SHOPPING EXPERIENCES

Tuesday I went to KCMC. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Christian Medical Center to accompany Fr Thaddeus for a chest x-ray and CAT scan of the head that his doctor had ordered. We planned on leaving at 5:30 to get there early and get a first place in the line for insurance approval. We left at 5:50 that is 5:30 African time and early African time at that. We got there at 7:30 and Father read a sign that read they open at 8 am.

We were in the first of 40 seats. We saw people coming to open the place. Fr tried to approach them. They said his name would be called. 8:40 they opened for business. About 9:20. We went to get a chest x-ray that was ordered just one view.

That took an hour of waiting. No such thing as appointments. We waited another 2&1/2 hours for a CAT scan of the head. In between the non contrast views and the contrast views the manager held an impromptu department meeting with the techs about how some tribe was aggravating the doctors. The medical center was however a very impressive campus with medical school. It even had a chapel where a large group of people were praying and singing at lunchtime. There were nice garden restaurants where we finally got lunch where three of us had a full dinner for 7 dollars with drinks.

   We stopped on the way home to by some sunflower cooking oil for the Nuns. I waited in the truck while Fr Thaddeus and Madingi , the driver, went to look for a good price. I was looking across the street where a large Public bus was stopped. I saw a man arguing vehemently with the driver of the bus. He was standing outside the bus at the driver’s window. At one point he punched the driver and the driver swung at him with a short round rope. The driver then closed the window. The mean went and stood in front of the bus  and picked up a rock. Some one hit his arm and knocked it out of his arm. He then ran across the street in front of our truck, picked up a stone at least one foot in diameter and as the driver was trying to make a fast getaway, threw the rock at a large window next to a passenger seat. The window fortunately caved in in a “V”shape and did not shatter. The Bus turn around and came back to the scene. A very large crowd gathered and the man disappeared. People we standing looking. The man as well as I can tell got away with no problem. A large group of young men gathered near the truck looking across the street . I became a little uneasy and was looking to see where Fr and Madengi were. I was glad when they finally came. I said a prayer to the Holy spirit to dispel the atomshere of violence.

I decided to do my best not to travel by bus or let my loved ones do so. I am not saying that Africa is any different than US in violence. It is everywhere. Police coverage is definitely better in US. The police did come some time later. I was very grateful for the care and protection that the priests provide for me a pilgrim and stranger in a foreign land.