We have often heard (mainly from women) “Woman – cold; man – flu”. We have discovered the Tanzanian equivalent.
2 weeks ago Dr Corrie began coughing, had a head ache and felt rough. Sensibly she had a malaria test – negative. Must have been a cold.
As we said last week, Irene then began coughing, had a head ache and felt rough, so under protest had a malaria test – negative. Another cold.
This week Malcolm started coughing, felt tired and had a temperature so, thinking it would be a waste a time but to in order to please the women, he had a malaria test – positive!!! You must be joking!!!
So “Woman – cold; man – malaria!!!!”
(Reason - Women probably don't ever actually catch flu or malaria - only ever a cold. They just think its worse???)
We used to think malaria is the worst possible illness to get because of tales of explorers in the 19th century. It is still a major killer in Africa. However, in the months before we came we met two couples who had been here for a few years and in both cases the husband had caught malaria – and although you might take all necessary steps to prevent it, (pills, sprays etc) you can’t prevent catching it but can only reduce the risk. (We did ask Dr Corrie whether men were more prone to malaria than women – in her professional opinion only because mosquitoes find it harder to hit a moving target, whereas men do a lot less work and a lot more sitting around!!!!)
Although Malcolm spent a day or so taking it easy and sleeping (and proving Dr Corries point!), now that he’s taking treatment he’s back at work and keen to go on holiday next week. He’s also looking forward to having a good excuse when he doesn’t quite feel like doing something (like the washing up, shopping, clearing up, talking etc etc etc)
Irene has also had her fair share of excitement. She was, once again, happily sitting, bare-foot, in the hot records office sorting out a pile of files when a Tanzanian worker came in. Suddenly, the Tanzanian gave out a yelp, picked up Irene's shoe, brushed Irenes waist with it, and stamped his foot. What is this? Some new form of ceremonial greeting ritual that we hadn't been told about? Irene looked down and saw a fairly large, but now dead scorpion by her side. And it was too late for Malcolm to take a photo of it!!!
We had a good weekend in Dodoma which included dinner at the best restaurant in town (the Dodoma Hotel Chinese restaurant), an evening with the American Financial Director at the new Christian Medical Centre and family, and lunch with a family from New Zealand. The only disappointment for Irene was that the swimming pool at MAF was closed for maintenance (which was one of the main reasons for going there). However, she compensated for this by using the pool at the Dodoma Hotel.
Looking at last weeks questions:
- Will Malcolm have enough money to persuade NSSF and the Magistrates Court to lift the threat of a large fine on the Hospital and custodial sentence for someone? The Hospital scraped together half now (Tsh 7 m - £3400) with the promise we will find the other half next month
- When Irene has sorted out the files, will the carpenter arrive to put in more shelves (meaning she’ll have to start sorting them out once again)? Irene has given up waiting for the carpenter. We have worked out the real meaning of the Swahili word ‘kesho’. All the language books will say it means ‘tomorrow’. It means in practice ‘not today’. So - when will the carpenter come? Kesho.
- What will the Task Force say to the Bishop at the close-down meeting, and what will the Bishop reply? There hasn’t been a close down meeting. Unfortunately the Bishop’s schedule has had to be totally reorganised due to new commitments
- Will son David and friend arrive safely in Tanzania for the holiday, and negotiate the journey to Mvumi? They arrived safely but then hit problems. On the way to the hotel David arranged for the taxi to stop at the bus station to pick up tickets for Mvumi. When he returned the taxi, friend, luggage and everything had gone. Knowing of tales of white-slave trade etc, and unable to contact his friend he tried to get in contact with the hotel to find out what had happened. Later the taxi returned for the driver to say he had to get a puncture repaired. As the journey continued the taxi was delayed by another fault. The driver then demanded:
i) payment for the puncture repair (about 80p)
ii) additional fare ($40 instead of $25) because the journey took longer than planned
- How will Irene manage being a year older? Like an expert!!!!!
Next week promises a whole new change of pace:
- Introducing David to the real Africa of Mvumi (where you are treated more as an oddity than a tourist to be fleeced) before flying to the Tourist areas of Arusha for a Safari and Zanzibar for relaxation
2 weeks ago Dr Corrie began coughing, had a head ache and felt rough. Sensibly she had a malaria test – negative. Must have been a cold.
As we said last week, Irene then began coughing, had a head ache and felt rough, so under protest had a malaria test – negative. Another cold.
This week Malcolm started coughing, felt tired and had a temperature so, thinking it would be a waste a time but to in order to please the women, he had a malaria test – positive!!! You must be joking!!!
So “Woman – cold; man – malaria!!!!”
