Lasts and firsts

Tracking the 7,000+ mile flight

First off, thanks to my awesome family for dropping me off at the airport in Denver and putting up with all the last minute stresses.  Next a big thanks goes to Julie Johnson (dear friend and classmate doing research at Jamaica Hospital and NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases) for being such an available host in Queens for the overnight layover in NYC.  Last meal in America was enjoyed at a Jewish bakery called Knish Nosh (first time eating knish was delish.)  Last pumpkin latte and bag of chips went well with last phone calls at JFK with my family before disconnecting the phone for the duration.

Marilyn & Claude - Jo-burg, S. Africa (after our 14 hour flight)

Birds' eye of Beira

Plane to Beira

International Airport of Beira :)

First time landing in Africa was a little surreal especially after 14 hours in flight.  The flight was great in a plethora of movies and the providential occurence (out of 80 rows) of sitting one empty seat away from Claude and Marilynn Meyers (my house hosts in Beira).  Being somewhat sleepy on arrival, the opening line from my favorite book about South Africa kept echoing in my head "there is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills..." and I yawningly searched the windows for that road.  Unfortunately, Johannesburg from the airport, while improved from the last soccer world cup, is urban Africa and lacks the beauty of Alan Paton's rural descriptions.  The people were all friendly with mixed dialect accents and the ever attractive South African drawl.  Afrikaaners remind me of the Dutch we have in Michigan but I was welcomed especially warmly by a native S. African orthopedic surgeon and his entire family who said I had to return to Johannesburg and see South Africa.


As I sit writing this, I'm lying under a mosquito net in a large bedroom in an old home with all the barred and screened doors and windows open to maintain a steady breeze.  Children are calling to each other in Portuguese outside as various passer-byers and vendors greet each other.  This afternoon we went to Shoprite (probably the same grocery that Katie and Josh Loveland and Cherie Bieber visited while here!) It was especially crowded and maneuvering through small aisles with locals staring and trying to talk with us with "Hello! Hello!  How are you!?!" was a warm and expected welcome.  While driving home the Meyers' car decided to die twice while Marilynn was giving me a tour, and since she didn't have a cell phone and couldn't remember her husband's Mozambican cell phone number, I spent some time praying in the car while she tried to get help.  Somehow the car restarted twice and we barely coasted home with wilting groceries. :P  I write this only because it's one of those common lessons in patience we learn to expect in being in a third world.

I discovered our house is located at the edge of the 'hood.'  While busy during the day, it's like a small street party going on outside the house at night.  Children (I mean dozens!) were playing with each other this evening in the streets; the grown-ups stood talking with each other.  I was told I could use air conditioning in my bedroom not only for the heat but also to block out all the street noise.  Tonight I'll attempt without in order to acclimate to future work in a non-AC clinic. :)  As a side note, in regards to future entries, as I assimilate to portuguese I've noticed already less alacrity in spelling so please forgive whatever errors will naturally arise!

Boa noite! G'night! So pleased to be here safe and sound!  Thanks for all your prayers.