My new surroundings

OK so I thought I would try and describe my new surroundings as best I can. I am living in the Guinebor II area of N’Djamena, at the hospital there. The hospital has a 10 foot (ish) wall around the perimeter, with barbed wire running around the top of it. There are two entrances, one for vehicles and one for pedestrians. People coming to the hospital to consult a doctor or nurse usually arrive by taxi or motorbike which drop them off outside the pedestrian entrance. It’s usually just us missionaries going in and out of the vehicular entrance and trades-people such as the builders or the solar-panel engineers.

The hospital is situated in a very dry and dusty, fairly barren landscape (although I am told that most of the sand/dust turns to mud in the rainy season, which should be interesting!).Since the hospital was built, more and more private houses have been built in the area. These are typically one room mud-brick buildings with galvanised iron roofs.There are also a few small shops (boutiques in French, although they’re nothing like you would expect a ‘boutique’ to look like!).These shops sell basics like bread (fab baguettes, a hang-over from French colonisation) and milk powder (the only way to have milk here apart from UHT that doesn’t last long).Oh and also Coca-Cola!Oh and mobile phone credit, which is really useful as else it’s a 20 minute trip into town. There’s a mosque about 500 metres away from the compound and we often hear the call to prayer.Below are 2 photos.  One is of the main hospital entrance and the other is of the area outside the hospital compound. The second one was taken at 5.30am one Saturday a few weeks ago! It was fab to see the sunrise and it was so lovely and cool at that time of the day – about the same temperature as at midday on a sunny summer’s day in the UK!


Main entrance to hospital



Area outside hospital (compound wall is on the right of the pic)
 

Inside the compound is a carpet of sand. To the right-hand side are the houses us expats live in. Single storey houses with tiled floors. All have solar panels and we generate enough electricity to mean that that is our sole source of power. We have gas-powered fridges and cookers. To the left of the compound is the pedestrian entrance to the hospital and triage area. Then there are gates through to the admin office, payment desk and pharmacy and a waiting area for the outpatient consultation rooms and the laboratory. Behind the pharmacy are the maternity rooms and operating theatre (called the ‘bloc operatoire’ in French, it took me ages to work out what people meant when they said ‘they’re in the bloc’!!). Via a link pathway are the 4 hospital wards – around 8 beds in each – and 3 private inpatient rooms. Just outside the compound is a covered area where the carers of the patients stay and prepare meals for their relative who is an inpatient.

So there we have it, a brief overview of my new surroundings! Add the daily temperatures that are still around 40 degrees by day and 30-35 degrees by night and you have a bit of a picture of where I’m currently living!



Chad life one week in!

Well I have arrived in Chad and have now been here a week!  The journey from the UK was uneventful thankfully, apart from my debit card taking a massive bashing whilst in transit at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.  What was I buying I hear you cry?!  Some expensive perfume or a haute couture piece of clothing?!  Nope......lunch!  Expensive was an understatement.  Suppose it contributes to the free 15 minutes of internet I got!  I’d never been to Charles de Gaulle airport before and I have to say it was a large, rambling, pretty soul-less place.  I spent the 4 hours of transit eating; reading a newspaper and watching the same piece of newsreel on the TV go round and round.  Time seemed to pass quite quickly though and I was soon on the slightly delayed plane to N’Djamena.  Have to say I was impressed with Air France on both legs of the journey.....even if the air hostess on the way to N’Djamena spoke to me in English, obviously knowing from my attempt to order jus de pomme that I wasn’t a French national.....hey ho.....still some way to go on the old Français I guess!  The flight was good, had loads of films and TV series to watch albeit mostly quite old, plus lots of different genres of music to listen to.  Those of you from Torbay will be slightly astounded to know that a Metronomy album was available to listen to and so, in tribute to my homeland, I listened to ‘The Bay’ as we touched down in N’Djamena!!  Slightly surreal!  I loitered on the plane for as long as I could to enjoy the air con and then wandered out of the door to be hit by the wall of heat I was expecting (mid 30s centigrade at 9pm).  However it wasn’t anywhere near as humid as Cameroon was so I was glad not to get the ‘wet blanket’ sensation we always got in Cameroon.  The airport was efficient (we were the only plane in sight so I guess that wasn’t too difficult to achieve).  A bus took us the whole 100 yard to the arrivals room where they had air con!!  I was so pleased!!  After what seemed like ages.....my queue was definitely the slowest, although I didn’t care as I was stood by the air conditioner.....I was called up to present my passport and landing card.  I was expecting a barrage of questions in French that I couldn’t answer however I was not subjected to anything other than where I was staying (easily answered) and directed to put my fingers and the thumb on the electronic fingerprint-taker.  All very smart looking, even had a digital camera/webcam thingy taking a photo at the same time!  As soon as I was through immigration (two stamps later....only two stamps?!  Not a lot for Africa I’d say!) I was informed by another official to register at the police station within 3 days and then I was in the baggage reclaim area.  Cases were already going around and there were mine.  Yes both of them!  A porter helped me – they both had ‘heavy’ labels on them, there’s a first time for everything – we passed the girl checking the baggage labels against the stubs I’d received way back in Heathrow and then both were chucked (literally) through anther x-ray scanner and then that was it, I was outside!  All very quick and easy, I was very fortunate.  I walked out into the African night and felt strangely at home.  I wasn’t the least bothered by numerous blokes trying to flog me mobile SIM cards, tissues, sweets, the usual African street-sold stuff.  Have to say they are very polite here, one ‘non merci’ and they leave you alone.  Quite refreshing!  Found Mark and then we were on our way out to Guinebor II and the hospital compound that will be my home for the next year.

