I've arrived....

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So I'm here. I arrived at 2:50am which was fun to 28 degree heat plus ridiculously humid air but I got here in one piece. I managed to mess up my timing spectacularly by not realising that Gambia is one hour behind BST so the first thing I did when I got into the airport was to make sure mum knew that I was ok and that the time was slightly different or else she would be worrying. Passport control took forever but was pretty simple. No visa needed just need to rememeber to go back after 28 days and get my passport restamped. Getting the luggage was fairly simple too but what came next was quite something.

After collecting my luggage I joined a queue...at first I couldn't see why I was queueing but then I realised our luggage had to go through a scanner. So not only was I being offered help continuously by lots of people with my luggage (which I didn't need) but I had to wait in line with lots of irate people early in the morning for this process to take place. It took forever and everyone is impatient and pushes and shoves and grabs. I got through this ordeal and thankfully a driver was waiting for me with a name card so I felt assured that things were going to be great...little did I know.

We arrived after a 20 minute drive at the gates of the MRC. I was given a visitors pass which seemed quite straightforward and signed in but they could not find keys for my accomodation, in fact they seemed not to know I was coming. We drove to the accomodation to see if they could shed any light on the matter..it seemed as it was 4am that everyone was asleep so we went back to the front gate to see if we could phone anyone. In the end no one was available to help so I ended up at a nearby hotel, at which point it was 5am so it was nice just to be somewhere cool with a bed. I was told someone would come for me the next day at 10am to take me to the MRC. I was ready and waiting at 10am, 10am came and went, so did 11am, finally at 11:20 someone came to get me, I guess this was my first taste of Gambian time.

I arrived at the MRC and my accomodation is every bit as lovely as the photo suggested it would be so I am very pleased about that. The people here are lovely too. As I had only arrived that day they took me out with them to a tailor's where they were having some clothes made and to a market where they were collecting some wooden carvings. We then went to dinner at a lovely restaurant which wasn't traditionally Gambian but had great food if a little bit on the expensive side. So that was my first 24 hours.

On Friday I went and met Mariatou and her intern and they gave me a timetable of what to expect during my stay here, I also met the main doctor that I will be working with. I got myself a Gambian sim card after this and did a little bit of shopping so that I would have some fruit and things for the weekend if we didn't eat out.

The weekend was a case of chilling out and orientating myself. I have been for many walks around the nearby area. We went as far as the beach on Sunday being stopped by many men wanting to chat and to have the opportunity to show us around. The best way to deal with that was to be polite but firm that you were fine without their help and that you worked at the MRC so were not a tourist, they took a bit of persuading, especially the man who said he was a security guard at the MRC and had just got married and wanted us to meet his wife....I believed this on the Saturday, it was only when on the Sunday the exact same story by a different man was told to us that I suspected that this may be a line they use. It all worked out ok though, most people are very friendly and helpful if you need their help. On Sunday evening we went out to a restaurant called alaedin, it's a lebonese restaurant but essentially it's a downmarket Nando's and very cheap but it was good to have a hearty meal before the week ahead.

I have so far done 2 days of my clinical work but as I have a half day on a friday I shall write about the week then.

I'm having lots of fun and learning lots.

Write soon.

K x x x

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Comments

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The Parents
Really good to hear about your day to day excitement. So pleased the accommodation is a success despite the little hiccup. Welcome to Africa Katie! Take lots of photos and/or videos if you can. Enjoy! Dad xxxx Great to be blogging Katie and so pleased you are settling in well-but do keep your wits about you with these Gambian men!!!- I know you will but just had to make a motherly comment !?! look forward to hearing more on the blog later this week and of course speaking to you as well. Take great care as always, enjoy, love you loads. Mum X