eat in Butare by my Rwandan guide book.  It is clearly outdated.  First of all, everyone kept saying it was behind the gas station.  So we walked to what we thought was the only gas station in town, took a left and kept walking down another street I had never seen.  Behold, there was another gas station....and behind it (next to the biker bar which was really just a hangout for the moto taxi drivers) was "The Chinese Restaurant"  The first clue that this was probably a bad idea was 1. why should we be eating chinese food in Butare 2. No one else appeared to be eating, just drinking beer (not chinese). 3.  There were no one of chinese descent in the restaurant.  However, we decided to proceed as I think I let pride get in my way.

our meal??

We ordered what we thought was pretty basic chinese food:  spring rolls, szchewan chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and some beef kebobs.  1 1/2 hours later our food began to arrive.  It started with the egg rolls that were not too bad.  Unfortunately it went down hill after that.  Two unidentifiable entrees appeared followed by a plate of french fries, and last but not least the beef kebobs.  Lesson to be learned.....probably shouldn't eat chinese food in Butare.  I think there is a reason that 4/5 meals in this town have all been at the same restaurant Ibis.

That's all for now....off to bed.  Tomorrow we teach in the am and then head to Ngungwe forest for some hiking.  Looking forward to some R &R..