Today was simply another example of how NOTHING is ever simple here in Tala. Yesterday, several times throughout the day, Chuck had discussed with the 2 boys preparing for circumcision and the older boy (Benjamin) who would be “supervising” them they were to arrive at the doctors in Tala between 9-9:30am. Each time they nodded their head and gave an affirmative “mmmm” (typical response here). Then the doctor would call us when they were finished, we would pick them up and head back to C4KK. Simple, right?
This morning we get a call from Ann around 8:45am that the boys were at the Total station in Tala (only one so we knew where they were) and didn’t know where the doctors was. I have to say I was greatly surprised they were even in Tala at that time! And they never mentioned yesterday they didn’t know where it was….a simple “mmmm”, remember? Then Ann told us Benjamin was calling a number (he thought was Chuck) to get directions. Chuck directed Ann to give Benjamin the right number and lo’ and behold we get a call from Benjamin. So by now it’s 9:30 and they were on their way to the appointment (I say ‘appointment very loosely!).
10:30am we get a call from the daktari…”where are the boys, they haven’t arrived?” We then get our stuff together and head out to find where they could have gone. Now, let me explain the direction part of this conversation. No business has an address. You can’t tell someone to go to 410 Kangundo Road, it doesn’t exist. We told them to take Kangundo Road (the only road going through Tala and in front of the Total station where they were at) towards Kangundo about 3/4 km and the office is on the right. We gave them the office name and some landmarks to look for too.
Our thinking was even if they don’t really understand the directions they would ask someone. Guess they eventually did or found it because when we arrived at the doctor’s the boys were there too. The doctor let them rest a bit from their “adventure” then the procedures began.
You see, nothing is ever simple. Network problems hindered communication and no addresses to direct people are a couple of things that made this situation more frustrating then it should have been. That’s not even getting into going into the market to get wraps for the boys to wear….people everywhere, walking in the streets and being the only white faces there.
It’s now 2pm, the boys are resting comfortably at C4KK and I’m ready for lunch!