It's Saturday afternoon. I am not in the hospital today and it actually feels like a sort of typical Saturday, going to the market with Hans and Martha, doing laundry, downloading the latest podcasts of This American Life to listen to later.
Hans and Martha Aas have been coming to Ngaoundere (phonetically pronounced Gowanderray) for 12 years or so. Martha was the first to come and she was by herself and was the person who got the relationship going between the Protestant Hospital and St. Mary's Duluth Clinic (SMDC). They are both retired physicians; Martha is GYN and Hans GI. They said this morning that they feel like they are coming home, and the way they are greeted by people, it's obvious they are family here. Karen, the woman I am sharing a guest house with, is also from SMDC, and is a retired nurse who worked in nursing and medical education and management. Karen is so energetic and fun to hang out with. Karen came for 6 weeks about 7 years ago, and she is here this time to work with the Nurse Majors (Head Nurses) on staff management and professional development support. The 4 of us are having pizza together tonight. I may break out the 5 Crowns cards if they're game.
I feel so lucky to be here, to be able to have this experience, to be out of my comfort zone, but in a good way.
Wow! What remarkable stories you are sharing, Kerstin! This is clearly an experience that will change you for the rest of your life. It is the most "close up and and personal" view of healthcare and HIV in Africa I have heard, and the financial limitations are heart breaking. Please don't let its magnitude stop you from continuing to share the stories. We need to know and experience these things through your eyes. I saw the end of the film "Motorcycle Diaries" again the other day, and it was clear why you chose this as the name of the blog. I am so glad you have such great companions there -- friends forever, I expect.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Lars
Here in Michigan we have 12 inches of snow on the ground from this week's big storm. I attended Hospice of Lansing's 16th annual bowling fundraiser yesterday and watched a phenomenal HD version of "The Misfits" on TV - final film for Monroe, Gable, and Clift. So life goes on as normal with the Super Bowl today (Steelers and Packers). I am worried about what is happening in Egypt. Commentators are comparing it to Turkey, but it feels more to me like what I know of the transition in India. The power of non-violence is amazing. Are they talking about it there?