(It's pretty bad when I have to think for more than a minute for a title to a posting. I'm not feeling exceptionally creative today, thus a generic title.)
I've been working a lot at the clinic lately, so I haven't had much to write about. But, my schedule is getting back to normal, so I should have lots more to comment on in future. Here are a few things that have happened recently:
1. Mogise update
Well, after the stern talking to he got, he's back to his old tricks. Last week was food parcel week, with Spar delivering their usual 60 bags to the Centre. I took one aside and gave it to Mogise, who had come to see me that day. He had been to his doctor and had lots of news. He thinks he's going to get a disability grant, although I'm not holding my breath that it'll happen anytime soon. He also had a letter from his doctor that he was glad to show me. His doctor wrote that "Mogise had previously been in prison for 3-4 weeks and was now sick at home. Whomever reads this letter should please help him with food and clothing until he gets better." I'm paraphrasing a lot but that was the gist of it. He also made sure to show me his bail slip, just in case I needed to know he was free.
It was quite comical and sad at the same time. I told Mogise that I didn't need to see a letter from his doctor, I have seen him and been to his house and know his situation. I didn't know about the jail time (for biting someone) but it really didn't matter. He also disclosed some issues with his ex-girlfriend that could cause him problems down the line. Needless to say, he has a lot of challenges right now. However, it doesn't excuse the fact he's back to pushing for more money and more help.
Last Friday he showed up at my office again expecting a ride home. I explained again that he shouldn't do that, that I'm not there everyday and he shouldn't assume someone will drive him home. I did it, and on the way he told me he needed money to pay a plumber to fix their toilet. When we arrived home his brother also asked me to help, so I gave them the cash. I confirmed that I would pick them up for church on Sunday (which they asked me to do a couple days earlier) and left.
On Sunday, no one was ready for church. I spoke briefly to his sister, who asked for a couple cleaning supplies for the house. I told them I'd be back after services and we'd pop by the store. Mogise and I went to the store, and this time it was relatively controlled. At least, until we got in the car to head home. Then he needed money for vegetables and paraffin. I explained, again, about the limit and he claimed to understand. I dropped him at home and left.
On Monday, I stopped by their house with some medicinal porridge for Mogise. He's really battling with GI system problems and is not tolerating the food the rest of the family is eating. the porridge should help him get some nutrients and maybe gain some weight. When I arrived, the sister asked to have a meeting with me to discuss their situation. I think she may have been drinking a little, along with a couple of the other family members. In any case, we set a time for tomorrow (Wednesday) and we'll see what happens. I will be bringing Johanna with me, because she can communicate with them in ways I can't.
2. Howard
Howard is a member of the support group who I've gotten to know over the past month or so. He's 40, although you'd swear he's at least 50. He's a very nice man, humble and quiet. He would very much like to work now that his HIV is under control, but he has a hard time getting work because he stutters pretty badly. I've been helping him with money for electricity and vegetables once in a while and he's very appreciative.
(An aside: I'm not sure why I like helping Howard and don't like Mogise. I think it's how they carry themselves. Howard participates in the group, he's courteous, and he follows rules. Mogise doesn't do any of those things. I'm trying hard to set that aside and consider the situation, but it's hard.)
Howard came to me yesterday regarding a friend of his. This man is also HIV-positive and unemployed. He lives in a shack behind his parents home not far from Howard's small room (behind his grandmother's house). At least, he did until a fire destroyed it a couple weeks ago. The shack just caught fire, and no one knows why. He apparently lost everything in the blaze and is now sleeping on the floor of his parent's dining room. Howard asked me if I could help him in any way, and I said I'd consider it.
We visited his friend today and it's clear he lost everything. The shack was gone, just a few zinc panels and lots of charred wood left. And a lot of empty bottles for brands of whiskey I'd never seen before. Anyway, I spent a few minutes talking to the friend and his parents, who are both pensioners and of limited income, and he has few prospects to get his shack rebuilt. So, I'm going back into the shack buying business. This time, though, we will be buying a pre-built unit without any of the hassles of tear-down and moving (new readers: check out the posts from April and May). He'd also like money to replace his bed, TV, and other possessions but those will be for someone else to work on.
3. Porridge
I mentioned the medicinal porridge in the entry about Mogise, above. I got this from the clinic. In line with efficiencies of government institutions, we've been sitting on porridge that "outdated" in January 2007 (it doesn't expire, really, it's just past its "best if used by" date). Why it wasn't given to people back then I don't know, but I do know that we have dozens of patients who come through that could benefit from it. When I saw what we had, I took it (with permission) to the Centre to use with the HIV support group members or other people who need the nutrition. In one day we've already given out 12 packets of the 40 I have, and the rest should be gone within the month. It's easy when you try.
4. Letters to Santa
I hate starting Christmas early, but this one is for a good cause. One of the high school kids I was overseeing in July and August runs a program for disadvantaged youth at her high school. She goes to the Post Office and gets their letters to Santa, and then she and her friends fulfill the kids' wishes. They support hundreds of kids every year with donations from her classmates and community folks. This year, she offered to include some of the kids from our after-school program and the primary school where we painted. So, today the kids started writing letters to Santa. I think some of them have no clue as to why they're writing these, but their principal is very persuasive. I hope to send as many as 150 back to the US and have stuff to give out in early December. I'll let you know how this works out.
5. The great TV experiment
My satellite TV connection went out this past weekend. Something happened to the dish's alignment, and I couldn't get any signal. I can get the free stations with a plain old antenna, so I decided to cancel my satellite service today. I'm a little nervous - I haven't had only three stations to watch since I was in high school. I think it will be good though. The three stations I can get maybe show an hour a night of TV worth watching. So, I should be able to get started on the couple dozen books I brought (I have an electronic book that holds hundreds) and listen to the couple hundred CDs I downloaded before I came.
A little history on TV in South Africa: TV was not introduced here until 1975. Yes, 1975. The government didn't want television here because they were afraid people might learn the truth about the world's views on apartheid. They started with one government-controlled station and grew to three stations in the 1980s. The first prime-time show broadcast was The Waltons. No kidding!
In roughly 1996, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reorganized the stations by language. SABC1 is now mostly African language programming. SABC2 is about half Afrikaans and half African language. SABC3 is all English. Most of the shows on SABC1 are locally produced, while SABC2 and 3 carry mostly overseas programs (like last year's Survivor, which I'm watching now). A new free station, eTV, launched in 2000. This is also exclusively English, and runs mostly US shows with some local programming. All stations also carry a lot of sports, since South Africans are sports nuts, but sadly they're sports I don't really watch (rugby, cricket, and soccer).
As I said, not much is "must see TV" and it's more for background noise than anything.
More to come.
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