settling in

The first days are already over and again so much has happened in the last days. I didnt have the best start as some of you already realized but I´m getting there. This new environment, the poverty, the empty flat and standing just on the bottom of the hill without knowing where to start was just a bit much to take in all together. Here are some pictures of my flat, just to get an idea. When I look at them now I wonder why I was so upset. Anyway here you go..



Anyway. On monday I went to my new workplace for the first time. The Malawi College of Health Scinces. Its about 30min walk from my house up the road but I was lucky getting a ride from Beatrice -the cow how everyone is amicably calling her because she knows everything about everything and if you have a problem she is the one who helps you out- who picked me up from my house in the morning. She showed me around the offices and I met about a hundred people who will all be more or less working with me.
Nearly everyone is a nurse or midwife but now lecturer for all different topics in this field. It seems there are way to many of them especially now as there is only one course of midwifes finishing their training. They all seem to be bored and sitting around. I introduced myself to the Dean of nursing who has her office right next to the kitchen and dining area and also has a ssecretary. That must be a plus. She seems to be really nice but also didnt really help me that much with information about my job here. I guess its more learning by doing or something. During this little chat I got a bit distracted by the smell of charcole and burned wood. Outside you get that smell quite often because the people here seem to burn everything what they dont need anymore but inside the college?! When I left the office I found out, the hallway was a bit foggy and right opposite the office door I closed behind me was this room -the kitchen- where 3 malawian women were busy preparing the meal for lunchhour. Open fireplaces in the middle of the floor, piled up potatoes and cabbage, some chicken, all ready for cooking. At lunch of course I went there to taste the food, it was delicious! Chicken and chips with sauce and salat. Very good!
I also met Mewis on monday, she is also a midwife and teaching paediatrics and childcare in the college she is always smiling and so lovely. She took messurements of me for the uniform trousers and to fit the tunics Nikki gave me. She told me if I get the material she will make some trousers and also curtains for me. Thats a deal! So I went into town with Martha, also a teacher, and got some material for the uniforms and curtains.
It took about 4 hours because I had to go to the bank first (it was so unorganized inside, took me more then an hour to find out that I cant open my bank account just like that so I had to cash money, imagine 40000 Kwacha in 500 Kwacha bills, it felt like a bank robbery) then the traffic, then finding the right shop then traffic again. Everything just takes so long and for the first time I´ve got an impression how Blantyre really looks like. On Sunday it seemed sleeping with no shops open and no people on the streets, on monday it was mental! Cars everywhere, people walking in between them, in front of stores every 5 metre a tailor with his mashine and women selling bananas. Guards for the shops everywhere, kids going to school or selling mobile top up scratch cards. Its just crazy. Thats city centre. Going out or in, the streets are full of cars and people. The mini busses are the worst because they are so loud and stinky. I felt like taking a shower after that shopping tour, all the fumes! So the day went past and all I´ve done was buying some material.
The next day I was allocated to my new office.
Its basic but I have my own desk and some space I can put my bits and peaces. Of course there is no computer or a fan but it is my office :) Also Mewis brought me back the curtains and the first uniform. Guys its a dress!! It was with the uniforms Nikki gave me and Mewis had it adjusted for me. I look like a nurse from the 60ies. Its hilarious! If I get a tiny cap for it I´ll scream! Mewis and the other girls loved it! Ok I feel like a complete idiot wearing it but whatever, its good for a laugh..
So I went into hospital with Sohen another midwife to introduce myself to the matron of Queen Elisabeth Central and District Hospital. The atmosphere in the dark hallways of the college is already something you have to get used to but compared to the hospital it is paradise! The alleys in here are packed with people, always one obviously sick and then 2-3 ones escorting him. Its a shocker. They´re traveling so far to see a doctor and then sit there for hours and hours in crowded halls. We went from one end to the other to find the matron just to find out we had to go back to where we´ve started. People everywhere. The matron, an old overweighed woman with not more then 5 teeth in her mouth, seemed either drunk or on pills. She was breathing heavily and was alarmingly faltering around, I introduced myself and she was welcoming me. I think that lady just had given up a long time ago. I dont blame her this is just no working condition although she has a good post compared to the nurses and doctors who really have to deal with this every day. I have much respect to each of them comeing to work day by day with shit sallery or not even being paid for month. After my experience with the matron I went to the maternity wing to introduce myself there. I will start my orientation in delivery ward, postnatal, antenatal and nursery next week so I had to find out where to go and what to expect. Well what to expect.. mmmh! With 12000 deliveries a year short staffed and no equipment guess what? The situation is dramatic. In 2004 Malawi experienced a health system break down with no human ressources as well as no money for any equipment whatsoever. An emergency plan was made for helping the malawian health situation by volunteering work over big organisations like VSO, Rotes Kreuz and Unicef. Malawi has the most health working volunteers from VSO and thats why I am here. Now I really understand the situation. There is nothing! They have to resterilise catheders, gloves, cotton whool, everything. There is no household staff, one doctor per shift and a hand full of midwifes. But labouring women everywhere. HIV, Malaria, Tbc. I dont know how they cope! Unbelievable! It is 10 times worse then India. I´ll try to take some pictures for you next week.
I made out a time plan with the CMM2 and also met the head of department. I went to the different wards. I will be back on monday for my orientation in delivery ward. I have so much respect of these women! All of them! Thats all I could say.
Hanna