It only took about 20 minutes to drive to the hospital.  We drove on paved roads around the perimeter wall of the airport – not a pothole in sight on the paved roads, very impressive – and then we turned left onto a dirt road.  Good job they have 4x4 here that’s all I can say!  Another 10 minutes or so, after a few ‘hmmm I’m not exactly sure where I am’ comments from Mark (really difficult to get your bearings in the dark on a dirt road dotted with houses and the odd tree and obviously no signposts) we arrived at the hospital compound.  Cue a blow on the car horn from Mark and the guard duly opened the gates with a greeting of bonsoir. 

I’ll explain the layout of the compound and the surrounding area in another blog. However I am staying in the ‘guest house’ which is where those who are only here for a relatively short time stay. It is a comfortable place to stay, my room is fairly big actually and –get this – I have an ensuite bathroom!! Yup, I’ve arrived!

Guest house where I'm staying

The heat here is unimaginable.  I cannot even begin to explain how it feels.  Imagine yourself in your house on a hot summer’s day with the doors and windows closed and the radiators on max.  That’s kinda how it is, although there is usually a bit of a breeze especially in the mornings.

Ah mornings, my new favourite time of day (those of you who know me well can pick yourselves up off the floor now!).  It is the only time in the day that I feel semi-cool and comfortable.  I’m there wishing the temperature would stay as it is at 7.30am but alas, that doesn’t happen and it regularly hits 40 degrees plus around midday at the moment.  Consequently by the evening I’m shattered from just ‘being’ in the heat.  I’m in bed around 9.30-10pm and sleep for a good 8 or 9 hours (again, people who know me well should pick themselves up off the floor!).   

At the moment I’m spending most of my days adjusting to the heat, learning how the hospital functions on a day-to-day basis, getting to know the other missionaries here (Mark & Andrea and their two daughters Ruth & Rebecca, Malc & Sue, Rebecca and a Swiss medical student called Salome who's here until July) and continuing to learn French.  Not many Chadians speak English however there are a couple of interpreters here at the hospital who work alongside the medical staff as they consult patients who may not speak French but who speak Arabic or another local language.  One of these interpreters also speaks English and so he is my new French teacher, taking over from the lovely Justine who taught me in the UK!  I have lessons most mornings with him, mainly conversation so that I build up my confidence in speaking French.  We had a 3 hour lesson this morning which was really useful but quite draining!

