I’m in green plastic shoes. They have a large 38 printed in black marker, along with three letters MAT. My shoes are matched by my outfit. Long green pants that start high around my waist, they cut in a little from all the beer that we’ve been drinking and all the carbs we continue to eat. This is also supported by a loose long sleeved green top, a piece of white cotton material tied around my hair and a mask covering my face.. No this isn’t a new fashion that I’m trying here in Sudan, I’m in scrubs, sitting in the Operating Theatre, waiting for my first operating experience – well for which I’ll not be sedated… More exciting than this, I’m about to experience the joys of life being brought into the world, for the first time…
I feel nervous about how I’ll react to the blood.. I move from my seat on the side of the room, to stand behind the Mumma who’s been injected so that she’s numb for the most part of her body, I look over the material and semi-circle that prevents her from seeing 2 people cutting open her stomach – and surprisingly I don’t faint.. The noise of the cutting is a little disconcerting at times, I look and look away and look and look away.. The Nurse and the Obstetrician/Gynecologist focus hard, cutting along careful lines, taking out the scar from a pervious caesarian. Too quickly to believe this baby comes out from the stomach, is caught by one of the midwives, the umbilical cord is cut, she’s put on a warm machine and moments later she’s all wrapped up and in my arms.. I manage to hold back tears, how I’m not sure, this really is a beautiful moment..
This was my Sunday afternoon.. On the way to lunch we shared our car with some of the team going to the hospital, and after saying only the day before how I wanted to see a birth I was lucky enough that the team got called in so I jumped ship from the Ethiopian restaurant and decided that the caesarian, which would probably turn me off my lunch for days, was a better option… I ended up being in for a real treat as there were 2 caesarians. The second was a little boy.. At first I wasn’t sure he was going to make it.. His Mum had been in labour for 2 days before she came to the hospital and over in maternity she was having problems pushing him out. She’d had one birth before but the baby didn’t survive.. The heart rate of this baby started dropping, you can tell from this little machine you put on the tummy and you can hear the heart beating. So it was decided she’d go to the OT too.. This baby was harder to get out.. I was slightly more inquisitive as to the operating process as well – feeling more ballsy after not faiting the first time, I was looking a little more at what the gynecologist/obstetrician was doing with the Nurse, cutting here, pulling there, holding down this, pulling out the baby who was a little stuck.. It’s crazy, that all of a sudden this little person pops out.. He wasn’t breathing so well at first but after perseverance from the lovely Akira, with rubbing him and some oxygen he came good.. This time the Mum was more alert, I guess the drugs effect everyone differently.. She just wanted to see her bubba, so whilst they stitched her up I held the baby on a little seat not too far from her head and she smiled at the new life she had brought into the world..
Seeing all of this I feel like I’m alive. I feel like I’m seeing the best part of humanity.. The strongest and truest emotions that everyone should have the chance to experience.. Watching the joy on the ladies face and the happiness that was apart of her mother, really is something special. I feel I’ve been apart of a life changing experience, without using any words, we’ve crossed languages. I expected to feel as though I was intruding, an unwanted visitor to a private experience in a closed circle, in reality I don’t feel like this at all. The women here are beautiful..
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
My favourite day in Aweil
Monday 23rd August, 2010
So yesterday I think I had my most favorite day in Aweil....
My first full day off, yes after nearly 6 weeks it was much appreciated....
I slept til 11, had coffee, breakfast and followed this with a really great bikeride out of the main town along the railroad tracks... My least favorite part, that will however no doubt get the most laughs was my way back.. I spotted the street we had turned and whilst trying to turn around, slightly after the street, with a donkey on one side of the road and a horse on the other I fell...
I definitely blame the donkey.. I was worried I was too close and that would bite me, hence I fell completely off my bike - although I'm sure that the stupid 'kawaja' (white person in Dinka) provided much amusement to the locals.. Normally they laugh at the tiniest silliest things anyone does but most of them just said sorry!!
With slightly damaged pride (lucky only one of the expats was with me) I got back up and finished the little ride left to the compound... Seriously, at 24 who can't ride a bike????
It was a good laugh at least...
The bike ride was followed by an afternoon of laying in the sun reading my book, which was then followed by a game of volleyball (yes we have a volleyball court in one of our compounds) and then an Ethiopian restaurant for dinner.. It was the first dinner I had had out since my arrival and was amazing!!
Most days are not always so restful but there is - 99% of the time - at least one point in the day where I am amazed by where I am... The people here are really beautiful.. They are really friendly, smile at you a lot and most of the time wave..
