Well today is my last full day in Werkok at the hospital. I woke up with this sick feeling in me. The time has passed so quickly. I am not sure if it did so much at home, but it sure does here. I have a long journey home that will be filled with new adventures, so leaving is not quite as final as when a plane picks me up and sweeps me away. I have started to make piles - things to give away, things to pack. My large suitcase, empty, went back to Nairobi. I will get it there. My small suitcase will fit into my medium suitcase for the trip to Nairobi, I hope.
This morning I went to the secondary school and gave away soccer balls. I spoke to each class and said how wonderful it was to see all the students here. I am glad it is underway. The primary schools have not started yet as there is a dispute in the teacher contracts on receiving cost for housing. You see, the teachers register with the government and then are assigned a school. It can be anywhere in Southern Sudan. Therefore, the teachers have to live at the school, as they may be from another state or another region of South Sudan. Crazy system. I don't really see it working very well. I will give the soccer balls to Ajak to deliver once the primary school opens. If you think there is too much government involvement in America, just come to Sudan. This is one of the reasons why we (PCC) do not want the government involved in the hospital. They may very well send Dr. Ajak to another area and just place any doctor who has no connection with the mission of PCC or any connection with Bor Dinka placed in the hospital. A real problem.
After working in in the clinic, I went into Bor. John Makua drove me, a she got the blue land cruiser running. Hurray! When we arrived in Bor he called Gabriel but his phone was off. We were at the bank. I jumped out of the car and ran to where Gabriel worked. I had to run through the market. I think Makua had a heart attack. An unaccompanied Khawaja running through the market. The bank closes at three and is was 2:20. I got Gabriel and we opened a bank account at Kenya Commercial Bank. The only bank in Bor. The only bank in 5 states. It has been opened for 10 months. It is really a new way of thinking for the Sudanese, who live in a cattle trading society. I explained each step of the way to Gabriel and the very kind Kenyan who was helping us found it all very charming. It took much patience and it was a big learning curve for Gabriel, but I believe he understands the concept. I will now be able to wire money for his schooling, which I will be continuing to do fundraising for when I return home. I am thinking he will go to Uganda for his schooling. It is cheaper and there are several schools to chose from. As I have said before, there is only one school in all of South Sudan for Clinical Officer training and it is very expensive, even for U.S. dollar standards.
The way home was hilarious. John Makua drove, I shifted for him, and we picked up some people going to Werkok. We also picked up some supplies for the compound. At one point we had 6 people, 2 sheep and various sacks of goods (rice, flour, soap) When we were going down the main road towards Werkok, I saw a truck going along the side of the road on the wrong side. There seemed to be a lot of things piled in the back of the truck (a pick-up) and on the top was a khawaja (white man) sitting in a chair. Beverly Hillbillies visit Sudan. It was crazy. He waved to me as we passed. Very odd. Then we hit the junction for the cross over to Werkok. I was thinking that if we had a car following us to go to the hospital, I am sure they would think we were crazy. We go through a very small village at the junction (where we picked up Rebecca who works for us) and then it is a very pitted, hardly a path drive for 30 minutes. Sometimes I am not even sure if we are on a road or just going through the bush. There is yellow grass and sharp thistle all around. Acacia trees are most common. There are also very thorny trees with red trunks that have no leaves during this time of the year. They are green and bushy during the rainy season according to those I have asked. Soon we come across a tukel, then a few more. James lives in one, I wave to his wife (#1) and kids, Roda is down the path aways, then we stop and let the old man who rode with us, out at his tukel. Pretty soon we are in the outskirts of Werkok, the Pentecostal Church, there is Hok, waving, Lual is naked standing by the fence, laughing and waving. It is late afternoon, The village is alive with sounds of any town, laughter, goats bleating, metal spoons clanking on cooking pots as dinner is started. Yes, this is a comfortable place for me. Away from the hub bub of the city, Bor. Quiet and small town. Lots of gossip, everyone knows everyone's business. Not too much different from home.
The guys and I walk to town. A good game of dominoes, except that all the MCH guys lose rapidly. We blame it on the pop I bought and gave out to the guys. Simon said he could not concentrate on the dominoes, he was just thinking about the cold pop. OK, never before or during a game, just after. We wander to North Compound and sit and visit with Peter. One of the teachers stops by and thanks me for the soccer balls. I told him they were from the Sunday School class at my church. He is very grateful.
Dinner, beans and bread. I will talk to Mary tomorrow regarding the menu. Consists of beans, lentils, potato soup and bread or rice. I think an intervention is in order. Everyone agrees.