(Reason - Women probably don't ever actually catch flu or malaria - only ever a cold. They just think its worse???)
We used to think malaria is the worst possible illness to get because of tales of explorers in the 19th century. It is still a major killer in Africa. However, in the months before we came we met two couples who had been here for a few years and in both cases the husband had caught malaria – and although you might take all necessary steps to prevent it, (pills, sprays etc) you can’t prevent catching it but can only reduce the risk. (We did ask Dr Corrie whether men were more prone to malaria than women – in her professional opinion only because mosquitoes find it harder to hit a moving target, whereas men do a lot less work and a lot more sitting around!!!!)
Although Malcolm spent a day or so taking it easy and sleeping (and proving Dr Corries point!), now that he’s taking treatment he’s back at work and keen to go on holiday next week. He’s also looking forward to having a good excuse when he doesn’t quite feel like doing something (like the washing up, shopping, clearing up, talking etc etc etc)
Irene has also had her fair share of excitement. She was, once again, happily sitting, bare-foot, in the hot records office sorting out a pile of files when a Tanzanian worker came in. Suddenly, the Tanzanian gave out a yelp, picked up Irene's shoe, brushed Irenes waist with it, and stamped his foot. What is this? Some new form of ceremonial greeting ritual that we hadn't been told about? Irene looked down and saw a fairly large, but now dead scorpion by her side. And it was too late for Malcolm to take a photo of it!!!
We had a good weekend in Dodoma which included dinner at the best restaurant in town (the Dodoma Hotel Chinese restaurant), an evening with the American Financial Director at the new Christian Medical Centre and family, and lunch with a family from New Zealand. The only disappointment for Irene was that the swimming pool at MAF was closed for maintenance (which was one of the main reasons for going there). However, she compensated for this by using the pool at the Dodoma Hotel.
Looking at last weeks questions:
- Will Malcolm have enough money to persuade NSSF and the Magistrates Court to lift the threat of a large fine on the Hospital and custodial sentence for someone? The Hospital scraped together half now (Tsh 7 m - £3400) with the promise we will find the other half next month
- When Irene has sorted out the files, will the carpenter arrive to put in more shelves (meaning she’ll have to start sorting them out once again)? Irene has given up waiting for the carpenter. We have worked out the real meaning of the Swahili word ‘kesho’. All the language books will say it means ‘tomorrow’. It means in practice ‘not today’. So - when will the carpenter come? Kesho.
- What will the Task Force say to the Bishop at the close-down meeting, and what will the Bishop reply? There hasn’t been a close down meeting. Unfortunately the Bishop’s schedule has had to be totally reorganised due to new commitments
- Will son David and friend arrive safely in Tanzania for the holiday, and negotiate the journey to Mvumi? They arrived safely but then hit problems. On the way to the hotel David arranged for the taxi to stop at the bus station to pick up tickets for Mvumi. When he returned the taxi, friend, luggage and everything had gone. Knowing of tales of white-slave trade etc, and unable to contact his friend he tried to get in contact with the hotel to find out what had happened. Later the taxi returned for the driver to say he had to get a puncture repaired. As the journey continued the taxi was delayed by another fault. The driver then demanded:
i) payment for the puncture repair (about 80p)
ii) additional fare ($40 instead of $25) because the journey took longer than planned
- How will Irene manage being a year older? Like an expert!!!!!
Next week promises a whole new change of pace:
- Introducing David to the real Africa of Mvumi (where you are treated more as an oddity than a tourist to be fleeced) before flying to the Tourist areas of Arusha for a Safari and Zanzibar for relaxation
- No work, no filing, perhaps no Internet but lots more mosquitoes, tse-tse flies and wild animals
- From economic to expensive living (says Malcolm)
- From basics to luxury and pampering! (says Irene)
PS. If you search for Mvumi on Google maps for some reason it will pinpoint somewhere in the African wilderness.
If you find Dar es Salaam, scan 600 km westwards along the railway line to Dodoma, andthen south 40km along a rugged country oad you will find an aerial view of the Hospital.
Alternatively, use the following link. The photo is a few years house but our house is the one with a white van in the forecourt, North east of the 'H' complex of the hospital ward and right of the '(' shape of the nursing school hostel.
PS. If you search for Mvumi on Google maps for some reason it will pinpoint somewhere in the African wilderness.
If you find Dar es Salaam, scan 600 km westwards along the railway line to Dodoma, andthen south 40km along a rugged country oad you will find an aerial view of the Hospital.
Alternatively, use the following link. The photo is a few years house but our house is the one with a white van in the forecourt, North east of the 'H' complex of the hospital ward and right of the '(' shape of the nursing school hostel.
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