Grant Assenheimer has his new blog up-and-running on the Doctors Without Borders website.

This post documents his arrival in a small village by plane.

… Before the engine had stopped, they started to sing. Kate, my Project Coordinator and new boss, was also returning to the project after a week in our headquarters for meetings and exclaimed “Look…they are singing! They are singing for you Grant!”

…and they were. Something like “Welcome, welcome, welcome, Mr. Grant…welcome to Shamwana…welcome to logistics…”. The singers were about 25 of my new staff members, a couple of fellow Expats and at least as many kids who had gathered to see just who this new Mazungo was. Incredible. The singing continued as I got out of the plane and headed towards them. Everyone, including myself, had huge smiles on our faces. Handshakes and introductions followed as I met, for the first time, a large part of my new African family. It is really something special to feel so welcome by total strangers. …

DRC – not just the Kivus! – The DRC welcomes another Mazungo