Wednesday
19th February 2014
I already have some photos from
yesterday's visits to the Nursing College ISTM and now another visit to photograph
the EXAMS in progress. The exams started earlier this week. All bags have to be left OUTSIDE for exam
time to avoid cheating!
There is
also a room set aside for some of the students to stay overnight because of the
long way they have travel to the exams which start early in the morning, or because
there is no electricity at home to study at night. Mele is not pleased with the
fact that this room has MALE and FEMALES in the same room.
Thursday 20th
February 2014
I have elected to have a morning
'off duty' today, my first! So no very early rising to be off out by
7.30am! I need to write up some notes, and get photos into groups for the Hospital
and College journal. And maybe relax a little too!
The 'town
electricity' has been bad for the last 3 evenings, so not able to charge
batteries! It sometimes comes on for an hour or two in the middle of the night,
so I leave one item plugged in to get a boost. It charged the laptop a little
last night! Oh, and you have to remember to have your bedroom light switched
off before going to sleep, or you can get a sudden blast of bright light, right
over the bed!! John will remember that from previous visits!
We had a local Pastor here for a meal
yesterday evening, and it is so difficult listening to someone speaking quietly
to you, when you can't see if they are even looking at you; and
eating by the light of a VERY dim solar powered lantern is almost
impossible to spot the MANY fish bones!! So, I try and ignore fish if
it's on the menu for dark days!
I am going out for a meal at the
house with Internet this evening, and can go early to do some 'charging of batteries
and sending/receiving Emails'! My driver will be coming for me at about 5pm!!
Coming back is in pitch dark over the rough roads.....!!Must remember to tell
him what time to collect me!
I have now completed my Hospital
photography, and will not be doing the 'walk' again with Dr. Philip, which I've
done twice this week [much to some people's consternation!]....I slipped once
yesterday on the uphill dusty bank, and Philip had to give me a 'shove upwards'
to get me going again!?!
One photo shows what we've just come DOWN from the
Hospital, and where we are halfway UP towards the College, past all the women
and children collecting water from the water-hole in the valley!
The photo shows the baby boy I
watched being born...he's about 20 minutes old in this photo with the midwife, Janine,
with whom I'll be having a meal this evening ....and SHE is expecting her 4th
baby next month!!! No maternity leave here!
The next
photo is me with an orphan baby girl who they've named Susan. A premature birth
1 month ago, the Mother was HIV+, and
died at the birth. The baby is beautiful, good size and totally free from
HIV.....but the family don't want her because THEY won’t believe it
and say "she's going to die!" This is not the usual Congolese
attitude, because they are forever taking in orphaned babies and children of
relatives, and even neighbours etc. The staff are quite shocked and very sad
about this baby, and so far the midwives are keeping her in the Maternity unit.
All praying that she will eventually go to a loving family.
This photo is a cute fun one, which
would have made a sweet video clip! The little girl's family are 'camped' in
the grounds to tend to a family member who is a patient, because the family has
to cook and provide food, and do washing for the in patients. The little boy's
Dad is round the corner by the maternity unit, to visit his wife. The little
girl climbed up a huge step, trotted towards the boy who was carrying his
jacket....she took it from him; he didn't complain, like I'm sure one of 'ours'
would have done!! She walked back down
the path; then turned, and brought it back to him!!!
Sunday 23rd
February 2014
This is my last full day in DR
Congo, and I will be on my way back home to UK around lunchtime tomorrow. I've
been to Church, and had a meal with Drs. Nancy and Philip. Soon going back to
Mele and Rose...no doubt for a celebration evening meal with the family! I have
just about found time VERY early this morning to do some packing!
I was taken out for a “thank you” meal
by the 3 'main folk' of ISTM College: Director General, Administrator and the
Academic Dean!
I was
presented with a gift of a kaftan for me, and a matching shirt for John!!!
I laughed at the usual joke about "thank goodness it's not a live chicken!"....but
look at the patterns on the material!!!!!!!
Must stop
now and see if I can get this sent quickly. Been here with Dr. Philip while he
has 'taken off' all my photos that he wants!
See some
of you fairly soon now.....hoping for good flights etc!