The Master's Territory

 Tolerating Malcolm at the moment is Max, the cat. While his ‘staff’ (Ann) is back in England Max has allowed Malcolm to share his territory.

 

 

The main condition for Max’s generosity is that Malcolm should do his duty – primarily to provide food. (A job Max has noticed is done much better by his normal, permanent ‘staff’. He is considering whether to allow ‘staff’ to go on leave again).

 

Max is not the only animal at the Hospital. There is also a small herd of cows which provide milk to the Hospital. 

 

Malcolm also has his own ‘territory’. He has the largest office in the Hospital – the only problem is that it is primarily the Board Room which he shares. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This does mean he has no excuse for being late for meetings.

 

Cultural Differences

One of the places Malcolm is able to share ideas is over a meal at the Guest House. This week there were a range of fellow Guests:

 

- Charles and Peter, 2 external auditors who are checking the accounts of the Hospital

- Mike (a Hospital Manager from Leeds) and Claire (a Midwife), visiting the hospital for a few weeks

-Rob and Alec, Medical Students at the hospital as part of their training

- David, an Irish civil engineer who is a regular visitor, often supervising building work

 

One of the recent discussions over dinner was about the different styles of worship in Uganda compared to the UK. David commented on a service he went to in Kampala which was somewhat lively, and a contrast to the quiet, meditative style he enjoys.

Last weekend was the annual mission at the hospital. As an illustration of the style of worship enjoyed here, during the opening choruses of the Sunday Service a spontaneous bit of Ugandan dancing broke out – a practice not often seen in UK churches!

 

When the Irish team left a week ago they also demonstrated a bit of their culture by singing a gaelic hymn in morning chapel – though Malcolm couldn’t help noticing a certain similarity to ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor”!

 

One person who will be experiencing a change in culture is Ann Moore, a nurse who has worked at Kisiizi for about 20 years. This week she returned to the UK for a well earned month’s holiday.

 

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“Let them eat cake”

For the last 4 weeks a team of 14 physio-therapists and nutritionists from University College Dublin Volunteers Overseas have been at the hospital. During this time they ran a 2 week clinic / camp for   children with cerebral palsy and their carers, went on outreach work to the local communities, worked in the Rehabilitation Ward and repainted some of the buildings at the Hospital’s Primary School. The College had funded a new boy’s dormitory and in the team were asked to formally open the dormitory before they left.

 

All the pupils were very excited to see all the mzungus, especially as they heard there would be cake!

 

The formal opening of the building was done by two of the Team

 

The school has Special Education Needs unit, and some of their pupils performed a song to thank the Team for coming.

 

 

And then there was the cake……….

 

 

Time off

Malcolm is half way through his 3 months at Kisiizi Hospital, so time for a bit of a break. It also coincides with a visit from our friend, Dr Corrie, from Kiwoko Hospital.

They had a long weekend away on an island in Lake Bunyoni. When they booked the log cabins they thought the island was called ‘Natures Prime Island' – very relaxing. When they arrived they discovered the place had been rebranded ‘Supreme Adventure Camp’!! complete with a treetop assault course and zip wire across the lake.

 

In order not to show up the younger visitors they decided to avoid the course and the zip wire and to remain focused on relaxing.

 

As the lake is at a high altitude it was a bit chilly at night. Fortunately the restaurant included a log fire which was a welcome sight.

 

 

 They didn’t spend all the time doing nothing. On Saturday they got up early to go ‘birding’ around the lake, and to see what the locals were doing.

 

One of the small islands, Punishment island, was used to abandon unmarried pregnant women. There they would die, or be saved to become the wives of poor fishermen who couldn't afford the 'bride-price' normally required to get a bride.