Ships log # 18
Just a quick note to stay that I have arrived safely in Pointe Noire (Republic of Congo) despite nearly missing my connection in Addis Abab !! Alls well that ends well though and it was fortunate that I was the only white girl on the flight so was easy to find as the missing passenger. The staff were very friendly and said - madam your flight is waiting to depart - I now know how royalty feel :)
Am getting used to life on board again and have been welcomed back by so many people it has been quite touching. We are busily putting the operating theatre department to rights after everything was shuffled around in the packing up prior to sailing to the Canary Islands. The major screening day is next Wednesday then surgery begins in ernest on 2nd Sept. I will be part of the final checking team to make sure all patients understand when to come back for surgery and also what is to be expected - I can imagine very few would have had any experience of going for an operation so it may be very daunting. Fortunately we once again have local translators to assist in this process.
Have connected with some NZers already and will be working alongside Sue from Tauranaga which will be great and have Australasian dinner out planned for next Friday - I think this 8wk period will fly by but be satisfyingly busy and productive.
There is lots to explore in this new country where I have discovered that the populations is the same as NZ and there a very high % of Christians (more than muslims) - unlike Guinea where it was about 90% muslim and 5% Christian. French is not the predominat language so I am madly brushing up on two types of greetings in the local languages - Kituba and Lingala. WOW !! The learning never stops - and much to the mirth of my family I have started ballet classes very kindly provided on board by one of the crew members _ I am now the proud owner of a pair of pink ballet flats and appreciating the movement and music of the class much more so than when I was 12 yr old and didn't want to practice - and I wondered why I didn't improve :)
Enough for now - have made use of the quicker broadband time early in the morning so away to breakfast now - hopefully add some pics over the weekend
Cheers to all - Vicki
Just a quick note to stay that I have arrived safely in Pointe Noire (Republic of Congo) despite nearly missing my connection in Addis Abab !! Alls well that ends well though and it was fortunate that I was the only white girl on the flight so was easy to find as the missing passenger. The staff were very friendly and said - madam your flight is waiting to depart - I now know how royalty feel :)
Am getting used to life on board again and have been welcomed back by so many people it has been quite touching. We are busily putting the operating theatre department to rights after everything was shuffled around in the packing up prior to sailing to the Canary Islands. The major screening day is next Wednesday then surgery begins in ernest on 2nd Sept. I will be part of the final checking team to make sure all patients understand when to come back for surgery and also what is to be expected - I can imagine very few would have had any experience of going for an operation so it may be very daunting. Fortunately we once again have local translators to assist in this process.
Have connected with some NZers already and will be working alongside Sue from Tauranaga which will be great and have Australasian dinner out planned for next Friday - I think this 8wk period will fly by but be satisfyingly busy and productive.
There is lots to explore in this new country where I have discovered that the populations is the same as NZ and there a very high % of Christians (more than muslims) - unlike Guinea where it was about 90% muslim and 5% Christian. French is not the predominat language so I am madly brushing up on two types of greetings in the local languages - Kituba and Lingala. WOW !! The learning never stops - and much to the mirth of my family I have started ballet classes very kindly provided on board by one of the crew members _ I am now the proud owner of a pair of pink ballet flats and appreciating the movement and music of the class much more so than when I was 12 yr old and didn't want to practice - and I wondered why I didn't improve :)
Enough for now - have made use of the quicker broadband time early in the morning so away to breakfast now - hopefully add some pics over the weekend
Cheers to all - Vicki
