Lifes unexpected moments


December10th
While sitting in the plane on the way to Mwanza last Wednesday, Kevin turned to me and said
"Tanzania, this has certainly been an experience. " To which I simply replied "Good or Bad?"
There ensued a period in which we thought of adjectives describing our experience. Quite interesting.  Why were on the plane in the first place. Well Kevin's back injury had not improved and we were being  sent to Mwanza for diagnostic tests.

Having only the name of a doctor and a hospital, we were at the mercy of everyone else. From the airport we were taken to a hospital. The insurance company had organised the driver to pick us up and  communication is not always 100%. As we approached the security gate ,I had the sinking feeling that our Swahili speaking driver was not in the right place as I had earlier in the week sent a student to this particular hospital and it was not the name we were told. Hakuna matata.

Before we knew it, a doctor appeared and Kevin was placed on a stretcher and wheeled off into  emergency while I tried to explain that we weren't even supposed to be there. It turned out that the doctor we were to see was at this hospital doing an operation and sent us for an MRI. We never did see that doctor but the diagnosis is that the lower back is damaged so we are being sent home to Aus a few days earlier than we had originally planned. (probably Tuesday or Wednesday). As my cup at home says" Life takes you to unexpected places.

Emergency room.The equipment you see is what you get.
Staff work under difficult conditions.
The policy here is pay first and then we treat you so apart from Kevin's episode,I spent  a lot of time trying to organize payment for this student before any testing could be done. We are back at Katoke but after a week he is still there and will have the major test tomorrow after the money arrives.

We were accommodated in a very nice hotel and it was nice to be able to watch the ferries come and go an Lake Victoria from our sixth floor balcony.  The rocky outcrops around the edge of the lake and up on the hills are quite spectacular. but what amazes me is the way they build their houses in among them. Rock gardening would be the only option.
transport ferries on the lake
There are only cargo ferries on the lake carrying many heavily laden trucks and buses


Balancing act


Rock gardens anyone?

I'm back to where this journey started with things spread out on the bed trying to decide what is necessary and what I can discard as this time as Kevin cannot lift or carry anything with much weight in it so I will have to deal with the luggage. Hakuna matata. The Tanzanians in general are very generous and will come to my assistance. The six hour road journey to Entebbe is now out of the question, so we will have to go another way.  


The only way



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