I've learnt that the smile is universal.. A wave goes a long way... Bad attempts at either Dinka or Arabic are greatly appreciated and that you can make friends and beautiful bonds with people with whom you don't even share the same languauge.. Humans have this great way of understanding each other beyond words - when the situation arises that is...
The work is slowly starting to get a bit easier.. Probably because I understand what I'm doing more and I'm getting used to the way of working... I don't think anything of life in Australia could have taught me what I need to know here - patience, patience and more patience... It's very rewarding at the same time though... Especially walking through the hospital and seeing the work that MSF do here.. I take my hat off to the Dr's and Nurse's, whom every day are dealing with death.. Most of the time due to illness and sickness that wouldn't result in such tragedy if we where at home with the access to medical practice and care we are all so used to...
My tukul has turned into my little sanctuary.. I bought cloth and a few bits and pieces to decorate it.. Though most nights after work are spent under the mango tree that is the middle of our compound drinking a beer or two, playing cards, listening to music and just enjoying each other's company... It's the most theraputic and enjoyable way to end even the hardest of days...
The food is good... Well it's fairly repetative - beans, rice, pasta, fresh tomatoes and cucumber when we're lucky.. Beans, beans, rice, pasta - oh did I mention that already?? We have meat most days as well, although some days I'm more game to try then others... The chicken here is amazing - though very expensive - especially when usually there is 20 or more of us to feed, so it's a bit more of a rarity...
We've got a few of the expats who are good enough to get in the kitchen.. Last week we had one fairwell for which we made homemade pasta and one birthday for which we made homemade pizza as some of the ladies had been on R&R in Ethiopia and brought back some cheese...
Amazingly though I'm putting on weight.. All the carbs and beer...!! It's the enjoyment of my day though...
Volleyball is usually a weekly ritual and I have managed to have one game of soccer with the locals and some of the expats at the square in town.. I aim for this more often but unfortunately the days seem to get hijacked - although I still find myself wondering what I actually get done... My role should be called problem solver - not administrator!!
I miss everyone at home but I definitely feel that I've made the right decision.. It feels almost as if it's been too easy to adjust, I don't know if this is because I'm on the right track or if it's because it's all so much easier than the little "Welcome to South Sudan" booklet made me expect...
I guess the team and the people that are here all help...
I'm looking forward to my holidays already, the time feels like I've been here for ages but simultaneously not as long as reality tells me.. There have been quite a few people come and go, and given the size of the expat team here I think this is a fairly usual occurance..
What else can I tell.. The showers, the showers are amazing, nice and big, although on a cold morning it's definitely not how you want to wake up.. although we've running water it's not warm so out of a cold tukul, perhaps post storm (the storms are crazy here during the rainy season - I'm surprised that as many tukuls that are left standing are) the water is a wee bit cold... The toilets are drop toilets - something I'm slowly getting used to but very clean...
The sunsets are beautiful as is the sky each night when the generator goes out and you can see star after star.. The moon has it's nights as well - tonight is definitely one of them...
All in all, life in Aweil is not so bad.. South Sudan is much better than I expected and I find myself in a really content state of happiness that I appreciate much more than I thought possible...
I'm not sure if I believe that I'm changing the world, but I do think that as a team here the work we are doing is much needed and for the most part much appreciated...
Let's hope that the next 4 months are as positive...
Much love, hugs, kisses and happiness
xxxxx
PS - some pictures for your enjoyment...
So yesterday I think I had my most favorite day in Aweil....
My first full day off, yes after nearly 6 weeks it was much appreciated....
I slept til 11, had coffee, breakfast and followed this with a really great bikeride out of the main town along the railroad tracks... My least favorite part, that will however no doubt get the most laughs was my way back.. I spotted the street we had turned and whilst trying to turn around, slightly after the street, with a donkey on one side of the road and a horse on the other I fell...
I definitely blame the donkey.. I was worried I was too close and that would bite me, hence I fell completely off my bike - although I'm sure that the stupid 'kawaja' (white person in Dinka) provided much amusement to the locals.. Normally they laugh at the tiniest silliest things anyone does but most of them just said sorry!!
With slightly damaged pride (lucky only one of the expats was with me) I got back up and finished the little ride left to the compound... Seriously, at 24 who can't ride a bike????
It was a good laugh at least...
The bike ride was followed by an afternoon of laying in the sun reading my book, which was then followed by a game of volleyball (yes we have a volleyball court in one of our compounds) and then an Ethiopian restaurant for dinner.. It was the first dinner I had had out since my arrival and was amazing!!
