Random thoughts as we prepare to depart

First, there is so much left to say and I cannot cover it all myself.  I can only hope some of my colleagues offer their voices.  It would be a much more beautiful harmony than this solitary voice.

I was noticing things today.  Ally was looking out across the beautiful savannah and enjoying the spectacular view.  It is among my top favorite views in the world.  OK, so there are a few of them.  Let’s not split hairs.

On the low end, I noticed that burning trash smells the same as it does at home – unpleasant.  But also, the fragrance of freshly cut grass is the same sweet pleasure.  The fresh smell of rain is also the same as at home.  I suppose you won’t be able to remember that for a few months as you go outside and your nose burns from the cold!  But I give you my word, it smells the same here in Africa as at home.

The people are kind too.  They are especially tolerant of wazungu attempts at their language.  They seem surprised and pleased, even if they often laugh too.  I think I can speak for all when I say we were gratified at the response to our education sessions on Hypertension and Diabetes.   The pharmacy folks on drugs and more and Tessa on nutrition and more really shined!  It would NOT have happened without them.  Now Dr. Rite has in mind next year we should cover neonatal care and resuscitation (Kelsey Watt, Pediatrician comes to mind, and Jane from the Ob. side), fracture management (Jane, think that orthopedist you know is available?) and benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer (some primary care doc and an oncologist seem likely candidates, especially an old PC specialist).

At the moment, we are on the bus and just passed through Kitonga Gorge.  Only saw one apparent head-on truck collision on the roadside.  It is still a long way to Dar.

We left Ilula at 9:10 AM.  Gary returned the Lubawas’ car to Tumaini and got caught in rush hour traffic.  This was non-existent a few years ago but is obvious now.  I went to take a few photos of the unfinished Nursing School Dorm and Multi-Purpose building with Emmanuel, Ilula’s Lab Director.  He decided we should take and alternate route back up the hill to the Ilula campus.  “Wet,” he said.  As it happened this coincidentally provided him an opportunity to go right past his house for an impromptu visit to meet his wife and see the house he is renting.  I was a little anxious that I would be holding up the group, but since Gary had been nudged into operating on Africa time, no worries.  Hakuna matata!

We arrived in Dar about 6:15 our time, safe and sound.

Time for dinner!