….Finding myself on a ship in Africa….
Africa Mercy - in port at East London, South Africa
So…I find myself on a ship at a port in East London, South Africa and I have to admit sometimes I have no idea how I get myself into these situations. They say you should lean into the things that make you uncomfortable and by doing so you experience new things, build resilience, learn and grow.
I heard something many years ago that has stuck with me, and I guess you could say it’s become a life motto.
“We are paralyzed by comfort. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is difficult, but no more difficult than remaining in a situation that you dislike or hate. It’s so easy to get stuck living on auto pilot, living in a certain way because that’s what you’ve always done, but comfort doesn’t equate to joy”.
I have never wanted to reach the end of my life and wished I’d experienced more, travelled more, learned more. At 44 I must admit it hasn’t gotten any easier to push myself outside of my comfort zone, however, I keep reminding myself a life lived without purpose isn’t worth living. We only get one shot at this and it’s short, so I’m trying to make sure mine counts.
So how did I end up on a hospital ship in Africa I hear you say…. At the end of 2022 I had packed up my life in Brisbane, put some boxes in storage [thanks Mum and Dad] and was heading on a one-way trip to work 6 months in London, then volunteer for 6 months in Africa over a 2-year period. Before leaving Australia, I met some friends of my parents who donate to Mercy Ships. They encouraged me to look into the organisation and offered to help in any way they could if I was interested.
The cost-of-living crisis in the UK turned out to a very real thing and rather than burning through my savings on accommodation and food [converting Aussie dollar to the pound – brutal!], I decided to head to Africa for a few months and submitted my application for Mercy Ships.
It soon became evident this wasn’t going to be a quick or simple process and so, I flew home [Australia]. I managed to pick up a contract position in Sydney for 7 months, while jumping through all the Mercy ships hoops. There were many times during this period when I thought it wouldn’t happen, however,12 months after submitting my application I have finally arrived on the Africa Mercy. Whilst the ship is currently docked in East London [SA] for maintenance, we will be sailing to Madagascar in towards the end of this month and surgeries will commence towards the middle of this year.
So starts the next chapter in what is proving to be an eventful life [sorry Mum and Dad]!
I’m feeling excited and overwhelmingly nervous but determined to see this through all the same time!
Observations from day 1 & 2:
The gangway is a little disconcerting to traverse.
Trying to remember the colours for the different sets of stairs and where they go and where they are located is slightly overwhelming [although I do admit I’m very glad I’ve started on the Africa Mercy as the Global Mercy is a lot bigger].
Dinner is between 5 and 6pm only on a weekend! [made it with 5 mins to spare last night].
Don’t freak out if the toilet doesn’t flush right away, it will eventually flush!!
The bed is very narrow and very high [very thankful for the person who left a step stool in the free left behind items store].
So grateful for the research I did before I arrived and the items I brought to make my little space a home.