The Luke Commission is winding down for the next two months (rainy season), so today was their last clinic until the new year. I had plans to join them today at Gundvwini High School. I knew it was a rural location (most everywhere in Swaziland is "rural"), but according to Sygic (my GPS app), there were two ways to get there: the "back road" way and the "usual" route. I, having been born and raised in rural Iowa, of course opted for the "back road" route, as it was a lot shorter mileage-wise. I should have figured if Sygic was trying to route me the longer way, it was with good reason. My route ended up being shorter, but the terrain was VERY rugged! As I was bumping along the rural gravel roads with no cars in sight, I realized the other route may have been the better option after all.
Eventually I came across a truck carrying sticks. The guy was crawling along in his truck and pulled over to let me pass. Instead, I pulled up alongside him and asked where the school was located (my GPS ended up being correct, but I was becoming dubious by this point). He told me to follow him. So I did. Eventually we came up to a little stream bed, and the going looked very rough. The bed of the "road" was sand, and you couldn't even tell where the road was supposed to be. It has been so dry here, that luckily there was no water. The man motioned for me to stop, got out of his truck and surveyed the situation. He thought I could make it in my car if I "[went] fast". So I went on ahead of him, kept up my momentum, and made it across the sandy stream bed and up the little hill on the other side. He crossed over too, and then I continued to follow his lead. He led me right to the school, which was so kind.
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| My escort through the African bush. |
When I showed up at the school, there was quite a crowd, as usual. I spent my time in the eye room again, and we saw over 300 patients. I signed up four cataracts and found about 10 other people with a variety of eye problems that were non-surgical (end-stage glaucoma, pthisical eyes after trauma, etc).
Jono had texted me earlier in the day basically telling me to: 1) have a good day, 2) remind me that the cows are out in full force (TONS of cows on the road today and they can be deadly if you hit them in your car), and 3) remind me to be home in Siteki before dark.
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| Cows are everywhere and are a huge traffic hazard. Some people call them "Swazi robots" (robot = stoplight in Swaziland) because they force you to slow down and often stop. |
I tried to leave Gundvwini at 5:30pm, but ended up talking to Echo for awhile (TLC co-founder), and didn't leave until 6pm. I knew I was pushing it, as I planned to take the "long" (but less rural) route home and the GPS said it was 1 hour and 40 minutes home. As I was pulling out of the school, one of the TLC workers came running after me. She explained that there was a little boy (nine years old), who had missed his bus back to his hometown. He needed a ride to Manzini so he could catch a bus home. They asked if I might take him. I told them sure.
The kid hopped in the car with me. I let him have my ipad so he could play DJ for the car ride. We got to Manzini and I was hungry, as I hadn't eaten all day (grocery store closed early yesterday). KFC was the closest place, and it was close to the bus station. I asked him if was hungry. He anxiously shook his head "yes". I honestly felt like an aunt spoiling her nephew when the parents are away. I have no idea if his parents cared if he ate KFC, but I figured they didn't, since many children only eat one or two meals a day here in Swaziland. We went up to the counter and he was really excited. The worker was so kind! She explained the kids meals to him and he ordered a two piece chicken meal with French fries and a Fanta. I probably got this kid all sugared up before returning him to his parents. Oh well!
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| He is pretty pumped for his kid's meal. |
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| Hanging out in KFC |
I also realized that he had no bus fare, and his parents likely had no idea where he was. I asked the child if he knew his parents phone number. He said "yes". I asked him if his parents spoke English. He said "no". The KFC worker wrote down his phone number on a napkin as he recited it. I gave the KFC worker the equivalent of $2 for her to buy more airtime (they are not on cell phone contracts here, but rather purchase "airtime"), and asked her to call the parents. She did call them and explained to him that he was KFC, but I was putting him on a bus home. I gave him 10 Rand ($1) for the bus fare. Then, the manager of KFC personally walked him to the bus station to make sure he got on his bus. It was all quite comical.
I drove home in the dark after all, which wouldn't have made Papa Pons very happy (he doesn't know), but I really had no choice at that point. I made it without any difficulty.
And we get to make the entire trip back to Manzini tomorrow morning. Yay.
Sikalela (cataract case finder) and Sharon (optometrist at Mbabane Government Hospital) joined me at TLC today. We also said our goodbyes today. Hard to believe I am headed back to America in 12 short days!
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| Sharon, me, and Sikalela at TLC |
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