Deployment day #68

Deployment day #68


Hey everyone I just wanted to post some pictures of the "real Africa" that I get to see whenever I leave the base. It's very trashy and mostly poor. I am trying to compile a little more video to make it interesting. I have my online midterms this week so I've been a little pressed for time and thus there is no cool video this week, but they are on the way.  


Later this week our unit is having a "team building" beach day. Fishing, snorkeling, volley ball, cookout.  It is well deserved for our guys and gals. They work 12+ hours in very hot and humid conditions. We haven't had a day off yet. And of course I'll post those pictures afterward.

 Above is a picture of one of the public transportation buses. The mud flap says "John Cena" and I'm not sure if that is a tribute to the wrestler or not. If you notice on the right side of the bus, there are indeed people hanging out the side door. We were traveling approximately 40-50kph. It's very common for people to be hanging on to the inside of a vehicle (with no door present). They try to cram as many people in the vans and buses as possible. And they do not really head any kind of traffic rules. Here, they really are just traffic suggestion.

To be honest, the terrain looks almost exactly like my home town area in Arizona. It's a similar desert environment as you could find in California or Nevada as well.

Had a very fulfilling morning! I went along with some of the EMF crew to participate in a wound care clinic for some of the locals who do not have access to medical care. It was located at a nearby school run by French volunteers. 


We brought a couple of boxes filled with candy and stuffed animal toys for the Nuns to give to the children. We can't give them directly to the children because word travels fast and some children might hurt themselves just to come in to get toys and candy.

The children LOVE to have their picture taken (especially with digital cameras so they can see themselves right afterwards. 

We take care of their wounds and do the best we can to patch them back up, but we have limited supplies.

Bienvenue!

Hello everyone.

Here is it, just as promised, my Africa blog.

I will try to update it often, especially if I have any interesting news or sights to share.

Thanks for stopping by and please check back weekly.