We have started a new adventure – travelling to Papua New Guinea to volunteer at a hospital for five weeks. Ric will be helping the maintenance crew with electrical work and I am volunteering as a family physician.
We are both a little anxious but very excited.
Last night we arrived in PNG having spent the previous night in Brisbane after a 15 hour flight. The journey was surprisingly smooth, considering our special volunteer visa expires prior to us leaving ( we need to ask for an extension) … but no one asked us our time frame.
We were met by Don who drove us the 45 mins from Mount Hagen to Kudjip where the hospital is located. Such a beautiful countryside but the one road from north to south was full of pot holes which led to a bumpy drive. It is unsafe to drive at night due to the fact the roads are not lit, there are many people wandering onto the road, and not all cars have headlamps that work so Don will bring us back into Mount Hagen where we can buy groceries for the 5 weeks.
On arriving at Kudjip Hospital we went to the house where we will be staying for the next 5 weeks.
It is a 2 storey house with 2 bedrooms and a washing machine! There were a few groceries in the fridge and it was spotless. Then Katherine the volunteer co-ordinater came over and took us to her house for supper. It was so nice to meet her and her lovely family, and enjoy a home cooked meal.
After a great sleep, we woke up and there was no electricity. After about and hour it came on again. We went into town with Don who took us to the ATM and then to a couple of grocery stores where we bought groceries which for the most part will last us for 5 weeks.
After lunch another of the doctors took us on a tour of the hospital. We relaxed in the evening ready for our first day tomorrow.
