My first day exploring

I have arrived safe and sound and i'm having a great time getting orientated with the ship (or should I say getting lost on the ship all the time and finding new places didnt know existed). God has been so good to me in that my flights and connections couldn't have been an easier process. I met a heap of Mercy shippers on my flight from Paris which made the hot craziness of Cotonou airport less daunting. Wow it took 2 hrs to get out of the airport car park...and the Africans are the madest drivers on earth!!!!!!!

I'm in an 8 berth cabin with some great girls. It's cosy and comfortable. Its a very multicultural berth as is the rest of the ship.

My day started with an orientation tour of the ship. It has 7 decks- all huge with corridors off everywhere. Mostl of the decks are hospital or staff sleeping quarters. There are stacks of families on the ship so theres school and preschool- with crazy play equipment in between ship control towers and cargo. The staff decks are buzzing with people and social activities- many impromptu such as sock golf tonight. Yes thats golf played by throwing a pair of socks at a designated hole- be it the stair well or the port hole. The food is great- I could get used to someone cooking for me.

I've done more exercise this weekend than in the past yr. Unbeknowns to me friends of mine from Oz emailed an aussie guy on the ship (who knows Scott and Caz Hazelton for those who know them-small world) to let him know I was coming. Hence I got a great tour guide who took me through the main streets, the slum and to the land base hospital. What can i say- two cultures and two classes of society collide in this city. BMW's drive by and crazy motor bikes (in there thousands) and in the same block absolute poverty and shanty towns. The people are so friendly and the kids are gorgeous- always reaching out to hold your hand or touching us and giggling, yelling out white person and then running away-so cute! It is so ironic how happy, friendly and seemingly contented the people are despite their poverty and difficult circumstances- very humbling.

The entire town looks like a market to me and people hassle none stop.This afternoon was more exploring the town and market place. They have the most amazing materials and the wood work people do with such limited tools is stunning. Every step you take is in faith as there are people and motobikes ready to run you over at every move. I'm learning that crossing the road is a game of chicken :O.

The main street Cotonou, Benin.

I got to go to the hospitality centre which is where the patients stay before and after surgery for follow up. It was full of kids who are so full of love they are all over you in moments. They sleep in small refridgerated rooms like shipping containers (that hold about 20 bed) which are in a warehouse shed which mercy ships rents. To them it is heaven. 3 meals a day and a bed to sleep in. The family members sleep on the floor under the patients bed on mats or out in the dining area.

I don't start work until Monday so I haven't really seen a lot of the hospital decks. Although church tomorrow is in the ward- no chairs we all pile on the beds with the patients- should be a great experience. I here the emergency calls for blood and the emergency medical team across the PA and realise that will be me soon enough...ahhh. I havent got jet lag yet....yay. Tomorrow is a walk out to a light house...a skeleton staff work the weekend so most ppl have the weekend off so their is no end of people to go out with. The hard yards start soon. I'm told the lab is so short staffed that the got a kitchen staff member to help out......everyone is a jack of all trades.

The Port viewed from our wharf.

Wow the ship is on the move today.......What was I saying about not getting sea sick. Off the church now!!