Only 9 weeks left now...

As of tomorrow, anyway. I fly on the Thursday 9th October, which means I will be travelling to Lusaka on 8th, then I want the 6th & 7th to sort my things out in my house: make sure it is clean, throw away all rubbish, give away as much as I can to make my suitcase lighter...so I really only have eight weeks of work left. It seems a frighteningly short time, especially when I have also started to look at the Guardian website again to see what interesting jobs there are. It is going to be very strange to go back to a world with 24h power, constant water supplies, tv, cinema, restaurants that have menus and usually have what is listed on them. Basically all the things of convenience that don't exist here.
But, I was thinking that as much as it may irritate me, at least I have the option of going home to my world of what really is luxury (although it may not seem like it when I'm on the tube with someone's sweaty armpit jammed up against my face) compared to what people have here. This is all the life most people will have here. The death rates are shocking compared to western hospitals, there are usually people lost at the rate of at least 4, 5 daily. More in malaria season. At least two children a day, on average. This is not often the fault of the doctors: its more down to the lack of resources, or that people often only decide to visit the hospital when their symptoms are acute. Usually they travel immense distances to get here, and sometimes are literally dying by the time they reach the hospital gates. It puts a perspective on what pathetic reasons people turn up to casualty departments for in the UK.
As for the other volunteers, another English medical student has turned up, about a week before he was expected. He's only staying a month, until the end of August, when the two who were supposed to be arriving at the end of July will turn up. Only a month late, but no matter! (The lack of communication here just makes me laugh- I think out of all the volunteers whose accomodation I've organised, the Irish students were the only ones who turned up as predicted) I'm also expecting three Dutch nursing students on 17th of this month, and two other medical students on 1st September. Whether that will be correct or not remains to be seen!
At present, I am sat in my office, listening to some drumming outside. One of the chiefs died here two days ago & there is a lot of crazy African tribal dancing going on to mourn him. The dancers are all in traditional costumes, with masks, feathered headdresses, and bottle caps tied round their ankles to make a rhythm. They certainly know how to move! I may go out and take another look as soon as I finish work.
Take care

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