Work Hard, Play Hard

I’ve always been a hard worker.  Ever since I can remember, I strove to excel, to bring tasks to completion, to follow through with what I said I would do, to put 101% into everything I did.  It’s something I valued inherently, but that desire was groomed and encouraged as I grew and learned and understood.  Looking back at my life, I was always on the go.  No time to dilly-dally.  No time to sit and smell the roses.  I led a very focused life, and one that sometimes compromised sleep.  I would work hard, and I would play hard. 

But here in Zambia, I’ve come across a people with a different mindset, values system, cultural upbringing.  It’s not that one culture is right or wrong.  It’s not that my work ethic is superior to that of another culture.  It’s just very, very different.  The pace of life is eerily slow.  Initially, I had a hard time adjusting.  My mind could not quite grasp the concept of time as it moves in Africa.  I felt angry when appointments were not kept, or meetings began 3 hours late.  I felt bewildered when my clinicians would go on a Tea Break at 8:00 am, just after reporting to work, then another one at 10:00 am, as if the 2 hours at work merited a time for much-needed rest, when hordes of patients sat waiting and waiting in the appropriately named waiting room. 

But slowly, I’m beginning to understand that life here is about relationships, family, events.  Although, out of habit, I still tend to work hard, I’m learning to slow down, take a few deep breaths, and live life to the fullest.

Now for our December and January updates, filled with work and play:

1.  WORK:  When I arrived back at work in December after a 4-month absence, I found my institution in a very different place than when I had left it.  Many of my medical personnel were on the verge of rioting, as they felt they were underpaid.  What had happened was that in June 2012, the government employees in Zambia all got a huge increment in their salaries.  That left private institutions like ours in the dust in terms of salary scales.  All my medical staff were comparing their wages to the compadres in the government, and hence the unrest.  In fact, my only other ophthalmologist at the hospital, along with the cataract surgeon, had both found jobs with the government and were waiting for my return so they could turn in their resignation letters!  Hence, I spent the whole month of December talking with individual employees, negotiating new packages with key personnel, and trying to convince everyone not to jump ship.  Fortunately, after some intense negotiations, everyone decided to stay.  I just praise God that things are now back to “normal,” and my employees are appeased…at least for now. 

2.  PLAY:  For the New Year holiday, Paul, my mother-in-law, Jaycee, and I took a week-long vacation to South Luangwa National Park.  We visited the Ang & Peduche families in Mwami on the way there and enjoyed a delightful dinner.  At the game park, we enjoyed some amazing wildlife.  Jaycee was known by the other guests as the “Safari Baby,” and she made some incredible memories.  

 

 

 

 

3.  WORK:  At the end of January 2013, the NPBC (National Prevention of Blindness Committee) met once again for a week-long deliberation on the subject of trachoma elimination in the country.  Trachoma is a bacterial infection, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, and leads to scarring of the eyelid, in-turning of the eyelashes, and eventual corneal scarring and blindness.  As some of you may know, the WHO VISION 2020 objectives include eliminating trachoma by the year 2020 in developing countries.  In 2012, Zambia successfully completed its first country-wide trachoma mapping exercise to determine the prevalence of trachoma in each of its 72 districts.

The results were sobering, as it was found that the prevalence of trachoma was as high as 52.9% in some areas, especially in the Southern Province of Zambia.  A SAFE Strategy Framework was composed and edited, and it is our hope that with this document the Ministry of Health will be able to convince other line ministries in the government to get on board to work together to rid Zambia of this blinding disease.

4.  PLAY (& WORK):  Raising an infant is a lot of fun, but a lot of work as well!!!  

Jaycee has been a trooper through all of our adventures.  She has grown like a weed and remains in the 95^th percentile for weight & 75^th percentile for height.  She successfully underwent her 4 month shots at a local clinic here in Zambia. 

 

 Her voracious appetite is made manifest in the abundance of fat rolls along her arms and the full, scrumptious cheeks.  Happy 5 months, Jaycee!

5.  WORK:  In January 2013, I started doing ophthalmic surgeries once again!  It felt wonderful to be in the operating theatre, to scrub before a case, to put on my gown and gloves, to sit at the operating microscope, and to feel the microinstruments in my hands once again.  It was relieving to see that I had not completely forgotten how to operate, after such a long hiatus.  It was at that moment that I realized why some surgeons never seem to wish to retire, why someone would even want to continue operating at the age of 70 or 80 or beyond. 

 

By the way, can someone help me make a diagnosis?  37 y/o male with h/o HTN, noting double vision when looking up or down, for the last 15 years.  

6.  WORSHIP:  This year, we've also started to attend a church just down the street from where we live.  Although we had felt quite comfortable last year attending a more diverse, "upper-class" church in a better part of town, we felt that it was the right time for us to move to a local church.  We wanted to let the community know that we're interested being involved and supportive.  We stick out like sore thumbs, being the only foreigners there.  And it is quite uncomfortable physically, as the wooden planks sitting on brick blocks are not something one would call luxury.  

 

 

 The church structure itself is in a constant building stage, but slowly progress is being made - the brick walls are finished, now plastering is almost done.  In the next few weeks the floor should be laid down with cement.  We have pledged to help with funding to buy nice benches for this church.  If anyone is interested in donating to the church bench fund, just let us know!!!

  

It's been a good start to the new year, and we look forward to 2013 - working hard and playing hard!