Here We Go Again

    For the third consecutive year I've chosen to go to Sumbawanga, western Tanzania to tackle some of the problems facing the underfunded health care system of Rukwa province. I won't try to deny that the last two experiences have been splendid adventures but the serious side of the expeditions has come to dominate my memories and motivate my return. I won't go into reminiscences here because the last trip is well documented in the previous posts on this blog and while the pictures may not appear the text is more than descriptive.
    This time I will have great company. My son, Ara, fresh from top-notch surgical training and a fellowship in trauma surgery, will be joining me. I am really looking forward to working with him as a surgeon for the first time. I don't know yet how good he is or how he thinks but, frankly, I expect to be extremely impressed and proud. Besides, it's not often one gets to spend a month alone, literally 24 hours a day, with a grown offspring. It should be quite an experience.
    We have just 2 weeks before setting off. There are so many details to be handled but the third time around it does get easier as there is a rhythm to the preparation. Thank goodness I delivered a major set of instruments last time so that's 70 pounds I don't have to carry. It will be replaced by a desktop microscope that Catherine (noted in previous posts) has asked me to carry over there. Incidentally, Catherine has been there since last summer, is fluent in Swahili and will be of enormous help to me. I wrote a strong letter of recommendation for her for medical school so hopefully she will be accepted and go home.
    Anyway, not much more for me to say now but check this blog from time to time after July 1 and I'll try to paint a picture of what we are doing. Of course I'm taking a lot of camera gear and Ara is something of a videographer so we'll probably be able to show some good stuff.

    Have a wonderful summer and let us hear your comments.

    Best Regards,   
    Skip

Comments

[Ken and Joyce Matthys]

We are Catherine's grandparents and we are looking forward to reading about your return trip to western Tanzania. We really enjoy your writing style and the descriptive accounts of your last trip.