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5:50AM. Beep, beep, beep goes my internal alarm clock. Even
though my real alarm clock isn’t set until 6:45AM, my never ending to-do list
jolts my body awake almost one hour before it is necessary to greet the world.
Recently I have been living the definition of busy-ness. Starting work at 7am,
ending at 7pm, not taking lunch breaks, dreaming about work, working weekends,
being woken up by work all has been the definition of my life as of late.
Last weekend I wondered outside of Bunia, the city of dust,
land cruisers, and my symbol of long work hours, to the peaceful savanna of a
breeze, clean air, and natural scenery. I was shocked at my body’s response to
the change. I realized how much I had missed the natural sounds of birds, wind,
stillness.
Monday came as it always does and with it the endless
questions, middle-of-the-night-checklists, and the daily influx of 50 emails.
Throughout the week it became apparent that I might need to travel to one of
our field bases. In reality, I was the only one “available” enough to make the
trip. After convincing the UN that the change in their flight planning was
vital, I successfully secured a flight.
Arriving at Bunia airport usually is my body’s cue that it
is ok to being shutting down as I am headed on an airplane on vacation;
however, this particular trip was not that. Regardless, my brain didn’t make
the connection between the location and my “ordre de mission” (mission order)
stating this trip was work not pleasure and began shutting down anyways. Even
though it was only 9am, I starting yawning. I gave myself a little peep talk
reminding it I am travelling to go work some more.
I was the only passenger on UNHAS (UNHOUSE) flight which
resembles a millionaire’s personal jet with carpeted flooring, air
conditioning, leather padded seats, and the warm greeting “welcome aboard Madam”
from the co-pilot. It only took a few minutes to fall into a frigid slumber
hoping this small rest would snap my weary body back into action despite my
exhaustion and desperate need for vacation.
I woke up in time for the decent into Ango, a town in
northern Congo close to the boarder of CAR (Central African Republic). Ango is
a beautiful mix of jungle, savanna, and river – one of the most beautiful descents
I have made in DRC. I was once again reminded of how beautiful, diverse, and
lush Congo really is.
To be honest, I was a bit hesitant coming here because the
most frequent news update we receive from our base is the weekly snake killing
count. Also knowing how exhausted I am, I really wondered how I was going to be
of any help. Thankfully due to remoteness, lack of power (aka internet), and
arriving on a Friday, it forced me to take a whole weekend off – which I haven’t
done in two months.
Saturday I felt my body really responding, almost de-toxing
from stress. Slowly by slowly I am feeling more like a human being again. I
left Isiro three months ago tired of the jungle but I had forgotten how therapeutic
the sounds of the birds, children singing, walking paths through mud huts with
people playing drums provoking African dance, and the beautiful African sky are
for my soul. The natural is necessary.
