Wednesday Thursday Today

Wednesday

Third day in a row in pain. I have an invisible ball and chain wrapped around my right foot, keeping me within the convent. I am not complaining, I appreciate the rest and the opportunity to read some of the books I brought from America. I finished A Land Remembered yesterday and wish I had read it at age 12. Makes me sad to think about how much we have destroyed in the name of progress. It’s not just Florida, it’s happening here, it’s happening everywhere. But that’s the world. Interestingly I have begun to read Deep Economy which seems to address this issue and prescribe a solution. The reality of it is we will never see those towering trees and impenetrable swamps that once dominated Florida’s landscape. I went to the doctor yesterday. He wrote me a prescription for Ibuprofen. Then they sent me to get X-rayed, where I waited outside in an outdoor waiting room, while people with serious injuries (car accidents and falls) covered in blood were laying on the ground awaiting attention. I was there for about three hours, and they took an x-ray of my ankle and then the side of my foot that is not hurt. My friend on Facebook commented that as of six months ago that is where American healthcare is heading. I have an appointment to see a few nurses today sometime. I saw them yesterday and was surprised that the three of them are all white. I have seen maybe 3 other white people since I have been here. They are not Americans, but European. I thought my foot was broken yesterday, but it has started to feel a little better late this morning, I’m hopeful. I haven’t seen the children in three days, and miss them greatly. I know it will be hard to go back to the states and leave them behind. Might shove one in my conga drum. The weather has been nice, hot during the middle of the day, but cool at night. It’s not as uncomfortable as Florida can be, the air is much dryer, though it rains frequently. People continue to be friendly and entertaining. Everyone wants me to give them my computer when I leave to America. They are all delusional in regards to their idea of America. Lots of people have been rubbing my foot and trying to message the pain out of it. If its muscular than great, but if its broken that would explain why I am in so much pain each night. They think I am weird for trying to ice it and then heat it. One man took my crutch away from me, suggesting that the only way to heal was to walk it off. I have been through some injuries, but this is certainly the most disabling of them all. All in all things are good. If my foot heals up by tomorrow, I will be able to finish several of the projects I have started. I don’t think I will be able to labor, but I can order the children around as well as the staff and get it all done. I am sick and tired of these giant flies here. They are twice the size of an American fly and they land on your nose, on your head, on your food, mango, drinks, bread, everywhere. The only good thing about them is that their larger size makes them slightly slower than American flies and that’s just enough to flatten them with your hand or flick them across the room. There are several dead ones laying around me this moment. Its manga (mango) season here and all the trees are ripe with big green, orange and yellow fruits. Mango and avocado trees here are more numerous then oaks and pines in Polk County. Hope I can make it out to the orphanage today. I’ll try to post some pictures of the lunch I am about to eat. It is an unusually prepared fish that is delicious and is present in 75% of the meals here at the convent, I haven’t seen it but I can smell it.

Later

And yes I eat the entire Fish.

Thursday

Today I began the day ill. All it took was a trip to the infirmary and I am sick with a sore throat and fever. I felt it late last night and took some of the antibiotics I had been prescribed in the states (thanks Dr. B). I should be able to shake it off. I went to eat with the seminarians early and was disappointed when I bit into a piece of bread that was totally full of ants. If you don’t like bugs than don’t come to Congo. I asked if I should eat the ants, but they grabbed me another piece of bread. While writing this I am reminded of a memorable event that I have witnessed several times since. When I first saw it my initial reaction was fear, cause I assumed the T-virus had been unleashed upon Kinshasa’s inhabitants and they were all zombies storming uninfected flesh. Turns out that wasn’t the case, but if you have seen the way Hollywood portrays the zombies attacking a human, it looks exactly this way. The humans are actually storming the Taxi’s not everywhere, for I would have witnessed this long before, but in the down town area where people far outnumber the capacity of the taxi’s and public transportation (if public transportation even exists here). People don’t want to walk down the godforsaken streets of Kinshasa for 30 minutes and no one wants to walk them for three hours at night while the journey home from a long days work. When a taxi unloads its incoming passengers, it becomes shear indiscriminant madness. I have seen mothers with babies being pushed away as men in business suits plow through the crowd to secure a seat in the taxi. Women doing the same. When I say “seat in a taxi” forget about the American image that creates. The taxis here are old vans, comparable to VW’s. There is a driver, and one man that hangs out the side of the passenger seat calling out orders and replacing the horn which has likely been broken for years. Behind these two men sits, no kidding between 15 and 22 people, never less than 15. You couldn’t fit a five year old in most of these vans when they are at what they consider capacity. I have yet to journey on one of these and hope I don’t have to for it looks of shear misery.

