Mifala save Bislama smol be mi traem tumas. (We know a bit of Bislama but I am trying hard)

Olsem wamen long u tufela? (how are all of you?)

Today was mellow day in the ward. Only 3 laboring women, none of which had their babes while we were on shift. We spent the morning following up with post-partum mamas and cleaning up the maternity ward. Apparently we are quite a sight as we help with the daily tasks of running the ward. The patients are surprised to see us working so diligently, as they rarely see foreigners making beds and collecting laundry.
For lunch we walked down to the market for our daily repast of fish and rice. And, today we found chiles!! …Sunita was very pleased. After grabbing a couple paw paws and passion fruits, we got caught in a torrential downpour on our way back to the hospital. Despite hopping in a bus halfway back, we were soaked entirely.
Arriving back in the maternity ward with our dripping clothes, we dried out in the tea room, spending good quality time with the sisters learning and practicing Bislama. There, we surprised them with our small Bislama knowledge by telling them “mi fillup tumas” (“I am already full”) and “lukum titi basket blong Kat” (look at kat’s bra!…because her shirt was soaked through)…a joke made by Caitlin that was well recieved by the sisters. Learning Bislama is quite entertaining, moderately difficult, but quite entertaining. We have been choosing a phrase or two each day and practicing our small Bislama any chance we get. Caitlin’s enthusiasm is contagious, with each phrase she smiles as if it is the most awesome thing she could ever say.
Tata. Lukum u.(Bye. See you later)
~Kat
ps. I had a the wet shirt on all day.