On Wednesday I was officially in the Medical department. I left crew services and instead of cleaning the common living areas, I am now cleaning the ward. We are unpacking the wards from the sail. It is a large task. I have really enjoyed spending time with some of the nurses. I haven't really gotten to know many of the nurses up until now. Sometimes it is really a blessing to be able to connect with other women about personal things and sometimes even help calm some anxieties. I am really enjoying it.
Today I helped unpack the ward this morning and then in the afternoon I made signs for the open house (of the hospital) with Karoline and Sarah. We chatted and laughed and made some signs too.
After dinner I went for a walk on the dock with Megahn. We have this really nice long dock and we walk up and down it and sown to the gate, although there are a lot of men doing their version of a cat call. Anyways off to community meeting.
Response #5
On the lighter side of things:
Some of you say 'more potatoes' some say 'more rice' I say, "I must not be doing enough pasta if I can't get anyone to complain about it!!!" hahaha, it's just a joke.
On a more serious note:
Fresh & Raw Vegetables:
The direct answer is: Hope you enjoyed the variety of the salads & produce in Tenerife because it's not going to be the same here in Liberia. Mostly cabbage, onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots...anything else is probably a pure bonus.
Reasons:
The country does not support the variety and/or bulk we would like.
Some of you might say, 'I saw this and that, here and there (like a store or market)' I would encourage you, to buy it for yourself and enjoy it. At this time I can't foresee more variety of raw/fresh vegetables/produce, because they can't sell enough of it for us to feed more than a fraction of the crew. And realistically it would not be feasible to have someone running around the country gathering here and there for just one meal of lettuce or celery (for example). I am not being sarcastic, I am just explaining as direct and forward as I can. (Perhaps maybe if the UN could bend their rules a little to let us use their supplier, but that is purely speculation on my part.)
Several of us have been here before (my first time in 2005) so we have a pretty good idea of what's out there and how much we can get comparing notes from each return visit.
So please continue to give the galley crew (cooking crews, salads, baker, dishwashers...) encouragement and support so they can continue to feel good about the job they are doing with the limitations they have (that is no one's fault).
I am happy/pleased to say that I have overheard several of you complimenting and encouraging our crews for the hard work and excellent meals they have been putting out. Of course, I enjoy your compliments but I am very happy to see you pass them along so I can reap the reward of joyful kitchen/galley workers by your kind words to them.
Some of you say 'more potatoes' some say 'more rice' I say, "I must not be doing enough pasta if I can't get anyone to complain about it!!!" hahaha, it's just a joke.
On a more serious note:
Fresh & Raw Vegetables:
The direct answer is: Hope you enjoyed the variety of the salads & produce in Tenerife because it's not going to be the same here in Liberia. Mostly cabbage, onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots...anything else is probably a pure bonus.
Reasons:
The country does not support the variety and/or bulk we would like.
Some of you might say, 'I saw this and that, here and there (like a store or market)' I would encourage you, to buy it for yourself and enjoy it. At this time I can't foresee more variety of raw/fresh vegetables/produce, because they can't sell enough of it for us to feed more than a fraction of the crew. And realistically it would not be feasible to have someone running around the country gathering here and there for just one meal of lettuce or celery (for example). I am not being sarcastic, I am just explaining as direct and forward as I can. (Perhaps maybe if the UN could bend their rules a little to let us use their supplier, but that is purely speculation on my part.)
Several of us have been here before (my first time in 2005) so we have a pretty good idea of what's out there and how much we can get comparing notes from each return visit.
So please continue to give the galley crew (cooking crews, salads, baker, dishwashers...) encouragement and support so they can continue to feel good about the job they are doing with the limitations they have (that is no one's fault).
I am happy/pleased to say that I have overheard several of you complimenting and encouraging our crews for the hard work and excellent meals they have been putting out. Of course, I enjoy your compliments but I am very happy to see you pass them along so I can reap the reward of joyful kitchen/galley workers by your kind words to them.
Woo stinkin Hoo
Today at 0830 we arrived to Monrovia, Liberia. As we arrived they were setting up for a ceremony and we all stood out on the decks and waved to some Mercy Shippers and local Liberians. As I stood there I was quite overwhelmed for a moment. I started to think about what this country has gone through in the last decade and all the help that is needed for it to recover. I also pondered on the idea that I get to be a part of the solution. They need health care and more particularly they need surgeries. During the civil war, almost all of the Physicians left the country. Now there is a big white ship that offers some of the services they require. As I am standing on deck 7 pondering all of this my hair is frizzing up by the minute and rivers of sweat are running down my legs that are covered by a long skirt that is covering my knees (knees in Liberia are considered "rude bits" are never to be shown in public) and I recite my mantra "I will prevail" . I also know that I will be a part of bringing hope and healing to those of Liberia. Woo stinkin hoo!!!
The pictures are of the crew and some of the people on the dock that was a part of the celebration.
The pictures are of the crew and some of the people on the dock that was a part of the celebration.
Flip Flop-a-liscious
Woo hoo!!! We are not sailing anymore and can wear flip-flops again. My feet were so happy to be free again!!!!
Liberia, Cocaine, Piracy
[ edit Feb 5th - below is the Blue Atlantic captured with 2.5 tons of cocaine on board in barrells. It sits right across from us at our port (already emptied of its cargo and crew but now with guards on board, the cocaine was removed and disposed of already)...you see it here in this picture where our arrival ceremony set-up is in progress with the white chairs]
We are currently sailing far off the coast of Sierra Leone due for arrival in Monrovia Liberia Monday or was it Tuesday? Just in case we failed to mention that...
Things are still exciting in and off the coast of Monrovia Liberia such as the following news report: Liberia in record cocaine seizure
In other news, we had a combination *drill of fire, lifeboat, and pirate. Yes, Pirate! Piracy is still very real and present and it's not the funny 'laugh-out-loud' adventure from Disney. Here is a current link: Rise of modern-day pirates
Guess who already has Gurkhas onboard (for years now)? You only get one guess.
Yes, things are pretty exciting around here...
* During our drills we had a real-life man overboard (MOB) procedure and had to turn the ship around to check and see, everybody was mustered and accounted for BUT ANYTIME someone reports something of that nature and are not sure exactly what they see we treat it as very serious.
The above pic is the actual cocaine boat that Tyrone was talking about, it is parked next to our ship on the opposite side of the dock.
We are currently sailing far off the coast of Sierra Leone due for arrival in Monrovia Liberia Monday or was it Tuesday? Just in case we failed to mention that...
Things are still exciting in and off the coast of Monrovia Liberia such as the following news report: Liberia in record cocaine seizure
"Barrels containing about 2.5 tonnes of cocaine have been seized from a ship off the coast of Liberia." ~ BBC NEWS
In other news, we had a combination *drill of fire, lifeboat, and pirate. Yes, Pirate! Piracy is still very real and present and it's not the funny 'laugh-out-loud' adventure from Disney. Here is a current link: Rise of modern-day pirates
"Mr Singer, of Securewest International, says it is now commonplace for ships to take on security staff if their course crosses pirate territory - his own company provides teams of ex-servicemen, including former Gurkhas." ~ BBC NEWS
Guess who already has Gurkhas onboard (for years now)? You only get one guess.
Yes, things are pretty exciting around here...
* During our drills we had a real-life man overboard (MOB) procedure and had to turn the ship around to check and see, everybody was mustered and accounted for BUT ANYTIME someone reports something of that nature and are not sure exactly what they see we treat it as very serious.
The above pic is the actual cocaine boat that Tyrone was talking about, it is parked next to our ship on the opposite side of the dock.
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