The focus of my clinical work in Botswana has just been shifted from life (I was supposed to be working in a maternity clinic) to death (now I'm going to be working at a hospice.)

I'm nervous. I want this experience so badly. I've been waiting all of my life for it... and yet, I'm mildly terrified.

It's difficult enough to sit with a dying person whose culture and language you understand; doing this work in Botswana is a lot more intimidating.

Ominous.

While you're here, I've been having this thing where I wake up and my left eye is completely welded shut with eye boogers. Like, I have to wash my face in order to open it. Any ideas?

@carlo: are you a smoker?

@Nav: Sorry babe. Packing, studying, trying to make sure my office will run when I'm gone, spending a few minutes of time with my family which is currently falling apart at the seams. Very few people have heard back from me in the past few weeks. It's nothing personal!

@Carlo: Have you tried saline eye drops in that eye before bed?

Your eye produces that gunk as a response to irritation - might be bacterial, could be from the way you sleep, perhaps from some sediment in your eye.

@ginger: what did you do the second time he died?