I can’t believe I’ve been here a week already.  I’ve been into N’Djamena about three times so far and been introduced to all the sights.  There’s a really impressive public space opposite the president’s palace called ‘la place de la nation’ (see if there’s a picture on Google images!) which even boasts grass – very unusual here and it has its own sprinkler system.  That’s the main sight of N’Djamena really apart from some impressive sculptures on a few roundabouts about town.  I’ve been to the central market, really big compared to the one I was used to in Cameroon but similar layout.  Most of the fruit and vegetables here are imported from Cameroon as they don’t have a great climate for food growing unfortunately.  This importation means prices are higher than I was used to in Cameroon.  Also been to the craft market and also L’Amandines.  More about L'Amandines in another blog but something tells me I may spend quite a lot of time in there......!!

Time to 'get out of the boat'

Well the visa, my passport and yellow fever certificate have arrived!  Here's the proof :)

 

So the time has come.  I've been reading the John Ortberg book 'If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat' - actually it's been on the 'currently reading' pile for a few months...make that six (I'm not the most avid or quick reader!!).  Those of you who have read it will know what I mean when I say today, and tomorrow, is getting out of the boat time.  I am leaving behind all I know as 'normality', to enter a culture I have relatively little knowledge of.  It's upsetting, it's scary, but it's also the start of an adventure, one which, looking back, I've been craving for about 3 years.  I haven't really got much of an idea of what I will be doing day-to-day yet, which for someone who likes to know what's happening in great detail isn't easy!  However I will soon find out :)

 

Tomorrow evening I will travel to Heathrow with my parents and will then fly to N'Djamena, via Paris, on Tuesday morning.

 

So my next blog entry, internet access permitting, will be from Chad!  Here's to the adventure, thanks for sharing it with me :)

 

 

Original departure day

Today has been a bit strange.  I was meant to be leaving for Chad today and over the last few months everything was geared towards 30th April.  Now it's here, and I'm still in Torquay!  I've kept thinking 'I would've been at Heathrow now'....'I'd have been in transit at Paris Charles de Gaulle now' and right at this moment, as I type, I'm thinking 'I'd have been an hour away from landing in Chad now'.  It's strange to think that rather than sitting in my friend's house in Torquay typing this post, I'd have been an hour away from landing in a different culture and all that that would bring with it.

However, I am now preparing myself for a new departure date of 14th May and in the meantime I am making the most of still being in the UK.  I am enjoying the sunshine but the relative cool of the UK compared with Chad (where it's around 40 degrees centigrade at 9pm).  I am enjoying seeing friends over coffee.  I am enjoying still being by the sea.

Today I met a dear friend at Meadfoot Beach and spent a lovely couple of hours chatting and looking out at this fantastic view:

Meadfoot

I am so going to miss the sea!

I am also making the most of still being near my fab french teacher Justine and doing a bit more practice of my français.

I am also going to see more of my family too.  I wouldn't have been able to do any of this if I had gone to Chad today.  So I am making to the most of the delay in departure.  However I am also keen to get there now and do what I've been preparing myself for months to do!

Small change of plan

I've now been on career break from work for two weeks.  It's been surreal not going to work every day but it's also been great, as it's meant I can concentrate on seeing people before I go, buying supplies for my trip and generally just get my head around the fact that I'm going to Chad.  Soon.  More on that in a moment!

The 'to-do' list has been long and as soon as I have crossed something off, two things have been added, so there was a time last week where it just felt never-ending.  The tasks have been varied which was good!  Here's a sample of the things I've been having to think about before I go

- making a will (weird experience but had to be done)
- sorting my work indemnity insurance
- buying ankle-length skirts
- writing thank you cards
- letting people know I've put them down as emergency contacts (thank you, you know who you are!)
- buying mosi-net treatment
- buying a spare laptop battery
- syncing my ipod nano
- buying an abundant supply of AA batteries
- going to the dentist
- handing over Girls Brigade
- having French lessons
- buying a travel fan
- learning how my solar-powered battery charger works
- taking oral cholera vaccine
- giving mum details so she can apply for a new driving license for me when mine expires June 2013
- sorting direct debits out
- etc etc etc the list just goes on and on!

I've also been meeting up with friends for coffee, going out for meals and just generally enjoying being with the people I know well.  That's been fantastic but also difficult, knowing that it'll be the last time for a while.

Putting your life on hold for a year and preparing for life in a different culture is one major all-consuming task.  However it'll be worth it!

