H Urgently Needed

Well another week finished and that makes it a full month completed, 1 down a few more to go. And to make it official I have also received my residency status.( Not sure if that’s something to celebrate or not).

Work has been intense this week, in fact its been an absolute whirlwind. To be honest, I am not too sure what has happened. And to be frank not sure that I want to, its Friday night I have a drink in my hand and the peanut butter jar open at my side so I am a happy girl. And obviously the drink I am referring to is Pepsi Max NOT an alcoholic one which no doubt you judgemental people assumed I was drinking!  Sooo damn chuffed to find it in a supermarket.

Obviously mid-week I was devastated when I failed to receive any adoration from my disciples (you lot) in the form of cards/flowers/chocolates etc. What have you all got to say for yourselves eh!!

Village Life

Locally made mobility device for person with Polio

I’ve only really been out the office once this week, to another community consisting of people with polio that was established 20 years ago. Again the welcoming was warm and friendly and I met an amazingly inspirational woman who, despite her own disability, and poverty established an orphanage for disabled children. She and 2 other staff care for 38 children without any state funding at all.

Melrose outsider her orphanage

OK obviously conditions in the home were grim. In some respects worse than the conditions I dealt with in Romania. However the difference here is that the children are accepted into and by the community. Those who can go to the local school, and there is no resentful attitude in the community or by the carers towards them.   Therefore while they live in substandard accommodation with limited food, suitable clothing and sporting terrible malformations, they are in some respects richer than the children I worked with 10 years ago.

And lets me honest – mega cute too ….God I love little black babies, do you think they’d miss one…

However in discussing with the local people I uncovered a serious problem. My first name, Sara, (and when pronounced correctly) means in the local language ‘the sacrifice’ or ‘to sacrifice’. Now given the presence of secret societies in West Africa and a history which has included human sacrifice I think I need to get me a ‘H’ quick and change the pronunciation of my name!!

And while we are on pronunciation I need some lessons in English. Because no one understands me. When the French staff speak very heavily accented, incorrect English, this is fine, but as the only English English speaker, I am indecipherable to most people in the organisation! And this is an English speaking country. But it has become so serious that I have noticed that I have stopped speaking correct sentences and am changing the construction in the hope of being understood. And at the end of the day I am totally exhausted from the concentration required to speak.  Never thought this would be a problem!!! And no, I will not publish any comments about my northern accent etc, so don't even try.....

My plans for this weekend include a visit to a Chimpanzee rescue and rehabilitation centre. I don’t have high hopes, I expect it will resemble a zoo, but it sounds a cool thing to do.

And maybe I will be able to communicate with them with more ease than my colleagues?! And on this final note, I may not have regular internet access over the next week as one of my French Colleagues needs to take my modem…….. or at least I think that’s what we talked about!!

Bye Good, care take you.
xx