Training completed, last of the cholera vaccine taken, packing almost done. Not long to go. I met 2 other nurses going to South Sudan last week at the training in Birmingham. It was great to meet them. One of them will be in the same town as me. We'll be each others sisters, best friends and mums for the next year. The training was not much different from the course I did before going to Malawi, there were less biscuits. It's meeting the other volunteers that is the most helpful. There were 22 of us at the training all going to different placements in Africa and Asia, teachers, managers, nurses, doctors, HIV specialists and engineers. We all get very fancy titles but at the end of the day we just have to get our hands dirty and do what we can, which may not be what we expect to be doing.
I've had my letter of invitation from the country office which allows me to apply for my visa. I'm going to London to have a last short holiday and apply for my visa, which has to be done in person. I've been in touch with the principle of the College, Sister Gracy, who has told me I will be very happy there, I hope so. I will be living close to the college, I'll have my own room with a bathroom attached, I don't know if that means an en suite or a door to a pit in the yard behind. I've packed a drain cover to stop uninvited visitors from the drains or holes in the ground. I will have access to a kitchen and plain food will be available at the college. I've packed some spices, stock cubes and earl grey tea for wee treats. I will have power for a few hours a day but this may be when I'm working but at least I will be able to recharge my electronic equipment. I'm taking lots of electronic books, recorded films and music. Family and friend have very kindly given me music and recordings and other equipment.
Not looking forward to all the goodbyes, I think I'll dodge as many as I can. Family and friends know how I feel. The recent heat has given me a taster of what is to come, I think I'll melt. So almost ready to go, giving up on the contact lenses for the next year but I confess to packing fancy sandals, I couldn't help it they just fell into my case.
