In the beginning...

So its been a week since we left the homeland and its been an interesting and challenging week for a whole load of reasons. The journey from Glasgow was comparable to the journey to middle earth. It went on forever and ever!!! In total we managed four flights and six take offs and landings - this is because in Africa, they run planes like buses, so you end up stopping off at random airports to let people off and more people on! The journey was also delayed slight due to the arrival of none other than President Obama at Tanzania's Dar es Salaam airport, inconveniently, just as we were about to make our approach. As a result, we ended up going round in circles over Zanzibar for a good half hour, until finally we could land. Needless to say we didn't get the same VIP treatment as the president. There was no red carpet and it took the best part of two hours to get through immigration. We definitely new we had arrived in Africa and it didn't take long the the phrase TIA (This is Africa) to be banded  about. We were in no rush though, as we had about ten hours to wait until our next flight. For anyone wondering....there is NOTHING to do at Dar airport. NOTHING!
This is us half way through the mammoth journey, about to board the flight to Addis in Ethipia. Which you might notice is the biggest double back on yourself in the history of double backing (Glasgow-Dubai-Dar Es Salamm - Addis - Blantyre). I can now say that after all these flights and takings off etc, I am well and truly over my fear of flying.

Anyway, we finally made it to Blantyre and a short drive later we were pulling into Mulanje Mission Hospital. Typically, it was pitch black as we arrived so we had to wait until the next day to actually see where we had landed and there was not much else to do but enjoy the novelty of a bed and recover from the 48hr journey.

We are staying in a small guest house on the mission site which has everything we need, incuding our very own rape gate (charming) and don't need, including lots of lovely spiders and other beasties. Its cosy though and we even have a wee garden that we share we all the local chickens, dogs, cats, monkeys, butterflies....its basically a poor mans Edinburgh Zoo.

Just a short walk from our house, you'll find yourself at the edge of miles and miles and miles or tea fields. its basically my dream location, if only I knew how to get the leaves into something drinkable. Towering over the tea fields, is the regions biggest attraction....Mt. Mulanje, or the Island in the Sky, which we plan on exploring on our weekends off.

After catching up on our sleep and getting our tour of the hospital, it was time to experience our first Malawian party. The party was to mark the departure of one of the British Drs who has been working at the hospital since Sept. It was a chance also for us to meet all the staff and other students etc. Not to mention a chance to try the infamous Nsima (google it) and to throw some shapes (Malawian style). With no alcohol at the party, I was concerned my dancing wound suffer, but from the photo evidence , there was no need to worry!!

The morning after the party was our first day on the wards. A 7am start was a bit hard to bear but we managed. Within no time I had been introduced to the Male ward at the hospital and set to work with the other nurses. Its always hard starting in a new ward, and this was no exception. It was definitely a shock to the senses and was the complete polar opposite to any thing I had ever experienced. My first morning on the ward was manic helping to care for an acutely ill patient. Apparently, Malawian men are quite similar to British men in that most of them wait until the very last minute before seeking medical attention. As a result, a lot of the patients on the male ward are very unwell. Despite this, the afternoon was much quieter and it gave me a chance for the Malawian student nurses to teach me some Chichewa. In return I taught them some useful Scottish phrases such as haud yer weesht which is easier said than done!

Anyway, I think that will do for now. Its already pitch black here (6:30pm) and our security guard will be gettign his knickers in a twist if we don't show face soon.

I'll hopefully be able to resume this tomorrow (internet connection depending).

Tionana
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