The Clinic and a Tri-Country Visa Run

The great purposeless Inhambane lifestyle came to an end when I accepted a volunteer position at a Clinic in Zavora, Inharrime,  Inhambane. The clinic is run by a Christian organization called Doctors for Life (http://www.doctorsforlife.co.za/pg/zavora-clinic-mz/ ). I am one of two nurses though I am the only nurse who works in the Triage, the other nurse does Maternity exclusively. In the Triage I am responsible for the adults and a local nursing assistant is responsible for seeing the children and babies; although, because there are always less adults once I finish with them I help with the little ones. I assess, diagnose and prescribe which was terrifying to begin with and basically goes against everything we are taught... but, in the house were I stay there is the Diploma in Tropical Nursing binder and a clinical pathways book that I have been studying.  These two resources + the internet have helped a lot and I am already feeling more comfortable as many of the issues are the same. For example, there is lots of Malaria, skin problems and eye irritations. I have done many malaria, syphilis and HIV tests. I still have lots to learn but I am enjoying it a lot.

Zavora turn off from the highway

Day 1 in the clinic! 

Super high-tech equipment 

Injections wooooo

Study Study Study 

My current life-line

Work

Zavora beach, 4km away door to door

After work relax

The cottage I stay in at the clinic is so luxurious! Warm water, private bathroom (flushing toilet) ,washing machine (first time my clothes have been machine washed in 6 months!), private kitchen and basically the whole house to myself (for now)!

New temporary home 

On Wednesday, we end clinic at noon and I was heading to town (Inharrime) to meet a friend when an emergency came in. There was a 3 year old boy who had "a cut ". I headed back to the clinic and saw they had wrapped his leg and the bandage was already soaked with blood. I called my colleague to come and open the wound dressing room and show me the materials we had. Turns out the boy had two large "cuts" that looked as though he had sheared the skin down. The family had also put some "black stuff " on it to stop the bleeding. We irritated and cleaned the wounds with an antiseptic, applied jellonet, gauze and then a gauze wrap. I would put the picture here but I think it may offend some readers, I will add it as a Page called Leg Wounds so if you want to see it please go there. He will have to come back every two days for dressing changes.

But, my "boss" and the Pastor at the clinic, Mario, the financial manager, Johannes, and a local boy, Benerio, and I left on Thursday to head towards the Mission in South Africa.  I was accompanying them because my visa expired that day. There was a wedding on Sunday so we stayed until Monday. Thursday night we spent at lovely Bed and Breakfast/ Backpackers in Swaziland and then we continued onward to South Africa on Friday. The Mission, it turns out, is a huge compound run by this organization. They have a lot of hectares of land growing avocado and strawberries. They also produce flavoured water from the spring here Aquelle and their own dairy products Bonlé. The auditorium seats 10,000. It's really quite impressive. The wedding was very lovely to see and I enjoyed how the Zulus sang and cheered, especially when the bride walked in.

On Monday we started our adventure back to Mozambique. Mario wanted to bring his Bucky (pickup truck) back this time as he had had to leave it there a few weeks prior, so that meant I got to drive a standard truck back to Mozambique! Just driving along we saw giraffes, zebras, nyalas, worthogs and some monkeys! The drive was very smooth with no problems at the South African or Swaziland boarders. I drove with Benerio mostly in silence because he slept most of the way, but I jammed to my music of course so I was perfectly content.

Standard right side driving... feeling confident! 

We spent the night at the same B&B as on the way there but this time we arrives early enough I was able to go for a walk on the grounds.

Swaziland B&B, Mabuda Farm, beautiful grounds

Sunset walk at Mabuda's

Dangerous encounter with nature's wild beasts

Next morning we left early to the Mozambican boarder. Good thing we left early... of course there was an issue with my visa. The guy didn't want to give me a tourist visa because he saw that I used the last visa wrong, when I explained that I had paid the fine and left and understood what I did wrong... he still said no and told me to leave and go back to Swaziland.

So I left the room and the building, obviously quite upset. Messaged Theresa that the world was over and all hope had been lost. Then about 30 mins later Mario came out and said "okay, you just need to pay the tourist visa fee " so I entered paid the fee, took a horrible picture for the visa and then bam was back in Mozambique somehow. I still don't understand what happened but I know I am here.

From the boarder to Zavora was another 7 or 8 hours and I got stopped three times by police before we finally switched cars (because Mario's Bucky had SA plates) And he only got stopped once after that.

Made it to Zavora by 1700h. What a day....!

And now the trip in a series of photos Snakie made me take...

Snakie making friends with Benerio

Coffee stop. Snakie needs her caffine

She dibsed the bottom bunk 

Don't worry, we still snuggled

Snakie feeling adventurous

The girl is a Chocoholic

Or maybe a Sweetoholic

Always back seat driving! 

