Field trip!

This morning, the consultant Sue and I drove with our driver and translator out to a village 2 hours from Khujand. It was a desolate drive. Pot-holed road with one section washed out by a flood last July, foggy sky and dry, grazing land for miles and miles. Only some sheep herds could be seen. Once we arrived at the village there were more signs of vegetation and life.

We spent the day at the local health clinic where Sue interviewed the health workers, young women, village development counsel and men (old men since most of the young immigrate to Russia for work). She is assessing an MC child survival program. They were the nicest people. The oldest man (81) invited us to his daughter or was it granddaughter (?)'s wedding party but unfortunately we didn't have time. This man had 6 children, 24 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and he seemed in great health. In a culture where men do not shake hands with women, he immediately came up to Sue and me upon entering and welcomed us with a hand shake. Another woman invited us to spend the night at her house - which would have been an amazing experience.

At the end of the meetings, some of the women brought out a folded up blanket which contained treats and bread from the wedding party including some sheep meet. They also gave us a concoction of beans/tomato/onions/pepper which was very good. However, out of the three of us who ate it, both Sue and the translator got very sick in the night. So far, my stomach seems to be iron-clad...knock on wood.