Military dentist also.. So I'm used to that. :)
Lots of difficult teeth this week. I really don't like when we have a premolar or canine to extract. Those can be the hardest teeth EVER to get out. We did some major surgery this week in the dental clinic. Again a lot of patients with large swellings. Our days were pretty long and we would go home exhausted.
Since the dental clinic is off the ship we have to bring lunch with us or eat peanut butter and honey bread or toasty cheese(grilled cheese) at the clinic. Can I say I hope I don't see any white bread when I get home? BLEAH.
The dental clinic is close to Mercy Ships " Hope Center". This is a place where patients recovering from surgery can go to after being discharged from the ship.
Our day workers get food cooked from the Hope Center and sometimes I will try it. But I admit to being a lazy eater. If the food has bones in it, I won't touch it. :D
When we are leaving the clinic there are lots of children wandering around outside the hope center and it's fun to play with them while we wait.
If you bring any balloons outside you get swamped with kids. They start calling out " Pompay Pompay!". At least that is what I'm hearing.. My listening skills for these other languages is AWFUL.
So even thought it was a difficult week at the clinic.. I am very encouraged with my progress with French!
I'm trying to come up with something to say to every patient that comes in. Learning how to ask about their family and whatever I can think of to say.. I have all the greetings down and now can locate the patients problems using french. Mwahaha!
I LOVE the communication!
I'm sure they all think I'm the crazy American girl, slaughtering the French language.
Tuesday we had our Survival French Taxi ride class. So we caught a taxi and had to take turns greeting the cab driver and then telling him where to take us. At first our cab driver was a little reluctant and confused by what we were doing.. But then he got into it, and even started taking the photos for us. :) We ended our class by going to La Citronelle(the icecream/pastry place) and got Eclairs. It was GOOD!
Wednesday after work my friend and I had our blood drawn to see if we could be blood donors!!
If you know me at all.. I have never given blood and am TERRIFIED of needles near any veins. Give me dental anes. But don't touch my blood. Can you take it from my finger? I could deal with that maybe.. :)
So yes. I am officially able to be a blood donor on the ship! Not sure I'll ever get called because I found out what blood type I am and it's not the greatest one to have I guess?
But I am happy to give my blood if they need it! :)
Here are photos:) Photo on right is some of our dental team with the land rover at the clinic. :)
Wednesday night I signed up for a tour of the Engine room.. Umm.. well.. It's not just 1 room. It's like.. HUGE!!! I had no idea what was going on beneath my feet. This ship is AMAZING.
I took a ton of photos and videos of downstairs.. Most of it I have no idea what it was. But yes. incredible. anyone interested in my video and photos(Dad?) I can show when I get home. :)
Friday was the last day for two people on our dental team. An assistant from Australia and a dentist from Switzerland. Very sad to see them go cause they are just wonderful people! And so fun too! Now I'm waiting to meet the new dental assistant coming. Not sure if another dentist will be coming soon or not. We are not always clued in to these details.
After work a friend and I went to the "Grand Marche" with two of the day workers to shop for a birthday present for a shipmate. So much fun because I was using my little French to communicate and joke around with the shop keepers. It's amazing how your shopping experience can change when you know a few phrases. :) My personal favorite to say?? Hehehe! "C'est trop cher!" It means.. "It's TOO expensive". And it's all about how you say it. You have to say it with a smile. :) Helps also to have native French speakers with you too to tell you what a good price is.
We then got a taxi home and I badgered him with every question I could think of in French. He was confused. As was I. :) But it was fun and he ended up not minding us.
Helps to be friendly to your taxi driver and find out their name. Then they might not try to over charge you maybe..
Ok, If you want to leave the ship(after work) on your own, to go out on the town or the beach or whatever. Here is the deal. It's a 20 minute walk through the ship yard. Taxi's are not allowed in the port. If you spot a "Mercy Ships Land Rover" that has room they may stop and pick you up, so you don't have to walk.
I just realized I should not tell the story I was going to tell. You will have to ask me in person. :D
Sorry! Or should I say désolé which is how to say sorry in French. :)
I'll tell a different story.
Today we went on a bus tour since it's our day off. A dayworker from the hospital brings groups out each weekend.
We started out stopping at this market that people were cutting up birds and fish and making stews.. And Cassava root. We heard that the fish was very good. So we bought some. It was the scariest looking fish EVER. Looked like a mix of an eel with a cat fish. Ick!
And we ate it! I have photos to prove it.
Will post later.
Then we drove to a dayworkers home and met her Mother and random relatives that lived there. It was neat to get out in a small village in the bush and see what their life was like out there.
We got to play with the children running around. Cutest kids EVER!
They were real sweet and I tried to use a little French again. :)
After a short church service with some people there we went and had lunch at the beach. It was gorgeous! But the rip current was real strong there so we were not able to get too far into the water.
It was a fabulous day out! The most fabulous hysterical part of the day? Well.. Our guide likes Celine Dion.. A LOT. Can you imagine a 4 hour bus ride with Celine Dion's songs being BLASTED throughout a minibus with 18 people in it? And we heard the titanic song maybe 4 times? I think I will never hear Celine Dion the same way again..
And now.. I'm sitting upstairs midships with maybe 30 people from all over the world.. Watching the Olympics.
This life is simply.. Amazing!
I love being here and sometimes I wish I didn't have to return home..But I know this will end.. And I really think that this will not be my last time here.
If you could just imagine living in a community of 400 people in harmony? You don't know everyone. But there is a common bond we all have here. We are here serving the people of Congo together for Jesus Christ. God is SO good!
Thanks for reading if you made it this far! :) Lot's of love to you!
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