The purposely purposeless life

After my 9 days of exile in Johannesburg, I spent the month of November in Inhambane at Theresa's house. I was able to pay a small fee for food and water and eat with the family that Theresa lives with which means I got to eat lots of very typical, local food such as Xigenha, Colve, Matapa and Feijoada. After a week of doing nothing (well, writing a paper for the course I am in plus my usual homework), I started volunteering at Theresa's school. In the morning's we helped with Escolinha (kindergarten) so basically playing with the youngins, stopping fighting and stopping crying. On Wednesday and Monday we did English class with the Escolinha. So singing songs, teaching them My name is... What's your name... Colours and Articles of clothing. Then on Tuesday and Thursday I taught the 2nd and 3 classes English. This was a... challenging and slightly terrifying experience.  One, I am not educated as a teacher and two, the children here do not respect education. But, as always a good learning experience and it was fun to hang out with the kids and help at the school.

Some deep breathing exercises to help calm the kids...

Yamin! 

Otherwise, there was a lot of going to bed at 20h and waking up at 0600. A lot of movie watching. Some jumping off the harbour in our clothes. Some late nights or all nighters at Tofo beach. Some midnight swims. Some new expat friends in Tofo. A lot of chocolate. A lot. A lot of cookies. A lot of bread. And a lot of Suzanna's (local "barraca" owner-- i.e. where we ate a lot of peanut caril chicken that was so delicious).

All in all, this month without purpose was one of the best times in my life and made all the turmoil of my Visa situation worth it.

Life's funny like that.

Happy to arrive home. Our living room, bedroom and kitchen.

Sunrise in Tofo. Who needs to pay for a hostel? 

Theresa later in the morning... 

Tofo delights 

Post jumping fully clothed off of Ponte (the harbour) 

Walking in the bay at low tide

Catching "isca" or bait

Low tide

State of the art boat

Sunset on Ponte

Perfect Sunset, Inhambane 

Getting lost... but finding our way after we so rudely jumped a small stream into someone's private property and then ask if directions...

Theresa trying to decide how to jump across...

Me, Theresa and Hannah, celebrating Hannah's birthday!!

The tales of a pseudo-deportee

Again sorry for the long gap in posts. I think this time I have a really good excuse since I sorta (but turns out not really) got deported from Mozambique.

The tale starts way back when in early May before coming to Mozambique.  I had left my passport in Canada with Cowater to get my visa done while I ventured around Portugal. My passport magically travelled from Calgary to Ottawa, Ottawa to Washington, Washington back to Ottawa and finally Ottawa to Lisbon. When it arrived it had a shiney new visa and a letter from the Mozambican government, office of public works, inviting me to work in Zavala. I spoke with my colleague in Ottawa who arranged my visa and she said she had spoken with the people in Moz about which visa to get. I had a 6 month multiple entry visa that expired in Nov. I asked some questions but she said it was fine and I could use it like a normal in and out as I please visa for 6 months. That was what the embassy in Washington had explained to her.

So sad.

In August, I decided to start asking about renewing my visa because it expired at a time that was going to be busy for the program. As soon as we arrived there I knew something was wrong. The lady behind the desk left and when she came back she had a big guy with her. We were escorted to another building across the street to a small room with two chairs and a desk.

It was in this meeting where I really, truly thought I was going to be deported immediately.  But thankfully, he just wanted to give me an outrageous fine. Turns out with the multiple entry visa you HAVE to leave every 30 days. Which I did not and had not for an extra 65 days over the original 30 days. My colleague and I told him and his supervisor that we could not pay anything without speaking to our boss and left.

When we got to the office my boss said he'd talk to the director of the office of public works and we would figure something out. I also skyped Ottawa and they said they would check with the embassy. I relaxed thinking there'd be a solution.

Last day.

A few weeks went by and I had heard nothing except that the director of public works did speak with the director of migration and a reduced fine was paid (Still a hefty amount though)! I had to went until my boss was back from his holidays in October for him to tell me that unfortunately the director of migration had made it clear she was not going to give me a new visa and that I could either leave of free will before October 22nd or be forcefully removed on October 22nd. Alas, there was nothing to be done. I was in shock. I kept trying to come up with solutions but my boss said at least point it had become a "political" situation. I was done. Contract finished. I had two weeks to finish what I was doing, help plan the next phase and leave.

My baby

Needless to say, I was and am still heart broken to not continue with the program. I really hope it is successful and that the community of Zavala likes it.

Maezinha

When I left Moz for Johannesburg the customs officer said, okay your visa is now valid again, you can come back anytime. Then he gave me his number for when I came back. But seriously! After all that drama and sadness I am just allowed back anytime! So it was just the director of migration in Inhambane that was making things so difficult... politics and bureaucracy.

My customs officer

So, I stayed 9 days in Johannesburg with a friend of a colleague of mine from when I lived in Lisbon. Paul was kind enough to even pick me up from the airport, give me a lift to meet two friends and, most importantly, drove me through one of the most dangerous areas of Joburg- Alexandria- at night. I had a great time chilling, seeing old friends and making new ones.

