We've enjoyed our first two weeks here - this place is quite large but we've learned our way around. Our duplex is a 3 minute walk from the hospital and its another 3 minute walk to the hostel where meals are served.
Our duplex is comfortable - adequate furniture, a good kitchen (which we use primarily to boil water for tea and coffee), and a nice firm bed. The electricity is on most of the time with only brief interruptions; even so, the ceiling fluorescent light are not very bright so we use our headlamps to read in the evening or early morning. The only glitch has been the water - we have had no water for about a third of our time - something to do with the relative shortage at the end of dry season and the position of our duplex, according to the water maintenance guy. So, we have gone "nextdoor" (where, for unclear reasons, the water pressure is better) to get water to filter for drinking and we have walked to the hostel to an unused room for showers - a bit of an inconveneince "
but this is Africa!!"
The terrain here can best be described as "mountainous". We are at 4600 feet above sea level. For at least a couple miles either way from the hospital entrance, there are significant climbs and descents without much intervening flat ground.
Across the street from the hospital entrance is the market - numerous open air vendors of fruit, palm oil, amd shoes as well as enclosed 8 by 10 foot booths crammed full of household basics.
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| Mbingo started out as a leprosy settlement in 1952 |
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| Susie at the front hospital entrance |
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| Our duplex |
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| The hostel (guesthouse) where meals are served |
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| Looking up the mountain front the hospital gate |
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| View from the hospital entrance |
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| Across from the entry gate is the market |
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| Our friend Mercy, who has one of the market cubicles |
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| Each day, we see many children on the way to school |
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