Many Africans don’t know what a chiropractor does. They hear the words Doctor and free. In Luanda in Angola was my first encounter as a chiropractor. It was a city still bombed out and with bullet holes. The shock was mild to moderate. My visit coincided with that of the POPE, or Papa as they refer to him. It was no accident that I arrived in Angola with the most powerful man there, fulfilling our mutual promise to the people. After Zanzibar for its long white beaches and coconuts, I moved on to Zimbabwe for animals and a better lifestyle.
Next, I visited Zanzibar, Tanzania. This is possibly the most stunning place on the planet, with its long sandy beaches and coral reefs. It also has coconuts and delicious seafood. There are many ways you can use a coconut. I used to spend my mornings on the coconut leaf-thatched roof of my office with 2 seats out. They would be empty until I could enjoy the sun or the sand. My word count increased to 1.2 this time, thanks to a translator. People here were suffering from degeneration of their hips, knees and hips due to disease and manual labor. They also had no access to care money. They would need to go to Tanzania, which was already beyond their budget because there were no medical facilities available on the island. The average family was unable to travel by a minibus in a small group.
A Canadian couple and I were able to volunteer together. His husband is a chiropractor whose clinic sits next to the school where his wife receives free education in tourism. This makes him a valuable resource for people. The other industry is the export of seaweed and cloves. This does not include the seaweed you consume, but fillers such as toothpaste. You can see the price. It was hard work that yielded little in return. There were long hours spent picking, bending and lifting heavy objects. The sight of children, grandparents, and mothers holding babies in their arms, drowning in low tide water was incredible. It happened twice daily, whether it was raining or not. This is Zanzibar.
The hospital was an amazing place to work. I loved being able communicate with the patients and gained a lot of insight into their lives. It also opened my eyes to other countries and people. Another volunteer was working at the school, so we got to know each other and were invited to celebrates with them. We ate with them after washing our hands. After dinner, we moved on to the covered area, which was made of coral crushed and water.
English education was offered at the school. Befriending other volunteers allowed them to learn English and they were both interested in our lives. Most of our friends were students, both males and females. This is because women are not often able to get extra education and become friends with westerners in Zanzibar, which is heavily Muslim.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, was my third destination. Although Zanzibar is the most stunning, this was by far my favorite. Zimbabwe often gets bad press for its political history. But, Zimbabwe is safe, beautiful, and an amazing place to visit. It would surprise you to see the integrity and courage of these people. Because my father is a Zimbabwean, I feel very comfortable here. Although there are fewer opportunities, it’s a wonderful place to live. It was a great place to make new friends, and reconnect with my family. Victoria Falls is, you might know, a tourist resort at the edge the most stunning waterfalls in the globe and one the seven wonders of the world.
Both in hospitals and schools, I was able to see patients who needed chiropractic care. The highest English literacy rate is in Zimbabwe, which is also higher than South Africa. However, Zimbabwe’s schools and hospitals are not well-maintained. It was easy to get in touch with my colleagues and had lots of things to do.
With my volunteer group, I had the chance to visit the Victoria falls several times. However, I also made a special nighttime trip during the full moon. The Victoria Falls are only open for viewing once per month. A lion conservation program was also offered by the company I was volunteering for. This included walking alongside the animals. While I worked with the community, I found myself wanting to return to the natural world. The lions helped me to do that. The cubs often encountered buffalo, warthog, or impalas while walking on private land. After they chased down buffalo, we lost the lions. Our bodyguards were called back and we were able to call the lion, who was ironically our friend instead of our enemy.
After much travel and adventure, I am finally back in Australia and ready to share my African story. Life Chiropractic Goondiwindi is my home and I love it!