Most days are not always so restful but there is - 99% of the time - at least one point in the day where I am amazed by where I am... The people here are really beautiful.. They are really friendly, smile at you a lot and most of the time wave..
I've learnt that the smile is universal.. A wave goes a long way... Bad attempts at either Dinka or Arabic are greatly appreciated and that you can make friends and beautiful bonds with people with whom you don't even share the same languauge.. Humans have this great way of understanding each other beyond words - when the situation arises that is...
The work is slowly starting to get a bit easier.. Probably because I understand what I'm doing more and I'm getting used to the way of working... I don't think anything of life in Australia could have taught me what I need to know here - patience, patience and more patience... It's very rewarding at the same time though... Especially walking through the hospital and seeing the work that MSF do here.. I take my hat off to the Dr's and Nurse's, whom every day are dealing with death.. Most of the time due to illness and sickness that wouldn't result in such tragedy if we where at home with the access to medical practice and care we are all so used to...
My tukul has turned into my little sanctuary.. I bought cloth and a few bits and pieces to decorate it.. Though most nights after work are spent under the mango tree that is the middle of our compound drinking a beer or two, playing cards, listening to music and just enjoying each other's company... It's the most theraputic and enjoyable way to end even the hardest of days...
The food is good... Well it's fairly repetative - beans, rice, pasta, fresh tomatoes and cucumber when we're lucky.. Beans, beans, rice, pasta - oh did I mention that already?? We have meat most days as well, although some days I'm more game to try then others... The chicken here is amazing - though very expensive - especially when usually there is 20 or more of us to feed, so it's a bit more of a rarity...
We've got a few of the expats who are good enough to get in the kitchen.. Last week we had one fairwell for which we made homemade pasta and one birthday for which we made homemade pizza as some of the ladies had been on R&R in Ethiopia and brought back some cheese...
Amazingly though I'm putting on weight.. All the carbs and beer...!! It's the enjoyment of my day though...
Volleyball is usually a weekly ritual and I have managed to have one game of soccer with the locals and some of the expats at the square in town.. I aim for this more often but unfortunately the days seem to get hijacked - although I still find myself wondering what I actually get done... My role should be called problem solver - not administrator!!
I miss everyone at home but I definitely feel that I've made the right decision.. It feels almost as if it's been too easy to adjust, I don't know if this is because I'm on the right track or if it's because it's all so much easier than the little "Welcome to South Sudan" booklet made me expect...
I guess the team and the people that are here all help...
I'm looking forward to my holidays already, the time feels like I've been here for ages but simultaneously not as long as reality tells me.. There have been quite a few people come and go, and given the size of the expat team here I think this is a fairly usual occurance..
What else can I tell.. The showers, the showers are amazing, nice and big, although on a cold morning it's definitely not how you want to wake up.. although we've running water it's not warm so out of a cold tukul, perhaps post storm (the storms are crazy here during the rainy season - I'm surprised that as many tukuls that are left standing are) the water is a wee bit cold... The toilets are drop toilets - something I'm slowly getting used to but very clean...
The sunsets are beautiful as is the sky each night when the generator goes out and you can see star after star.. The moon has it's nights as well - tonight is definitely one of them...
All in all, life in Aweil is not so bad.. South Sudan is much better than I expected and I find myself in a really content state of happiness that I appreciate much more than I thought possible...
I'm not sure if I believe that I'm changing the world, but I do think that as a team here the work we are doing is much needed and for the most part much appreciated...
Let's hope that the next 4 months are as positive...
Much love, hugs, kisses and happiness
xxxxx
PS - some pictures for your enjoyment...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
And another little update....
Well how the world has changed since my last post – in Aweil at least.
Internet has been down for nearly 4 weeks now, hence I can’t access gmail, my blog etc… Soooo every now and again, I hope to be able to use one of the other NGO’s servers to post a few blogs (still written at different times) for you all… Hence you'll see my previous post giving you an update written my first week in..
I’ve really settled in here now and am definitely no longer the new person.. The team has changed quite a bit, we’ve had loads of visits – it feels as though there are always new people coming and going..
I’ve made a few friends, enjoyed a few parties, had many work stresses, many laughs and few tears so after 5 weeks here, I think it’s pretty good.
It’s hard to know what to tell you all.. I think pictures are more interesting so I’ll aim for those in my next post.
I'll keep this very short, as I'm sitting in another NGO borrowing their internet with one of the local staff waiting for me BUT I will try to come back here again and have a better update prepared for you all (if anyone is still checking this after all my time of no correspondance)..
