Starting out on a long journey to a remote place for the first time is a daunting experience fraught with uncertainty and fear of the unknown. By the fourth time one knows pretty much what to expect. The special places and people one is glad to re-connect with continue to make it fun but an uneventful trip can be way too long. The best part of this trek was getting to see it through the eyes of someone experiencing it for the first time.
Dr. Grace Stewart is a colleague of mine from ATSU, the medical school where I teach. We have been good friends for years and she has often heard me speak of my Africa experience. When she expressed interest in joining this mission I was delighted as she is a wonderful teacher and adds experience that I don’t have in internal medicine. We started out in Phoenix on Saturday and arrived in Sumbawanga this evening, Thursday. Even with ten hours lost in time zones that’s almost a four day trip that was uneventful except for one incident. Followers of this blog will remember that I have more than once described the snake pit that is the Mbeya bus station. It was dark when we arrived at that open air chaos and we were surrounded by a group of men who seized our luggage and insisted on hauling it to a waiting taxi. I certainly intended to tip them until they surrounded us angrily demanding an outrageous amount of money. The situation was turning ugly and the driver suggested we get out of there. Using his size and my best Clint Eastwood snarl we stared them down, got in the car and drove off. In all the time spent in Tanzania this was the first time I’ve ever had a confrontation. One other glitch is that only one room was ready for us at Forest Way so I’m staying a day or two at another place down the road that is somewhat more Spartan but still comfortable.
Tomorrow we’ll go to the hospital bright and early to make the formal introductory rounds of the local officials where I’ll introduce Grace. She outranks me academically and, in this culture, that may be hard for them to get their minds around. Then we go to work. I’m told the new “operating theater” is ready so here we go.
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