Well I've done it again

Well I've done it again. I have left critical logistical operations with inadequate resources. In other words, I'm packing at the last minute. I'm also an idiot. I started off with glorious visions of light, minimalist baggage. Nothing but a few strategically useful items to get me by on my upcoming trip. I'd glide into each airport like I'm in a shampoo commercial and one-hand my luggage over bothersome children, laughing, tossing my head with knowing confidence....But every reminder going off in my mind sends another bundle of crap into the bag and it has ballooned into a hopelessly bloated, beached whale of a suitcase. Just makes me sick to even look at it. I haven't even left and I am already demoralized...sitting on the floor in my under wear trying to squirrel another pair of socks into a crevice. I am too afraid to even test the weight. I'm going to pretend it is less than 50 lbs and act really really shocked, even offended, when Air Snippy Canada calls me out on it. "Well it was 50 lbs when I left the house!". 

My name is Jordan and I am heading to Africa in a few hours.

My goal with this blog is to document my attempts to do slightly less harm than good while assisting on a surgical mission in Uganda. I'll post some pictures, make some rambling, unfocused  observations and kick the snot out of anyone that comments on my grammar.

Of course some of the items I really do need: Surgical loupes, headlamp, medications to prevent Malaria, medications to, hopefully, stop diarrhea. I'll also be bringing a huge sack of surgical supplies scrounged (certainly not stolen) from our hospitals and suppliers. I just hope we don't run out of gloves.

The plan is to treat surgical patients in Mulago hospital for two and a half weeks in the capital city of Uganda as well as some more rural areas. This is your typical guerrilla surgical op. We drop in, wow the locals and operate as much as we can until we run out of supplies or patients (or power, oxygen, stable government, etc). Bam! all previous colonialism forgiven. I should add we have an element of a developmental objective with the local surgical division, but this literally is a surgical strike. I don't know much about the region, but apparently it is very hot and it is the rainy season. This means the humidity can reach 100%. Which implies we will all be under water, but I suspect that isn't the case. Ill pack aqua socks just in case. Dammit.

I'll be in touch.