Much love
Danii xx
Internet has been down for nearly 4 weeks now, hence I can’t access gmail, my blog etc… Soooo every now and again, I hope to be able to use one of the other NGO’s servers to post a few blogs (still written at different times) for you all… Hence you'll see my previous post giving you an update written my first week in..
I’ve really settled in here now and am definitely no longer the new person.. The team has changed quite a bit, we’ve had loads of visits – it feels as though there are always new people coming and going..
I’ve made a few friends, enjoyed a few parties, had many work stresses, many laughs and few tears so after 5 weeks here, I think it’s pretty good.
It’s hard to know what to tell you all.. I think pictures are more interesting so I’ll aim for those in my next post.
I'll keep this very short, as I'm sitting in another NGO borrowing their internet with one of the local staff waiting for me BUT I will try to come back here again and have a better update prepared for you all (if anyone is still checking this after all my time of no correspondance)..
Much love
Danii xx
A little late......
18th July
Well, I’ve almost completed my first week in Aweil…
I hope back at home you’re all well..
Apologies first to those that were worried about me, one of the last emails I sent said I was in Kampala however I left the day before the bombs went off.. Thankfully!! Communication isn’t great here, I still don’t have a phone as yet and email is slow…
Enough admin…
So after a week in Paris, briefing and briefing I flew to Kampala in Uganda for 2 nights whilst my Sudanese visa got processed and then arrived in Juba (the capital of South Sudan) last week on Saturday.. There was a few issues that led to my coming to the field earlier, however I won’t go into that in my blog…
Juba, and Sudan in general (so far anyway), is very different to what I expected. Not in all ways but in some. Flying in (the planes did get smaller and smaller) everything looks so green, there’s expansion of land that is completely unpopulated and then you see little villages pop up.. It’s really great..
Juba is a lot more developed than I expected.. Given the amount of NGO’s that are now there, I guess the economy and desires (of the international community at least) have forced some kind of a development of infrastructure, good restaurants and bars. There are various MSF sections in Juba, all working on various projects throughout South Sudan..
I got to experience my first expat party with a few other NGO’s and some of the other MSF groups there.. Juba even has a pool at one of the lodges/resorts so one afternoon was spent catching some sun, having a swim and enjoying a cocktail.. Yes, for the most part the experience has been much better than I expected with many more perks…
I arrived in Aweil last week on Monday, having already met some of the Aweil team in Juba (they where training) it was nice.. Our tukuls are great, all is very clean, we have these great showers and the drop toilet is even something I’m starting to get used to – although I don’t imagine it would be much fun if you were sick…
The project here is interesting.. I had a walk through the hospital on my first day here.. This was pretty brief, given the amount of work there is to do but great to get an overview of what we’re doing here and an introduction to why it is I’m here.. I’ve got more time coming up to spend there, doing the rounds with some of the doctors and getting to know the local staff and seeing the issues of some of the patients…
Given the focus is mothers and babies there are heaps of kids around.. They’re so cute and so friendly.. Walking back to our compound from the hospital the other day we had 3 gorgeous little girls shake our hands and then follow us back, giggling and staring for the vast majority of the time.
The people here are really great also. Very polite, very friendly… Everyone says that given the war that the people and the country have faced for so long that the people can be hard, but this is something I’m yet to experience.. Having said that the days are long so there is little time to get out in the market during the week… I’m determined not to work Sundays though so from next week I’ll be sure to go out and see a bit more..
What else to tell… There’s a pet cat we’ve got called Sita, she’s only a little kitten so very funny to watch her running around and enjoying the cuddles.. the expat team here is about 20 at the moment, a few more flying out this week but then a few arriving as well. As of tomorrow I will no longer be the new person, having said that everyone is pretty nice and gets along really well so it’s not really something that is unconfortable anyway..
We’re quite a mix – English, French, Australian, Canadian, American, Japanese, New Zealand, Ivory Coast, El Salvador, mmmm and I think that’s it, thought I could be wrong…
I’ve got a team of two people a lady named Mary who is from Kenya and a guy named Santino who is Sudanese.. I take over the admin role in an official capacity tomorrow, so that’s when the fun should begin..
The work stresses here are just unlike anything you can think of at home.. Maybe because now I’m dealing with HR but honestly, I find myself laughing so much at either the mess of the office, the lack of systems (yes there is lots to clean up) or some of the stories of both the expats and the locals…
I’ll look forward to sharing some with you all soon – hopefully some photo’s too..
