The Collaboration....and yes I did get Malaria!!!

I thought that I hadn't done a video blog in a while so here is a special one just for you. My week has been really good and its only Wednesday. I think I needed to have a good week as I managed to get Malaria on the week commencing the 14th of November. It was HORRIBLE and I probably didnt have it as bad as some people do. I managed to recover in about a week with all the tablets that I was given!! I had every symptom of malaria....

• pain in the kidney
•  pain in the lower back
•  vomiting
•  pain in the neck
•  a REALLY awful headache....like my head had been slammed up against a wall a thousand times
•  aching body
•  hot sweats
• cold shakes 
• and loss of appetite BUT I'm still here to tell the tale. 

The hospital was fine but the bedside manner had been completely thrown out the window. I was given and injection in my bum that I had no idea I was getting and screamed and so the nurse or whoever she was just looked at me like I was crazy and I was so shocked I couldnt even speak. I was feeling so rough and when I came out the room I just started crying with frustration. When I was told I had malaria at the clinic I then I had to go and collect the prescription from a different doctor. When I entered her room she didn't believe the piece of paper as I was in the day before because I had some kidney infection which I was given medication for and so she believed that the problem was not malaria and that the kidney infection hadn't had time to react to the antibiotics yet. They tested me for Malaria the day before and nothing showed up which is also why she was resistant to giving me the malaria tablets the next day despite the test saying it was positive. We ended up waiting from 9am until 3.30pm for her to finally believe me when I had been told at 10.30 am that it was malaria. It was a rough day but I think Kwinika and I were on the case super quickly and so I think thats why I wasn't ill for too long with it.

Im fine now.....just a little tired most days but Im not sure if its the heat as its getting a little hotter these days or the recovery from the malaria.

I have just 6 weeks left before I return home. I cant belive it and the time has really flown by. I still feel like I have soooooooo much to do here so its still all go go go go go. Im sure I will be posting a few more blogs before the end so watch this space!

Lots of love as always

xxx

Welcome to STUDIO DANDOEN

Hi Everyone,

As some of you may know I changed my placement at Mozarte and am now working for a really AMAZING design studio called STUDIO DANDOEN here in Mozambique. The Studio produces the most amazing furniture, bag, T-shirts and other special treats made all from RECYCLED materials from Mozambique. The studio was started in May of this year and its aim is to aid young Mozambicans interested design in developing their skills. Helping them to produce high quality hand crafted products for the world to see. Developing them with management skills, organisational skills and obviously design skills. The website is http://www.wix.com/ab3535/dandoen#! and you will see a full description of the wonderful work that is going on here.

As you look at the furniture you will see that it has all been made from shipping pallets (see picture below). They are normally discarded after the receiver has recieved the item but the  studio collects them and uses them to make the beautiful pieces I have displayed for you below.

The bags are made from advertising banners (an example shown on your right). These are normally discarded and thrown away as 'rubbish' but the studio keeps them and uses them to make so really fun, durable interesting bags. We are currently in the process of designing a new line which will be ready at the end of the month. I will post it up when they are ready for the world to see. The website demonstrates what has been produced in the past. The machinist that work on this range are extremely talent as it is not an easy material to work with.

I have been working on the designs for the accessories and clothing side of the studio. We are currently working on give the studio a bit of a face lift so we are in the process of making marking designing marketing material of all things that have been produced. There is a lot of change taking place at the Studio at moment and so it almost seems like a second re-launch which is all very exciting so watch this space.

 I'll just leave you with these images below of some of the new furniture that is being produced. If you want to buy just send an email and we would be happy to take your order....plug plug *smile*.