Any ways I started the day with a trip to the sisters where they hook me up to electrodes and run an electrical current through my foot as I read the Deep Economy. The cover of this book makes me look very sophisticated, I might just turn it into a universal book cover. The nurse visit lasts about an hour and a half. While I am there I witness all sorts of people with terrible injuries and birth defects. The children who cannot move all their limbs put my foot injury in perspective. I will write a post about my experience in the physical therapy clinic once I make my last visit. I felt bad cause unlike the rest of the people who were piling into the room I had the hope of returning to America, where they have no choice but to overcome their birth defect/injury in order to feed themselves. I was awaiting a foot massage from one of the good looking Italian nurses, but left as the room was overcrowded with people who needed attention far more than I. I walked home against fathers orders, but its only about a quarter mile through the streets. My foot is healing quickly considering that yesterday I couldn’t stand on it and wrote my mom an email saying it was broken for sure. It aint but it hurts bad. Father Gabriel and I went to market today. We were looking for items to finish the volleyball net/poles. One lady said that’s what happens when you play with the “blacks”, in regards to my foot. She knew my injury was from a football game, not sure how but word travels quick here, then again it is about the only sport our two worlds have in common. She was very sympathetic and kind when she said it (according to father Gabriel, it was in French). Another man was very anxious to help us, but just couldn’t create the part we needed, I felt bad when I told him “no but thank you” I expected him to be upset. Rather we shook my hand and gave me one of the most sincere “thank you’s” I have ever received. Sincere enough that I recall it 24 hours later, I am writing the accounts of yesterday as if they happened today, but it is in fact Friday. The people here love America. It represents equality, but I think most of all it represents hope. We found what we needed and headed out to the orphanage. I put the basketball pole together and tried to help out as mush as I could with the concrete and the electrical work also being done. I forget this blog is not all about me… THE CHILDREN were ecstatic when I arrived. They were morning my foot for a few days and very concerned about my wellbeing. They sent my translator to the convent to check on me early in the week, but they wanted to see me in flesh. I gave them my usual round of high-fives and then distributed some candy from Aunt Catherine that I had forgotten we had. Needless to say its gone now. I use the candy to bribe the children and get them to do the work that my foot no longer will allow me to do. I am working on learning all the names which is very difficult. We threw the football a bit, but I spent most of the day in a chair. Little Devine follows me around with a chair everywhere I go. I limped up a hill and watched a soccer match. Our team Vs. another village team. It’s a fun thing to see. I saw there was a big hole in the soccer field and had a couple young people help me fill it. One little guy(who is not part of the orphanage) worked so hard that I gave him a five dollar bill which is a lot of money for a kid his age. But he earned it. Our kids work hard but they don’t work for long and won’t work when there is little apparent reward. The soccer/football field is a major success. People are coming from all around to play and to watch the teams compete. I am crushed not to be able to participate, I want to ref, but all the opponents are sure that I have a bias. I don’t, I just want them to understand offside’s. The day ended as most do waiting on father and others. I am use to it, but my sore throat made it unpleasant.

Popped some antibiotics, convinced father that I should get a bottle of liquor to help me sleep and enjoy myself, but I know better than to combine antibiotics and medicine.

Friday

Today is a great day. Got good nights sleep and my foot is feeling much better. Still won’t be able to walk right for a few more days, but that’s fine, I will fit in with the slow pace of life here. I just got a massage from that goodlookin Italian I had mentioned earlier. My foot and my spirits are feeling the effects. I am making friends there. The same people come in each day and are helped by the sisters. They do a good job, and I think the color of their skin arouses more hope in those they help. Just a thought. I am really loving this book Deep Economy, you all should read it. My buddy Nokia (12 year old native who hangs around the convent) was there to help me back from the clinic. He is working on his English and surprised me with a few fraises today. I don’t think he knows what they mean but its good to hear proper annunciation. The children here speak the best English, the adults know the language the best but the children speak what they do not very clearly. I rewarded Nokia with a Coca-Cola. They are brewed here in Congo and taste similar but different from those bottled in the states. I like these more. They were ice cold which is a luxury here. They cost about 20 cents apiece. I tipped the guy and he looked at me like I was mad. Tipping is nice, but I can see where people may interpret it as showing off or acting superior. Im about to go on my first Congo motorcycle ride. One of the Fathers is going to take me out to the orphanage. 125 cc Yamaha. Hope I make it. I’ll try to post again this afternoon. Volleyball Court completion is the days mission.