I am able to log onto gmail, however I’m not sure if all the emails come through, I sent something from the work account the other day and it didn’t make it so, if you don’t hear from me I’m not ignoring you…
Will also try and send some pictures in my next blog.. My tukul should be decorated by then so I can provide you with a few snaps – perhaps what it’s like pre the rain and then post (the compound turns into a swimming pool!)
All is well and I am happy.. Looking forward to many of the challenges and great experiences that lie ahead… Hope all is well where you all are…
Lots of love, Danii xxxxxx
Well, I’ve almost completed my first week in Aweil…
I hope back at home you’re all well..
Apologies first to those that were worried about me, one of the last emails I sent said I was in Kampala however I left the day before the bombs went off.. Thankfully!! Communication isn’t great here, I still don’t have a phone as yet and email is slow…
Enough admin…
So after a week in Paris, briefing and briefing I flew to Kampala in Uganda for 2 nights whilst my Sudanese visa got processed and then arrived in Juba (the capital of South Sudan) last week on Saturday.. There was a few issues that led to my coming to the field earlier, however I won’t go into that in my blog…
Juba, and Sudan in general (so far anyway), is very different to what I expected. Not in all ways but in some. Flying in (the planes did get smaller and smaller) everything looks so green, there’s expansion of land that is completely unpopulated and then you see little villages pop up.. It’s really great..
Juba is a lot more developed than I expected.. Given the amount of NGO’s that are now there, I guess the economy and desires (of the international community at least) have forced some kind of a development of infrastructure, good restaurants and bars. There are various MSF sections in Juba, all working on various projects throughout South Sudan..
I got to experience my first expat party with a few other NGO’s and some of the other MSF groups there.. Juba even has a pool at one of the lodges/resorts so one afternoon was spent catching some sun, having a swim and enjoying a cocktail.. Yes, for the most part the experience has been much better than I expected with many more perks…
I arrived in Aweil last week on Monday, having already met some of the Aweil team in Juba (they where training) it was nice.. Our tukuls are great, all is very clean, we have these great showers and the drop toilet is even something I’m starting to get used to – although I don’t imagine it would be much fun if you were sick…
The project here is interesting.. I had a walk through the hospital on my first day here.. This was pretty brief, given the amount of work there is to do but great to get an overview of what we’re doing here and an introduction to why it is I’m here.. I’ve got more time coming up to spend there, doing the rounds with some of the doctors and getting to know the local staff and seeing the issues of some of the patients…
Given the focus is mothers and babies there are heaps of kids around.. They’re so cute and so friendly.. Walking back to our compound from the hospital the other day we had 3 gorgeous little girls shake our hands and then follow us back, giggling and staring for the vast majority of the time.
The people here are really great also. Very polite, very friendly… Everyone says that given the war that the people and the country have faced for so long that the people can be hard, but this is something I’m yet to experience.. Having said that the days are long so there is little time to get out in the market during the week… I’m determined not to work Sundays though so from next week I’ll be sure to go out and see a bit more..
What else to tell… There’s a pet cat we’ve got called Sita, she’s only a little kitten so very funny to watch her running around and enjoying the cuddles.. the expat team here is about 20 at the moment, a few more flying out this week but then a few arriving as well. As of tomorrow I will no longer be the new person, having said that everyone is pretty nice and gets along really well so it’s not really something that is unconfortable anyway..
We’re quite a mix – English, French, Australian, Canadian, American, Japanese, New Zealand, Ivory Coast, El Salvador, mmmm and I think that’s it, thought I could be wrong…
I’ve got a team of two people a lady named Mary who is from Kenya and a guy named Santino who is Sudanese.. I take over the admin role in an official capacity tomorrow, so that’s when the fun should begin..
The work stresses here are just unlike anything you can think of at home.. Maybe because now I’m dealing with HR but honestly, I find myself laughing so much at either the mess of the office, the lack of systems (yes there is lots to clean up) or some of the stories of both the expats and the locals…
I’ll look forward to sharing some with you all soon – hopefully some photo’s too..
I am able to log onto gmail, however I’m not sure if all the emails come through, I sent something from the work account the other day and it didn’t make it so, if you don’t hear from me I’m not ignoring you…
Will also try and send some pictures in my next blog.. My tukul should be decorated by then so I can provide you with a few snaps – perhaps what it’s like pre the rain and then post (the compound turns into a swimming pool!)
All is well and I am happy.. Looking forward to many of the challenges and great experiences that lie ahead… Hope all is well where you all are…
Lots of love, Danii xxxxxx
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