Off to bed, reading, listening to the sounds of the night. Owls, bats flapping around my net, crickets. Yes, this is good. This is a good life I have.
Night night
C
This morning I went to the secondary school and gave away soccer balls. I spoke to each class and said how wonderful it was to see all the students here. I am glad it is underway. The primary schools have not started yet as there is a dispute in the teacher contracts on receiving cost for housing. You see, the teachers register with the government and then are assigned a school. It can be anywhere in Southern Sudan. Therefore, the teachers have to live at the school, as they may be from another state or another region of South Sudan. Crazy system. I don't really see it working very well. I will give the soccer balls to Ajak to deliver once the primary school opens. If you think there is too much government involvement in America, just come to Sudan. This is one of the reasons why we (PCC) do not want the government involved in the hospital. They may very well send Dr. Ajak to another area and just place any doctor who has no connection with the mission of PCC or any connection with Bor Dinka placed in the hospital. A real problem.
After working in in the clinic, I went into Bor. John Makua drove me, a she got the blue land cruiser running. Hurray! When we arrived in Bor he called Gabriel but his phone was off. We were at the bank. I jumped out of the car and ran to where Gabriel worked. I had to run through the market. I think Makua had a heart attack. An unaccompanied Khawaja running through the market. The bank closes at three and is was 2:20. I got Gabriel and we opened a bank account at Kenya Commercial Bank. The only bank in Bor. The only bank in 5 states. It has been opened for 10 months. It is really a new way of thinking for the Sudanese, who live in a cattle trading society. I explained each step of the way to Gabriel and the very kind Kenyan who was helping us found it all very charming. It took much patience and it was a big learning curve for Gabriel, but I believe he understands the concept. I will now be able to wire money for his schooling, which I will be continuing to do fundraising for when I return home. I am thinking he will go to Uganda for his schooling. It is cheaper and there are several schools to chose from. As I have said before, there is only one school in all of South Sudan for Clinical Officer training and it is very expensive, even for U.S. dollar standards.
The way home was hilarious. John Makua drove, I shifted for him, and we picked up some people going to Werkok. We also picked up some supplies for the compound. At one point we had 6 people, 2 sheep and various sacks of goods (rice, flour, soap) When we were going down the main road towards Werkok, I saw a truck going along the side of the road on the wrong side. There seemed to be a lot of things piled in the back of the truck (a pick-up) and on the top was a khawaja (white man) sitting in a chair. Beverly Hillbillies visit Sudan. It was crazy. He waved to me as we passed. Very odd. Then we hit the junction for the cross over to Werkok. I was thinking that if we had a car following us to go to the hospital, I am sure they would think we were crazy. We go through a very small village at the junction (where we picked up Rebecca who works for us) and then it is a very pitted, hardly a path drive for 30 minutes. Sometimes I am not even sure if we are on a road or just going through the bush. There is yellow grass and sharp thistle all around. Acacia trees are most common. There are also very thorny trees with red trunks that have no leaves during this time of the year. They are green and bushy during the rainy season according to those I have asked. Soon we come across a tukel, then a few more. James lives in one, I wave to his wife (#1) and kids, Roda is down the path aways, then we stop and let the old man who rode with us, out at his tukel. Pretty soon we are in the outskirts of Werkok, the Pentecostal Church, there is Hok, waving, Lual is naked standing by the fence, laughing and waving. It is late afternoon, The village is alive with sounds of any town, laughter, goats bleating, metal spoons clanking on cooking pots as dinner is started. Yes, this is a comfortable place for me. Away from the hub bub of the city, Bor. Quiet and small town. Lots of gossip, everyone knows everyone's business. Not too much different from home.
The guys and I walk to town. A good game of dominoes, except that all the MCH guys lose rapidly. We blame it on the pop I bought and gave out to the guys. Simon said he could not concentrate on the dominoes, he was just thinking about the cold pop. OK, never before or during a game, just after. We wander to North Compound and sit and visit with Peter. One of the teachers stops by and thanks me for the soccer balls. I told him they were from the Sunday School class at my church. He is very grateful.
Dinner, beans and bread. I will talk to Mary tomorrow regarding the menu. Consists of beans, lentils, potato soup and bread or rice. I think an intervention is in order. Everyone agrees.
Off to bed, reading, listening to the sounds of the night. Owls, bats flapping around my net, crickets. Yes, this is good. This is a good life I have.
Night night
C
I pray for safe travels and wonderful adventures for you. I will miss your updates!
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