Peter, so now you are where you wanted to be twelve years ago, is this really what you had in mind? And in the process of being there you have already had to make, and will undoubtedly still have to make, many sacrifices, in terms of the life you used to know and things you used to do. So do you really think that this was worth it, especially also being totally isolated?
Answer:
… it is perhaps not entirely what I wanted, but I certainly am where I wanted to be. I think the sacrifices ultimately are of a different kind or nature than most people would think. There has, so far, not been a single moment where I have experienced this change as painful, other than that it has left me physically quite drained and depleted. It is mainly that suddenly everything started to happen and move, and it was quite stressful and strenuous to pack up and wind up everything in such a short time.
I know that when I was finally on the plane, though they had not yet closed the doors, it was like a bit of a dream and bewilderment. And for the next about two weeks things did not improve much or change much. Now I am slowly managing to touch sides. Two of the biggest problems for me have been a tooth abscess which I have had for a while, and which due to my lowered immune system totally flared up. Even though I have been to the dentist twice, both times as emergency treatment, and both times on a course of antibiotics, tomorrow will hopefully be the day that it gets sorted out properly, and for good. It requires root canal treatment, and though during one of the emergency visits the dentist had started to do a root canal, he could only find one canal in the one root, and not the other canals (there should be four). Ultimately he started getting very frustrated, and then decided I should come back in two weeks time, which is on Wednesday, 24 November 2010.
The other thing is that during my carrying everything upstairs to store in the one room of the townhouse I stayed in at the temple, I either fractured a vertebra or severely pulled or strained a muscle, and so up and until about two days ago I was also in considerable agony with that pain. That aside it is just a lot of new things to get accustomed to, new things to learn, change of lifestyle, routine, and existence. But so far none of it in a bad or unacceptable way.
As for living arrangements, I may now only have one room, but I have never in the past ten or twelve years been more warm when in my room. When the generator is off during the day, then the temperature can drop down to about 12C indoors, which is still warmer than it usually was at Gardenview in winter. But while the generator is on, which is 4h15 - 8h15, 12h00 - 12h30, and 16h00 - 22h00 (and is adjusted as it gets dark earlier and longer and v.v.) I am very very warm indoors. Something I NEVER had at Gardenview. It is very peaceful here. No dogs barking, no sirens or alarms going off, seldom the sound of a car (maybe fifteen times the entire day and night), no screaming and shouting, AND it is extremely safe.
Since arriving more than a month ago, I have not once locked my cabin. My notebook is out on my desk all the time, my cellphone/mobile phone (though there is no mobile signal here) is lying next to my bed with my iPod all the time, I leave money lying on my bed or a shelf, (and as I do not have a bank account yet - also tomorrow when I go to 'town') and at times big money £250.00 (R.3000.00) and when I get back three or four hours later it is still lying where I left it. I have not once locked my door at night when sleeping, though I could lock it from the inside quite easily as it has a tumbler thumb turn. But I have not once felt threatened, or that my safety and security is or was in any way compromised.
I cook five days a week, for twenty men; another guy cooks on the other two days so I also get chance to have a bit of a life to do my own things, or to go walk-about. They have one meal a day, at midday. In the mornings they can have porridge if they want, but that they will soon be cooking themselves. Only being one meal, one has to ensure that it is plenty of food, so the preparation sometimes takes long, and the washing of pots (which I do not really enjoy) also takes a lot of time. Invariably I am busy in the kitchen from around 8h30 until 12h00, which is meal time, and then again from 13h00 until about 14h30 to clean and tidy up. All meals are fully vegetarian, apart from some with 'special' dietary needs (lactose intolerance, wheat allergy, etc.) and those also vary from time to time (personal phobias or something like that). No garlic, onions, leeks, etc.. may be used, and even in the flavouring and spicing we have to ensure that these are not one of the ingredients. Accordingly many sauces and spices etc.. we may not use.
I do not do the shopping myself, but it gets marked up on a sheet, and once a week the vegetables are brought over from Glasgow, and once a week the other groceries are collected from the Co-op. Items which can be long-storage (dry, powder, tins, containers, etc..) or used in bulk, are ordered from Green City (specialises in vegetarian, organic and healthy options) on the mainland, and delivered once a month.
As for living conditions, I am registered on the NHS, and have now also applied to be exempt from paying anything for medicines and treatment. I have been told that this will most probably be granted, due to my circumstances. But even if not, I have to pay £3.00 per prescribed medicine, regardless of what it is. Most dental and GP service is free, and I may only need to contribute (co-payment) for SOME hospital or special treatment, unless I get exemption. On the second day of being here I completed the NHS registration forms, a few days later I needed to see the dentist, which was free even though I had not yet received my registration, but less than three weeks later I was registered. About ten days after sending in the forms in I received my first communication from the NHS. Very efficient. When ordering a car battery on-line, within maximum three days it is here, even though we are on an island. Unless, of course, the weather prevents the ferry from operating, which can happen more often than one would like, but none the less, the postal and delivery service in general is really really amazing.
Getting to see the doctor or dentist is a bit more of an issue, as appointments usually have to be made in advance, can take up to two weeks or more, especially the dentist, unless it is an emergency. But that is because it is free. Other aspects mainly have to do with being on an island. Many things are not readily available, but can easily be ordered on-line, if really required. Prices of goods in the shops and stores on the island are generally about 25% more expensive, plus stock/availability can often be an issue.
© ~ (Karma) Tsegyal [a.k.a. Peter G Just] ~
November 2010
!O-3|-W;-
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