Most Africans have no idea what a chiropractor is, they hear the Doctor agreeing with free and run in. My first experience as a chiropractor in Africa was in Luanda, Angola, a big city devastated by war for 30 years, still with bullet holes and bombed buildings. So it was a bit of a shock to say the least. It happened that I coincided with my visit with the PAPA or papa as they call him, of course it is not a coincidence that I arrived with the most important man in Angola, in accordance with our promise shared with the people. Then I moved to Zanzibar, for long white sand beaches and coconuts, and then to Zimbabwe for the animals and the lifestyle.
My next Zanzibar experience in Tanzania, this is possibly the most beautiful place in the world, long white sand beaches, coral reefs, coconuts and shellfish. Did you know that there are 100 ways to use a coconut? Well, there are for a Zanzibar. I spent my mornings in my coconut leaf thatch roofed office which had 2 long seats outside. He would work until they were empty and then he would be free to enjoy the sun and sand. This time I had a translator, so my number of words increased from just 1. People here suffered terribly with diseases from manual work, degeneration in the knees and hips, and without money or resources for care. There were no facilities on the island, so they would have to travel to mainland Tanzania, which was already out of budget. Traveling to the city in a crowded minibus was enough for the average household.
I volunteered with a Canadian couple who have dedicated their lives to giving more to the people of Zanzibar. The husband is a chiropractor whose clinic is next door to his wife’s school to provide free tourism education, providing a real resource for people. Another industry is the export of cloves and seaweed, not the seaweed that you eat, but the seaweed that goes into fillers like toothpaste, so you can imagine how much it costs. There was a lot of hard work with little return, including long hours of bending, picking up, and heavy lifting. It was amazing to see children, grandmothers and mothers with babies strapped to their backs standing in the knee deep waters of low tide, twice a day every day, rain or shine. However, above all it shines, this is Zanzibar.
I really loved being there, being able to communicate with the patients gave me so much more insight into their lives and their stresses, which opened me up to the country and the people. There was another volunteer working at the school and together we became friends with the students who invited us to celebrations and even dinners, which was an amazing experience. After ritually washing our hands with water, we continued to eat with them, we sat in the covered dining room of the house which was made of crushed coral and water, after dinner we moved to the open part of the house and took many photos, they love the camera and the digital phenomenon.
The school included English education, making friends with the volunteers was a good way to practice, and we were mutually interested in each other’s way of life. Our friends were mostly students and they were men and women. I mention this because it is not very common for women to get further education or make friends with Westerners, especially in Zanzibar which is a majority Muslim community.
My third destination was Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Now Zanzibar may be the most beautiful, but this was my favourite. Zimbabwe has a bad reputation for everything that has happened politically and while you may be right, Zimbabwe is still a safe, happy and wonderful place to visit. You’d be amazed at the courage and integrity of people. My father was Zimbabwean so I felt at home here and although the opportunities are less, life is great. I had many friends and recovered from old family ties. Victoria Falls, as you know, is a tourist town, on the edge of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and one of the seven wonders.
I worked in schools and hospitals where I saw chiropractic patients. Surprisingly, Zimbabwe has the best English literacy rate in Africa, higher than South Africa, schools and hospitals once stood out in Africa and are now sadly unmaintained. So I had full communication with everyone I worked with and a lot of work to do.
I had the opportunity to see the famous Victoria Falls many times with my group of volunteers, but I also took a special trip at night with a full moon, they stay open once a month for the show, which was amazing. The company he volunteered for also ran a lion education and conservation program that involved walking with the lions. I was working with the community, but when I felt I needed to get back into the wild, the lions were always there. The lions walked on private land that wild animals roamed freely, so every once in a while, on an innocent lion walk, the cubs would come across wild boar, impala or buffalo, who would form an exciting stalk and then chase. We lost the lions one morning after they clumsily but purposefully chased buffalo. We desperately called our bodyguards when, ironically, the lion became our friend, not our enemy.
So, after a much loved journey and adventure, I have finally returned to Australia to settle into life and share my story from Africa. I am now a chiropractor in Goondiwindi and love my new home at Life Chiropractic Goondiwindi.
