Back in the Saddle, So to Speak
Guess who’s going to get to drive? Guess who hasn’t driven in five months and who’s dying to get behind the wheel? Yes, me! I’m doing a jig of joy all the way to my office after hearing I’ll be driving. Here’s how it came about.
We’re in a staff meeting at TICH, with about 40 people in attendance, when Director Dan tells everyone a group of folks will be going to Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Because TICH does not have university status yet, we’re using the certification of the Great Lakes University to hold our master’s program in community health and development in Kisumu. So we have 11 students educated at TICH and graduating from the Great Lakes University next week. The committee planning the trip is looking at travel options, but eliminate air travel right away because of costs. They talk about taking matatus to the border of Uganda and then chartered buses from there.
The director says they talked about hiring a private vehicle but don’t have anyone who can drive on the “wrong” side of the road. Well, I can drive on the “wrong” side of the road so I raise my hand without thinking and say, “I’ve been dying to get behind the wheel again and I can drive on the wrong side of the road.”
Everyone laughs and the director admits they never considered me. I tell them I’m a fine driver and can drive a manual, 4-speed, 5-speed, 3-on-the-tree transmission anything (except an 18-wheeler).
The next morning, I speak to the director about show ground matters and reiterate that I’d like to go on the trip. Not only can I drive, but I’d like to take photos and write the trip up for our newsletter and the website. He agrees. It’s only later in the day when I hear from Bavon, who’s originally from the Congo, that I’ll truly be part of the driving team. Bavon thinks it’s funny, but I promise him I’ll be careful and understand the responsibility of having my colleagues’ lives in my hands. For those of you who may worry about me sitting in a vehicle with the steering wheel on the right side of the car, don’t! I delivered mail for the US Postal Service and drove the car from the right side, to reach out and stuff mail boxes with my right hand. For those of you worried about me driving over horrendously pot-holed roads in Africa, don’t. I’ll be extra careful.
Here’s the plan. Our guys will drive us through Kenya to the Uganda border, through Uganda, into Rwanda. At the border of Rwanda, where the roads switch to the other side, I’ll take over driving and will drive us through Rwanda and into the DRC. Goma is close to the border. Rwanda is where the Silver Back gorillas live (and where the atrocious massacres took place in 1994.) The DRC has active volcanoes and the largest, most densely grown canopied rain forest in Africa. Maybe in the world. What a tremendous opportunity; to travel with friends, to see the beautiful countries of central Africa, to get to drive again!!!
Please don’t worry (Mama). I understand the serious responsibility of transporting my colleagues safely and I promise to be very, very careful.
We’re in a staff meeting at TICH, with about 40 people in attendance, when Director Dan tells everyone a group of folks will be going to Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Because TICH does not have university status yet, we’re using the certification of the Great Lakes University to hold our master’s program in community health and development in Kisumu. So we have 11 students educated at TICH and graduating from the Great Lakes University next week. The committee planning the trip is looking at travel options, but eliminate air travel right away because of costs. They talk about taking matatus to the border of Uganda and then chartered buses from there.
The director says they talked about hiring a private vehicle but don’t have anyone who can drive on the “wrong” side of the road. Well, I can drive on the “wrong” side of the road so I raise my hand without thinking and say, “I’ve been dying to get behind the wheel again and I can drive on the wrong side of the road.”
Everyone laughs and the director admits they never considered me. I tell them I’m a fine driver and can drive a manual, 4-speed, 5-speed, 3-on-the-tree transmission anything (except an 18-wheeler).
The next morning, I speak to the director about show ground matters and reiterate that I’d like to go on the trip. Not only can I drive, but I’d like to take photos and write the trip up for our newsletter and the website. He agrees. It’s only later in the day when I hear from Bavon, who’s originally from the Congo, that I’ll truly be part of the driving team. Bavon thinks it’s funny, but I promise him I’ll be careful and understand the responsibility of having my colleagues’ lives in my hands. For those of you who may worry about me sitting in a vehicle with the steering wheel on the right side of the car, don’t! I delivered mail for the US Postal Service and drove the car from the right side, to reach out and stuff mail boxes with my right hand. For those of you worried about me driving over horrendously pot-holed roads in Africa, don’t. I’ll be extra careful.
Here’s the plan. Our guys will drive us through Kenya to the Uganda border, through Uganda, into Rwanda. At the border of Rwanda, where the roads switch to the other side, I’ll take over driving and will drive us through Rwanda and into the DRC. Goma is close to the border. Rwanda is where the Silver Back gorillas live (and where the atrocious massacres took place in 1994.) The DRC has active volcanoes and the largest, most densely grown canopied rain forest in Africa. Maybe in the world. What a tremendous opportunity; to travel with friends, to see the beautiful countries of central Africa, to get to drive again!!!
Please don’t worry (Mama). I understand the serious responsibility of transporting my colleagues safely and I promise to be very, very careful.
posted by Cindi at 7:12 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home