Yes, that is when I leave for my safari & trip to Victoria Falls. I am so happy to be going off to see a bit of this huge country. It feels like I've barely been here, as I have only left the hospital complex once for anywhere further than walking distance since I arrived here. Typical me, I have been feeling unwell for the last few days; and am hoping it's not malaria. I don't think it is, but if I don't feel any better I will go and get a blood test done on monday. Just keep on taking [View Full Entry]

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I can't believe I've been here one month today (or tomorrow). The days have just flown; despite the odd trauma of being robbed twice, & the great inconvenience of losing my phone. Still, it's Friday afternoon, the sun is shining, and it's only another 10 days until I take off to Victoria Falls. I can't wait, not that there isn't a lot of work to get through before then. Two containers of stock have arrived that I need to go through & record next week, plus teaching the cooks here some new recipes (other than chicken stew & nsheema), measuring up [View Full Entry]

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The Zambian bank holiday was yesterday (yes, I know, odd to have a Thursday off & then have to go back to work), so after a very leisurely lie in (even with the power off so no coffee!) I went out to lunch in Katete with some of the med students & one of the doctors. Sadly, Fly, one of the cutest dogs in the hospital, decided to follow us as we walked up the main road to town- only to run under the wheels of a passing truck. It was pretty horrific, especially as her owners were devastated when we [View Full Entry]

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Yes, please note the above...you do not know how lucky you are to have uninterrupted power 24 hours a day, let alone hot water when you want it! Still, it could be classed as fun to have a cold shower in the dark at 6am- if you're insane! But at least it is sunny every day, I'm getting a tan, & new things are happening every day. Yesterday I wore scrubs for the first time ever. That was fun, I really liked wearing the green cap, but I'm glad I don't have to do every day I go into work. The [View Full Entry]

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I seem to be getting more & more acquainted with the creepy crawly variety of African species; beside the adventure with the cockroach in the last entry, I have now managed to accidently kill the lizard that lived on my windowsill (by trapping it under the door), trying to get rid of various spiders, and found a praying mantis on the wall. Weirdest of all, yesterday I found a frog on my kitchen floor-when I'm in a land locked country, miles from any water! NB, don't ever try to get a frog out of the house with a dustpan & brush; [View Full Entry]

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Well, it's the start of my second full week here; and I really enjoy it. The work is hard, but busy, which is good & I have my own little house and garden, which I love as it's my own space to do what I please with. I think that the other volunteers have been easy to get to know & are all really friendly. We are relying on each other for entertainment as there are no other sources really; no tv, no cinema, etc. Plus, you need to make friends quickly when so many people are passing through. Whether they'll [View Full Entry]

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So this will be the first & only entry until I leave...3 weeks from yesterday I will be flying out to Lusaka, before heading to Katete. At the moment, I am carrying out last minute preparations. Most of the big stuff is taken care of; but there always seems to be something else to tick off the list! Saying goodbye to people is the worst bit; had my first goodbye last night, which will no doubt become more frequent & emotional as the weeks pass. [View Full Entry]

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