Wow, what a busy week.
We currently have a medical team here from Canada. They arrived Saturday to Port au Prince, Heidi and I went to meet them and travel with them to Lagonave. A drive of 2 hours followed by the boat ride of 1 1/2 hours. The water was smooth but they still had several seasick people and one who needed the toilet, which is not easy in an open boat with 15 other people…but she managed!
Heidi Edmonds, the wife of the missionary station manager, and I went to PAP by plane on Friday afternoon. We got a lift with a team of three as they left for home who were flying to PAP in a 10 seater plane. It took 18min and was great fun. I had a fab aerial view of the Island but unfortunately I did not have my baring's to get a good areal shot of the hospital site. Julian didn’t hold that, or the fact that I got to do the flight first, against me, I do have a lovely husband! Both Heidi and I needed to do our monthly grocery shopping and I did not fancy braving the supermarket all by my self. We were in the shop, not dissimilar to Tesco Amersham, for 3 hours by the time we had done our shopping, my neighbour's shopping and a whole lot of stuff for the guesthouse, preparing to feed a 15 man strong team for a week. It was great though as I got many more things for our little house making it even more homely and comfortable, I even found Swiss chocolate…..it was great. Next week I’ll hopefully take delivery, via a team from Iowa, of a bundle from Ikea. This includes fabric and curtains for the whole house and a standard lamp, so we can see after 9pm when the power switches to battery operation. Heidi and I stayed in another missionary guest house Friday night with the most amazing view of PAP and the surrounding hills. It’s quite a trek on rubbish roads but really worth it for the view and the cool air.
We all arrived back to the compound mid afternoon and boy was i tired. I stayed home while the others went snorkelling Sunday afternoon as I just needed a little time to myself. I love people and as most of you know I’m quite sociable but 24h constantly with people I did not know was tiring.
The medical team have been doing remote clinics in the town of Anse A Galet, where we live. I have been with them for 2 days and really enjoyed it. The team also brought a couple of pharmacist and the medical store room I was going to slowly plough my way through is now in the process of being properly organised.The administrator even asked us to do the room behind his office, which he does not like to show off. It contains boxes of medical equipment and consumables some more than 5yrs out of date….we have cleared a lot and hope to get it under control tomorrow…..
While I have been busy the hospital wall is taking shape. The corner by our house is nearly at full height and Julian is very impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of the contractors he has employed to do the job. He is really at home here and loves his work, the people and the weather.
A little while ago, when Rebecca was missing home, we all took turn to say what we missed about home now that we were here, Julian does not miss anything, not even Tamba, he knows he is in the best place. See face book for some great photos of Tamba with the Herriot's. The girls and I miss various different things but mainly the people we know and love. –and warm showers!
The name in the title comes from Julian’s mate Frits. When we were here in October Julian was named big boss, and elevated to just below God for the building of the hospital. When we came back, Frits, who has been translating for the team this week, has persistently called me Madame Big Boss and Julian tells me that most of the guys on site also use this name for me. I’m normally introduced as Madame Julian and when in the hospital Miss Marie….I prefer the latter (Miss means nurse here).
The girls have fallen for Matt Smith….our Dr Who in Haiti…..he calls them Pond 1 and 2 and this week he gave them rides on a quad bike. They really had a blast. Matt had to leave the quad by our house and walk home as he could not get them off…….. Both Ella and Becca seem to be getting on well with school and for most of it also with the other children. Ella feels a little left out as there is not a bike in her size and she does not feel the others are good at sharing but sharing was never Ella’s strong point. She is leaning a lot of interpersonal skills right now and does not always like it……..
Finally I would like to wish Happy birthday to our niece and cousin Prudence, she had her 1st Birthday last week, My brother, Soeren, very good friends Vicki and Natalie and my grandmother who would have been 94 this weekend just gone.
Hope this finds all our friends and family well and not too cold. We have heard about all the snow. Thanks for all you emails and snippets for local information over the past week. I have really appreciated it.
Sunshine from Haiti.
Julian and Marie xxxx
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