It has been an incredibly long week here in Congo with very little for most of the medical team to do as most of the teams had left to go back to SA.
I was unable to swim because they closed the pool which was sad. I managed to do two Pilates sessions and one strength testing session. I am well rested for re-starting a good training program next week when I get back.
We have spent loads of time waiting for queues, waiting for transport and waiting for things to start. Today is our final day and we spent half of it waiting for transport to visit the Congo River.
It was well worth the wait as we finally got to celebrate the end of our time in Congo at a beautiful local restaurant overlooking the Congo River. I got to taste the beer that I had seen advertised from day 1 of being in Congo. It was delicious!
The Congo River runs between 2 very different countries. Even though they share the same name, they are not the same. The DRC- on the opposite side is a hive of activity with high rise buildings, rich in minerals and from what I understand, a pretty war torn country.
The Republic of Congo is a lot less developed. The Chinese are taking over building 1000s of complexes for their own people, the locals will not get to benefit at all. It is sad. The presence of poverty and the army is very real in the republic of Congo.
From my new favourite book- ‘Stoked’ by Chris Bertish
In life you need to have the foresight to know where you are going, the hindsight to know where you’ve come from, and the insight to know when you’ve gone too far
I think this quote has helped me get through this week and I can liken it to a river.
I love water of any kind and being at Mami Wata along the Congo River bought a sense of peace and closure to our 3 weeks here It was great to be all together in civvies and not have to rush or be anywhere or do anything before we get back to the usual rush and bustle of life back home with old responsibilities, training programs and routine.
So here is to a new week, back in my home country with lots of new and old things to look forward to.