Trip to Calavi University

Hello again

On Wednesday this last week one of my translator friends Daniel invited me and two of my friends Maggie and Bonnie from the ship to go and visit him at the university that he attends here in Cotonou and I would have to say it was one of the best trips off the ship that I have had here so far. It was a really great insight into real life for someone that lives here. He took us on a tour around the university which is similar in many ways to any university anywhere in the world but then so different at the same time. He showed us around and inside some of the lecture halls and thru the library, plus inside the student radio station. What we saw was only a fraction of the campus as it is actually really big. Parts of it were well kept grounds but then other areas were just covered with litter everywhere, it made me sad to think that such well educated people would think nothing of just dropping their rubbish on the ground and I said so to my friend Maggie and she said but if thats all they have ever known then why would they change? I guess it makes sense but it bothered me and it still does.

After touring around the campus and meeting various friends of Daniels along the way plus a proposal from one of them I might add! Daniel took us to meet one of his best friends who lives in some of the student accomodation just off the campus. We walked around with him and one of his friends and sister for a little while before heading to Daniel's house. His house was simple but clean and tidy (he admitted later that he had spring cleaned for us!) It consisted of just two rooms, a front room with a dining table in it and then his bedroom, it also had a small out house type room out the back but no running water, or toilet. I wanted to ask about that but decided it wasnt such a good idea. We sat and chatted with him and his friends who spoke ''small small english'' for a while then Daniel decided we should go and have dinner before we returned to the ship. He took us to a small open restaurant on the campus and we ate a meal of Alche ke which consisted of something similar to cous cous with a spicy sauce and then fish (for those of you who know me well you would know I hate fish so you can imagine I wasnt overly happy about his choice of food for us!) But I graciously tried it and for the most part it was pretty good I have to say!

After dinner he ushered us into a taxi and waved us off to the ship. It was one of the coolest days I have had here and his hospitality was awesome, so thank you Daniel for a lovely day!

Adventures in Dassa Zoume!

Bonjour!

Well this weekend a group of 14 crazy yovo (white person) nurses decided to ventutre out to a place called Dassa Zoume, and what an adventure we had!!

It all started on Saturday morning at 8am waiting for our pre-arranged transport up to Dassa which is about 3-4 hours away from Cotonou. We sat and waited and waited and waited until about 9.30am when we thought hmm perhaps they're not coming? So someone went inside to try ring and find out where our drivers were and werent able to contact them. Meanwhile some of our translators heard about our dilemma and came up to the dock and said give us 20minutes and we will get you a car to get to Dassa! So apprehensively we said ok, thinking hmm yeah right! How will you find us a car that will fit 14 people in 20 minutes? But true to their word they showed up half an hour later with an old ambulance that could comfortably sit 15-16 people easily, was the funniest thing ever but so cool that they did it for us.

So after driving for 3 or 4 hours along some smooth and some rough roads we arrived at our destination of Dassa Zoume. The hotel was pretty good by african standards, we had running water and flush toilets altho the shower was cold it was quite refreshing and did the job. After settling in we decided to have a walk around the town and found a huge catholic church so had a wander thru, Dassa is famous for this catholic church and for its rocky mountains, they have a pilgrimage every year in August because apparently the vigin Mary appeared there once upon a time. So after looking thru the church someone thought it would be a good idea to climb up one of these mountains, so then here we are climbing up the side of this rocky mountain in Jandles i might add, climbing thru peoples backyards yelling out Bonsoir! Ca va? (Hello! How are you?) And then some of the locales decided they just might join us so there was about 15 or so of us all climbing up this mountain, was great fun!

The next day we got up early and travelled for about two hours to look for hippos and we apparently saw one but I'm still sceptical as to whether it really was one but since coming back and talking to people they seem to think it probably was. We went out on these little canoes so didnt get too close to see for sure if it really was one!

Well untill next time Beccy

The Hospitality Centre

Hi everyone

Sorry for not updating for a while life has been a little hetic and finding time to write has been a little hard lately! We have been trying to complete as many operations as possible in the last week or so as we are having a black out during this weekend and then next weekend we are moving the ship down the harbour for refueling so we are rushing them thru and hoping to get as many patients off the wards as possible. At the moment any patients we have left are being moved to our hospitality centre. This is an abandoned warehouse that Mercy Ships has converted into a hostel type place for our patients who are usually pre and post op that live away from Cotonou where the ship is docked. It makes it easier if they need to come back to the ship for any type of follow up etc. It has around 40 beds and patients usually only stay there for a few days while transport is organised for them to get back home.

The other day a few of my friends and I went and visited some of our VVF ladies who have been discharged and are waiting for transport back up north to their villages. We ended up having a nail painting party with them and painted I dont know how many finger nails and toes! Was so much fun to just spend time with some of them off the ward and be able to take photos with them (we aren't allowed to take photos on the ward, which is understandable). I even had my nails painted, it certainly was no pedicure or manicure but it was pretty cool!

These ladies are very special despite all the adversities that life has thrown at them and they all have some amazing and unique stories to tell. They have really touched my heart while I have been here and I have loved looking after them so I'm a little sad to hear that we have fininshed all of our VVF surgeries for the year. We still have a few of them left in the ward at the moment but they will all be leaving in the next week or two. Mercy ships actually have a permanent land base in Sierra Leone for VVF patients so you just never know I may just end up there at some stage.

Well until next time and I promise no to take as long!

Beccy