Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Against the Odds: A Winter Hospital's Battle for Supplies
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/against-the-odds-a-winter-hospitals-battle-for-supplies

Story Transcript:

Af: In die yl lig van 'n koue wintersoggend, rits die wind deur die wit tente van die veldhospitaal.
En: In the pale light of a cold winter morning, the wind rustles through the white tents of the field hospital.

Af: Die melancholiese geluide van kliniese besoekers en sukkelende pasiënte vul die lug, terwyl mediese personeel fluks heen en weer beweeg om hulp te verleen.
En: The melancholy sounds of clinical visitors and struggling patients fill the air, while medical staff bustle back and forth providing assistance.

Af: Aan die rand van die tent staan Stefaan, sy voorkop geplooid van kommer.
En: On the edge of the tent stands Stefaan, his forehead creased with worry.

Af: Hy kyk om hom rond, bewus van die kritieke tekort aan voorraad wat elke dag meer dringend raak.
En: He looks around, aware of the critical shortage of supplies that becomes more urgent each day.

Af: Stefaan is 'n toegewyde verpleegkundige.
En: Stefaan is a dedicated nurse.

Af: Hy het gevind dat die veldhospitaal sy tweede huis geword het.
En: He discovered that the field hospital had become his second home.

Af: Hy het omgegee vir die mense wat hierheen gekom het, siek en teer, en hy wou sy bes doen om vir almal te sorg.
En: He cared about the people who had come here, sick and frail, and he wanted to do his best to care for everyone.

Af: Maar met die onverwags koue spel hierdie winter, is daar 'n ongekende toename in pasiënte.
En: But with the unexpectedly cold spell this winter, there has been an unprecedented increase in patients.

Af: Elke dag sien hy die rakke leeg raak en sy hart slaan vinniger.
En: Each day, he sees the shelves empty, and his heart races.

Af: Daar is egter een persoon wat Stefaan hoop kan help.
En: However, there is one person Stefaan hopes can help.

Af: Hy draai en sien Annemarie besig om 'n lys van benodigdhede op 'n klembord na te gaan.
En: He turns and sees Annemarie checking a list of necessities on a clipboard.

Af: Sy is sy goeie vriendin en 'n waardevolle vrywilliger.
En: She is his good friend and a valuable volunteer.

Af: Haar verbintenisse met eksterne skenkers en plaaslike hulporganisasies kan dalk die verskil maak.
En: Her connections with external donors and local aid organizations might make a difference.

Af: "Annemarie," roep Stefaan terwyl hy na haar toe stap.
En: "Annemarie," Stefaan calls as he walks towards her.

Af: "Ons het hulp nodig om meer voorraad in te kry.
En: "We need help to bring in more supplies."

Af: "Annemarie kyk op en sien die spanning in sy oë.
En: Annemarie looks up and sees the tension in his eyes.

Af: Sy knik, verstaan die gewig van sy woorde.
En: She nods, understanding the weight of his words.

Af: "Ek weet," sê sy sag.
En: "I know," she says softly.

Af: "Kom ons kyk wat ons kan doen.
En: "Let's see what we can do."

Af: "Saam maak hulle 'n plan.
En: Together they make a plan.

Af: Hulle besluit om kontak te maak met 'n plaaslike verskaffer wat moontlik bereid is om mediese voorrade op krediet te lewer.
En: They decide to contact a local supplier who might be willing to provide medical supplies on credit.

Af: Maar die ontmoeting sal nie maklik wees nie.
En: But the meeting will not be easy.

Af: Die verskaffer was reeds huiwerig en die ekonomiese toestande het almal gewaarsku om geld te spaar.
En: The supplier was already hesitant, and the economic conditions have warned everyone to save money.

Af: Hulle stap by die verskaffer se winkel in en neem 'n diep asem.
En: They step into the supplier's store, taking a deep breath.

Af: Die atmosfeer is gespanne, maar Annemarie begin dadelik met haar oortuigende gesprek.
En: The atmosphere is tense, but Annemarie immediately begins her persuasive conversation.

Af: Sy verduidelik die dringendheid van die situasie, die nood by die hospitaal, en hoe hulle ondersteuning lewe kan red.
En: She explains the urgency of the situation, the need at the hospital, and how their support can save lives.

Af: Stefaan luister, sy hart klop donderslag terwyl die verskaffer skepties na Annemarie luister.
En: Stefaan listens, his heart pounding like thunder as the supplier skeptically listens to Annemarie.

Af: 'N Oomblik van stilte volg.
En: A moment of silence follows.

Af: Stefaan kyk na Annemarie, en tog is daar iets in haar stem wat vertroue gee.
En: Stefaan looks at Annemarie, and there's something in her voice that inspires confidence.

Af: Uiteindelik, na 'n versigtige bespreking, stem die verskaffer in.
En: Finally, after a careful discussion, the supplier agrees.

Af: Hy is oortuig om die voorraad op krediet te lewer, wetend dat dit 'n belegging in menslike lewens is.
En: He is convinced to provide the supplies on credit, knowing it’s an investment in human lives.

Af: Met verligting dank Stefaan en Annemarie hul nuwe bondgenoot en beur opgewonde uit die winkel.
En: With relief, Stefaan and Annemarie thank their new ally and excitedly leave the store.

Af: Met hierdie nuwe voorraad is die hospitaal beter toegerus om die vloed pasiënte te hanteer.
En: With these new supplies, the hospital is better equipped to handle the influx of patients.

Af: Terwyl die son stadig oor die horison sak, het Stefaan iets belangriks geleer.
En: As the sun slowly sets over the horizon, Stefaan has learned something important.

Af: Samewerking en die moed om hulp te vra, kan die verskil maak.
En: Cooperation and the courage to ask for help can make a difference.

Af: Terug by die hospitaal kyk Stefaan na die blink oë van die pasiënte wat nou beter versorg word.
En: Back at the hospital, Stefaan looks at the bright eyes of the patients who are now better cared for.

Af: Hy voel die koue van die lug om hom, maar binne hom, brand 'n vuur van hoop en vasberadenheid.
En: He feels the cold air around him, but inside, a fire of hope and determination burns.

Af: Hy het hierdie stryd gewen, en hy weet nou dat saamwerk altyd sterker is.
En: He has won this battle, and he now knows that working together is always stronger.

Af: Annemarie glimlag na hom, tevrede, want hulle het iets waardevol gedoen.
En: Annemarie smiles at him, content, because they have done something valuable.

Af: hulle het lewens beskerm.
En: They have protected lives.


Vocabulary Words:

• pale: yl
• rustles: rits
• melancholy: melancholiese
• clinical: kliniese
• struggling: sukkelende
• crease: geplooid
• urgent: dringend
• dedicated: toegewyde
• frail: teer
• unprecedented: ongekende
• increase: toename
• necessities: benodigdhede
• volunteer: vrywilliger
• connections: verbintenisse
• external: eksterne
• hesitant: huiwerig
• economic: ekonomiese
• persuasive: oortuigende
• urgency: dringendheid
• skeptically: skepties
• relief: verligting
• ally: bondgenoot
• equipped: toegerus
• influx: vloed
• cooperation: samewerking
• determination: vasberadenheid
• persuade: oortuig
• supplies: voorraad
• discussion: bespreking
• confidence: vertroue