Dude

So, today I found myself having to explain my use of the term "dude." Even as an educated, adult American who should, in theory, have a great vocabulary, my speech is riddled with "dude." The few Americans that are here are not from California, so my use of the term as an exclamation for all purposes does not make sense to them. I finally explained it using what seems to be the equivalent in Hausa, "Kai!"

Yesterday I got back to my general surgery roots by doing an inguinal hernia repair. For those very few that know what I'm talking about, it was a modified Bassini, as "we don't do mesh here."

Today I got a call first thing in the morning from Dr. Ardill explaining that he was away at a meeting all day, the other surgeon had left for London yesterday, and the chief resident of the team had just gone to the hospital with his wife in labor. As Dr. Ardill explained, this effectively left me in charge of Evangel Hospital's surgical service for the day. So... while we had no major cases to do, I spent all day attempting to fix all of the patients with the help of Ettang, a "house officer" (intern) who works very hard, and Dr. Emma, the junior resident. Everyone, including myself and the patients survived the day.

I'm off to a party tonight as Gemma and Gary are leaving town... we are all supposed to dress in our traditional Nigerian outfits but mine is not made yet. I guess I'll just go as a California chick who says "dude" a lot.