Correspondence...

So - as you guys have heard from my last post - I have e-mailed the current pharmacist aboard the Africa Mercy...and she replied! It's very exciting for me to have someone to talk to and ask questions. And - it's great to have someone's input, who has been there, and is doing that!

From what I have gathered from her e-mail, she is from the UK and is a long term volunteer on the Africa Mercy. She told me that we work from 8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. (Which means weekends are free for exploring?) And, we share an on-call pager, which we have for a week at a time...much different from the one on-call shift a month here at Foothills!

It seems like working as a pharmacist on the Africa Mercy is a mix of both retail and hospital pharmacy. We still stock and supply all the medications for the wards and the patients on board...but, we also do crew clinics where we counsel on OTCs (over-the-counter medications) and fill other prescriptions as well (lots of antimalarials, from what I gather). Right now, I am appreciating my time in both the retail sector of pharmacy, as well as the hospital experience I have had since the beginning of this year. I hope that both skill sets serve me well while aboard - but, mostly others! We'll see how it goes!

Playing Catch-Up...

So, when I finally started this blog, there were lots of things starting to happen...
My spot on the ship for 2010 was completely confirmed. My volunteer dates were set. The country we were sailing to was now official. I knew where I need to fly to in order to meet up with the ship, and where I was flying from to leave. I had time to research all the information I needed to get the ball rolling...

Now, it's time for you to know, too. On August 12, 2009, I received an email from my liaison at Mercy Ships stating that I am to arrive in Tenerife (in the Canary Islands) sometime between January 24th, but no later than the 26th. The Africa Mercy will be there from December 18, 2009 to February 1, 2010 to allow mandatory technical surveys to be done onboard. Soon after, we will be setting sail for Togo, in West Africa. My departure (to where is still undecided) is to be out of Lomè, Togo on July 31, 2010.

You can imagine my excitement in knowing that everything is finally set in stone. And, also how nervous I am because everything is coming up soon...REAL SOON! I can't believe how fast time is flying by me!

My next steps are a work in progress. I have found out who the recommended travel agency for Mercy Ships Canada is - and I will be looking into booking my flight to the Canary Islands, hopefully by the end of this month, as I am sure that it's quite pricey to get there.

I also have a travel medicine appointment booked for the beginning of October. I have to get the Yellow Fever vaccine. It's actually mandatory by the WHO. Without proof of this immunization, I could be denied access into Togo. You better believe I'm holding onto that paper for dear life! While there, we will discuss options for malaria prevention (I've already decided what I want to take, hehe), see if all my immunizations are up to date, and look into optional vaccinations as well. Oh boy...I think that I am going to feel like pin cushion after this appointment.

I have recently gotten the e-mail address of the other pharmacist who is currently on board the Africa Mercy. She is a long-term volunteer, and I am sure that she can give me more insight to what it's like, weather, how to prepare for my 6 months there, etc. I am hoping to correspond with her over the next few months, just to get a better idea of what life on board is going to be like for me. I just sent her an e-mail yesterday, and am awaiting a reply.

I am already stressing about how to pack 6 months of my life (and possibly more months) into a few luggage items...but, I'll figure it out. If any of you have any hints on how to do so, I would appreciate it!

Now...since I am to be booking my ticket to go...I suppose that I should start considering if, and where, I will be going to after my time on the Africa Mercy is done. I do want to go to Egypt...I have always wanted to go there since I was a little girl. Then, I am thinking that if it is possible, I would love to visit a friend, Miss Bev, in Zambia, where she is currently working for Overland Missions. The base's backyard is Victoria Falls. How awesome is that?! I am thinking that going on a safari would be amazing, too - I mean, who wouldn't want to see the big 5? And, we'll see where my travels take me from there... Right now, I'm still dreaming. :-)

I think that's all there is for now...until my next ramble. :-)