You'll notice there's a lot of mention of batteries in the 'to-do' list!  This is because the hospital is not on the grid and is mainly reliant on solar power.  Therefore I won't have a lot of electricity at my disposal, so I'm going armed with as much alternative means of power as I can!

So, the title of this post is 'small change of plan'.  Due to circumstances beyond anyones control, I've not yet got my visa through to enter the country.  I've known there was a potential issue with this for a few weeks now.  It has now meant that my departure to Chad will now be delayed by a couple of weeks and my flights have been rescheduled to 14th May.  I'm sad that I won't be going on my originally planned date.  However I will get to Chad when I'm meant to get there :)  In the meantime, the extra couple of weeks will allow me to enjoy being in the UK for a bit longer and see a few more people.  I'm especially excited that I get to see my dear friends Bex and Andy get their 'handshake' at the Baptist Assembly in Blackpool next weekend :) 

'Every cloud.....' :)

Leaving work

Friday 12th April was my last day at work before I started my years career break.....and it felt strange!  We'd been out for dinner the night before which was great, it was good to be together out of the work setting and just 'be' :)  However the last day at work was an odd one.  Finalising things.  Making sure I'd handed over everything.  Making sure the out-of-office was on.  Making sure my mobile phone voicemail message was updated.  It was all a bit surreal.  By the end of the day I was done.  Desk cleared,  I was ready to go.  Another ending.  I got back to my friend's house where I was staying and the most crushing headache just developed.  It was like I'd got over the final hurdle of 'endings' (finishing work) and I crashed!  I haven't felt like that in a long time and it wasn't very nice.

So that's that!  I now don't have my flat to live in and I am on career break!!  This week so far is flying by though.  Lots to finalise, people to see, resources for the trip to buy.  I just hope I don't forget anything.....

Moving Out

Good Friday saw me going to Church first thing and then it all started.....the packing.  Little did I know that it would end up taking 11 hours!  I had help from Lucy, a lovely work colleague who gave up a couple of hours to help pack up the kitchen.  It was then Jude, organiser extraordinaire and all-round fab person, and myself.  There were times when I thought it was never going to get done.  There was stuff everywhere.  I was having to think of where things were having to go.... 'can it be packed away for a year?'...... 'do I still need that out for work?' (I've still got 2 weeks left until my career break starts)...... 'will I need this in Chad?'.  Packing up was strange.  It was different to just moving house as I had to pack some things away for a year and keep other things accessible.  However at 10pm it was all done, we'd packed everything and put a lot of stuff in my attic already.  Jude, being her usual very organised self, had also written copious signs detailing what was to go where the next day and a two page list of jobs to be done!  This was a great help on the Saturday as various people arrived asking 'what needs doing?'



Boxes

Boxes




More boxes.....

Saturday arrived.  I didn't want to get out of bed because then the day would start and I would be moving out, something I wasn't looking forward to in some ways.  My flat has been my home for over 10 years (minus 9 months in Cameroon) and it's my haven.  However I did get myself out of bed and at 10am people descended to help me move things to various locations in Torquay, sort a few DIY jobs, put yet more stuff in my attic and clean the whole flat.  Thank you Mark, Gary, Neil, George, Jude and Mum :)  So my flat is now empty, apart from furniture as I'm letting it furnished. 


 

Empty lounge!

Empty lounge!

Empty kitchen!

So that's it.  I'm now out of my flat and staying for two weeks with my friend Julie (aka MJ Groovit....long, and actually-now-quite-old story!!)  It's a weird feeling not having my own home.  Don't get me wrong, Julie has made me very welcome and I treat her place as I would my own (thank you Julie, you're a star!).  However it's not my home.  My home is 5 minutes up the road, standing empty and awaiting tenants to move in on Wednesday.  It's all a bit surreal to be honest but a wise friend gave me some advice on Saturday which helped a lot.

It's strange, because on one hand I'm feeling sad to have left my flat, but moving out is part of the journey, the process of to going to Chad, and I'm excited about that and the adventure it will be!  I can't have the trip to Chad without the sadness of leaving my flat.  That's just the way it goes :)