Passages and Pictures

Wanted to share a few passages from a book I just read. Peter Godwin's "When A Crocodile Eats the Sun." A book about Mugabe reclaiming white farmer's land in Zimbabwe. A very good read. There are two passages that encompassed feelings I have had about Africa better than I ever could.

To compliment my last blog entry about Ishmael's cerebral malaria:

"In my part of Africa, death is never far away. With most Zimbabweans dying in their early 30s now, mortality has a seat at every table. The urgent, tugging winds themselves seem to whisper the message memento mori, you too shall die. In Africa, you do not view death from the auditorium of life, as a spectator, but from the edge of a stage, waiting only for when you are called. You feel perishable, temporary, transient. You feel mortal.

Maybe that is why you seem to live more vividly in Africa. The drama of life there is amplified by its constant proximity to death. That's what infuses it with tension. It is the essence of tragedy too. People love harder there. Love is the way that life forgets that it is terminal. Love is life's alibi in the face of death."

Then, this passage words perfectly how I have felt at time here:

"I feel like weeping. Weeping at the way Africa does this to you. Just as you are about to dismiss it and walk away, it delivers something so unexpected, so tender. One minute you're scared shitless, the next you are choked with affection."

Secondly, just three pictures to share:

Here are all my little neighbor goobers dressed up for the Fete du Ramadan. This year I fasted with all the Muslims to better understand what the month of Ramadan meant (and I also had my own intentions in my heart I was offering). It was fascinating to join in on the fast and learn even more about the Muslim faith. I know so many of us in the United States carry negative connatations about Islam, but when it is not interpreted by extremist, it is a beautiful, very peaceful, and incredibly disciplined religion.

Here is a close-up of Samira. She was a baaaaby when I first arrived, always being carried around on people's backs and now she's a little grown up. Dressed up with traditional make-up and everything for the Fete = ) (Ain't the snot a nice touch to the overall look?) In the background in the yellow outfit and hat is Ishmael, all recovered and looking like a little man!

This is Amanda Fanta Clodine! My first baby named after me in village! Her mother is a simple village woman, and I did two of her pre-natal consultations. When she came to the hospital in labor I was on night shift with Hortence and we helped her through a difficult birth. Two weeks later, she came to market and my name sake recieved her first vaccination. As I was sitting there holding baby Amanda at market it came to me that this baby encompasses everything I love about my work at the hospital. I love that small village life allows me, not only to be there at once, but to see it all. To be there for the whole story.