a week in review...

sorry for the silence. i've been "away" from the office for the week. just a quick week in review, which will not do justice to the people of this country or the situation here, but might help a little. i only hope to help fill the gap, not make things worse in understanding the situation here.

this week has been everything from visiting an orphanage here in Goma, to taking a 3-day trip to a few other villages, to seeing a few kids die, to falling into the hands and care of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) and to finally getting some pictures of Congo.

monday started with the orphanage, which was pretty amazing and humbling in itself. extremely impacting and uplifting, but needless to say, the week held greater impacting events.

wednesday i left with four other reps from Goma (two DOCS reps, one guy from the ministry of health and another community official) on anurse's training to random health and village clinics. basically, it was an educational forum to discuss sexual violence victims and how to treat them properly. also dropped off some drugs and rape kits donated by UNFPA. one infirmiere blew meaway with "well now that we know what to look for, we know it's allover in these mountains and hills. we see a lot of it." apparently, some haven't been sure what they were looking for. have a VERYinteresting story on that which is DEFINITELY going into my dissertation--- but i'll share that later. we were able to hit two village "centre de sante's" before calling it a day and arriving at out final destination for the day-- Kitchanga.

Kitchanga is a make-shift village really. it's built around the road which runs through it. wasn't there 12 years ago, but developed over time from a refugee camp which started 10 years ago there. you can see the remains of the refugee camp on the side of the mountain about 1km away from the main of village. has been basically settled at this point, but is still somewhat used a refugee camp from time to time.

my group out of respect (which is just over the top) didn't want me staying in the same conditions they were staying in, so we stopped at the door of Medecins Sans Frontieres and they took me in without question. the only two expats there (dawn/ female/ canadian/ logistician, and george/male/ greek/ doctor) were extremely hospitible, nice and helpful. as plans fell through for my departure the next day back to Goma, they let me stay another night--- no questions asked. even helped me out with my research and let me visit with their sexual violence clinic and counselors there.

also was able to tour their "theraputic feeding center" there. have numerous pics and stories to go along with them.

didn't sleep much last night--- actually, hardly slept at all. just amillion and one questions running through my head now--- so i had toget up and write them all down, of course--- and i will try and getthem answered before i leave on monday/ tuesday. it's a bit more difficult to get answers from DOCS, but MSF has been SOOOO amazing and more than willing to help. they have totally put things in perspective for me here. and i definitely look forward to applying with MSF over the summer. might hopefully get on with some of their gender based violence emergency centers. if not them, maybe ICRC orIRC. i imagine i'll end up back in DRC. that's where most "first missions" seem to be. that's totally fine with me as it's quite beautiful here.

anyway, i think that's about it--- that's been my week. it's been a rather FULL and interesting week and went by far too quickly. i am sorry to see my time here coming to an end. i feel like i am just finally starting to figure things out, to ask the right questions, to get sincere answers, which of course only turn into MORE questions...but isn't that how it always is?

i leave Goma on monday, hopefully to see the gorillas on wednesday, leave Kigali on thursday--- will reside in Nairobi with my friend Steve on Thursday, and i'll be back in London by friday evening (staying with cousins in just outside of Ely) and back in Edinburgh by the following Monday. time seems to be flying by at this point...