Paul decided he needed to make a trip to Nelspruit for some business so I caught a ride down with him saving me 4 hours on a bus. Again he took me on some back roads and middle of no where Africa adventures at night. We arrived just in time (0200!) for me to hop on the bus to Maputo. After a delirious ride, I awoken at the boarder to cross at 0600. Absolutely no problems at the boarder.  In fact, I had to wait a looooong time for the bus and everyone else to cross.

Well groomed boarder.

You can buy anything at the boarder. Really, they sell the weirdest stuff.

Maputo in the distance 

Longest bus ride ever

I arrived in Maputo at 1030, hopped on a chapa for Inhambane.  Buuuuuut it didn't leave for another 2 hours so I bought cookies, a drink, an Apple and chupar an Orange. And napped. Then I continued to nap as we left. .. somewhere along the way I  realized I hadn't peed since a pit stop with Paul sometime around midnight. And that I had had a bottle of water, a latte, an orange, an Apple and a soda. And now I was really in pain. So I asked the cobrador (guy who takes the money, opens the door and finds space for the random things people transport like chairs, sacks of food, piles of wood etc) if I could go to the bathroom and he said Next stop, Macia.  I was like okay, no problem.  Except that I had already waited way past that point so I literally was sweating trying not to pee. Then I undid my belt, then the top button, then the zipper a bit, then it was hurting so bad I was breathing like I was in labour. The cobrador had fallen asleep and I so I asked the driver and he said Macia.  I said I'd try but wasn't sure I could wait. Another 55 days later (or in normal time about 10 mins) I see a sign that says Macia is 35km away. I tell the driver to stop, really, right now, I can't wait, à  sério, não aguento...! And he stops. Finally. I wasn't even out the door and I was taking off my pants and peeing right in front of the chapa on the side of the road. The driver was nice and pulled up a bit. But I didn't care. That was the longest, best pee of life.

Made it the rest of the way to Inhambane in one piece. Made it to my new home. For now.

Training Workshop (yay it finally happened!)

Olá! As I have mentioned in previous posts, our training workshop was delayed because the Specialist Facilitator for Ghana was having Visa entry problems (made more difficult by the Ebola situation perhaps?). But luckily he arrived last Monday and we began our training on Tuesday, September 30!

Day one! Healthy Play/ Jogo Saudável Training Workshop 

Again, as mentioned before, we first did two sensitization meetings with the government and members of the communities to introduce the program back in June. The government partners selected "trainers". Then with the help of these trainers we conducted numerous interviews and selected community "leaders". Tuesday started a three day workshop to train the trainers on the methodology, how to support the leaders, adult education and the program in general. It also prepared them to take an active role in the training of leaders.

Playing a game.

After the three days, we continued directly into a 6 day workshop with the leaders. The trainers facilitated many of the sessions and took on many different roles in the facilitation of the workshop.

Kakra. The always happy, energetic, amazing and knowledgeable facilitator from Ghana.

The workshop has educational sessions on communication, physical and emotional safety, gender equality, social inclusion, dealing with behaviours and sessions on planning, leading and implementing the Jogo Saudável (JS) activities. 

And obviously,  we play lots of games. We play energizer games as well as many of the games from the Games Manual.

Playing Water Wheel. Promoting team work and inclusion.

Our Games Manual has 6 themes related to health, hygiene and sanitation that the games relate to in each section. 

1. Personal Health and Hygiene 

2. Waterborne Illnesses and Diseases

3. Water Protection and Handling

4. Food Preparation and Handling

5. Waste Disposal and Sanitation 

6. Social Inclusion and Gender Equality (this is a cross-cutting theme that is to be used when implementing any game)

We use a specific Activity Format, methodology, when implementing the games to help the children and youth learn the messages of the different games.

Logistically the first day was a bit of a gong show but otherwise went really well. Because Kakra doesn't speak Portuguese, translating was always a bit of an issue but we worked around it. Kakra says this was one of the best trainings he's done because of how challenging the language barrier was. It was nice to see the participants implementing the program. There was a great community sense and unity when we finished. I am optimistic that this will be a big success in the communities. 

On the last day, we assigned the leaders pairs with one game each and then took all the leaders to a local school to play with the kids! Big learning opportunity! There were a lot of points to work on but there were equally a lot of awesome things we saw right off the bat! It was so great to see the kids playing the games and then answering questions about hygiene.  At the end a few kids came up and told us what they'd learned.

Needless to say it was a lot of hard work and long hours but the success I saw when we brought them to play with the kids made every last ounce of sweat worth it (literally as it has been so hot lately!!) The training was a big hurdle to get over before we could really start the program. We still have to do a baseline survey and Play Days in each community to launch the program but hopefully that will happen soon! Then it will be in the hands of the leaders to implement the JS Activities and the hands of the trainers to support and encourage them. It was a great learning experience working under stress and coordinating an event like this in such a different settling. Where food for 45 people still has to been cooked over a fire and people are still picky and all those other challenges. I've learned lots and hopefully am growing into a better balanced person.

Kakra! 

Trying to maintain the giant circle! 

Bringing all the groups together for a big final sing and dance

Kakra singing his songs

Our 26 JS Leaders