Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The perception of passing time is such a mystery. Last week we talked at one meal time about how we felt sort of suspended—it seemed as though we had not been at Macha for very long at all and yet we felt as though we had been away from home for an eternity. We were in the space between the familiar (life in the US) and the unfamiliar. Now, about a week later, our life, schedule, surroundings, have begun to feel familiar. Our feet have walked the paths, our eyes have taken notice of the patterns of the sun and clouds, and we know the names of many of those who live here at Macha.

Yet it is not our home (with the possible exception of Wanda!) and there are still ways in which we are not comfortable. While it has gotten easier, our ears still strain to understand the English many speak with a strong accent. We still to move to the wrong side of the road to get out of the way of approaching vehicles. We still walk quickly, while others move at a more leisurely pace. Embracing a culture does not mean that it becomes our own—but it can shine light into our lives. Memories of our time at Macha will be reminders about things we may want to incorporate into our lives. Maybe we will more often set aside time for a cup of tea with a friend. Maybe we will be more welcoming when we see a visitor or more helpful when someone appears to be confused. Maybe we will have a greater sense of gratitude for the blessings in our lives and a greater urge to generosity to share those blessings. Maybe.

This is our last Tuesday in Zambia. Our days at the hospital are winding down, though there have still been a lot of exciting opportunities—assisting in maternity with deliveries and observing C-sections, observing surgeries of various sorts, and interacting with ART Clinic clients taking vitals and working with compliance interviews. (Don’t worry, friends, I’ve not actually done any of this—I’m not a nurse!)

Once again, our plans for a walk to the dam were postponed due to threat of rain. This means that more reading was done, the jigsaw puzzle of the elephants is closer to being completed, and likely a few got in a nap. The runners in our group will likely still do their pre-supper circuit.












Tonight the principal tutor from the Nurses Training School here in Macha, Mrs. Sitali, came to talk to us about the Zambian health system and some of the specific challenges of nursing in Zambia.