December 2011
1 post
The Last One
Woof. Back in America is crazy. But more on that later, let me summarize the last days in Africa.
So on Monday, I presented my research, which was actually awesome. It was really satisfying to present my work that I am so passionate about to others that were at least marginally interested in it. I then got to listen to everyone else’s presentations. It’s absolutely fascinating...
November 2011
5 posts
I Can See The Finish Line
So I handed in all of my work today. Basically my oeuvre. 2 gigantic papers and a presentation later I’m done. Which means I’m academically done with South Africa. I’m sorry what? Didn’t I just get here? More postings about the safaris to come later. Stay tuned
The Last Couple of Days on the Ambulance and Cape...
Wednesday was pretty slow, just a transfer, a mildly psychotic patient who was tweaking out from her ARVs, and a hypertensive. I was sad because it was my last day with my favorite crew.
Thursday was a vaginal bleeding, and 2 transfers. I took some photos, so I’ll try and put those up shortly.
But Friday was the beginning of my adventure to CAPE TOWN!!!
We got on the plane at the...
This Post is Not for The Weak Stomached
DISCLAIMER: This post is very graphic. In my attempts to portray how life really is here, I am not leaving anything out. That being said however, if you are reading this with your kids, proof it before they see it. I will not lie. Friday was one of the hardest days of my life. I don’t want to jinx it or anything, but it was awful. Everything had to do with infants, and if you know me,...
My ISP is better than your ISP....
…But let’s not make comparisons.
So I have been having SO MUCH FUN on the ambulance it isn’t even funny. I’m even thinking of staying longer so I can see more cases (kidding parents and Sam). I’ll give you a quick summary of my days so far:
1st Tuesday: went to the control center. Freaking state of the art, very streamlined, very efficient. I was duly...
So I Suppose I Should Fill Y'all In
Posted to my other blog, but here ya go
After my week of clinicals, had a week of lectures then I went off to Amatikulu. Got to Amatikulu, had a presentation about community health workers, and then we went off with our mamas for the rest of the day. I was with my darling Linda, and we got to cuddle for 3 days. Holler. Our Mama lived with her 8 year old son, and a bunch of other young men who...
October 2011
2 posts
Remember That Time I Saw A Lung?
In case you hadn’t noticed, I haven’t been blogging as much because a lot of things have been same old same old in terms of lectures, adventures etc. I did manage to go to the Victoria St Market a couple of times, and haggled over a ton of art and jewelry. So I’ll start with last Monday. We had a nurse come in to explain screening practices to us and how to take basic vital signs (which I...
The Glory that is Having an Apartment
So I went from Real World: South Africa, to something that could actually be called “Real World: Durban”. My apartment is beautiful, aside from a couple small issues. We had to have a mini-stovetop/oven brought in because every time we tried to use the oven, it tripped the circuit breaker. I may or may not be sharing a full size bed with my friend Emily. It’s cozy. But...
September 2011
7 posts
Homestay Reflection
So tonight is my last night in Cato Manor, the last night with my homestay family. I’m sorry, since when have I been here for 6 weeks? False. We have a big celebratory farewell dinner tonight, then I’ll go back home for the night, potentially go to the shebeen (illegal bar, kinda like a speakeasy) and then I’ll wake up tomorrow, and leave.
It’s been so eye opening to...
The Rural Life Part Two: Attack of the Spinach
Well last week was definitely on the list of things I had never done before. After leaving Wednesday, I first secured a flat for the next month. First apartment! In South Africa! Sweet! After around 3 hours of mist and rain, we arrived in Impendle. Even more like the Lord of the Rings. It was all mountains. Allison and I arrived at our homestay, which was on a….FARM. Our gogo had...
The Rural Life: Part One
SO.
Sunday we left early for Umtwalume, where 13 of us would be staying for the next three days. This is after another weekend on Florida road living the good life (Summary: danced in a cage and onstage at a dubstep club, then passed out on saturday night at 10 after going to the flea market. Good looks). Upon arrival, my immediate thought was that we were in a movie. After driving by fields...
It’s been A week!
So last week I didn’t blog at all, considering we were in lectures the entire time. The weekend before we went to an area of Durban called Florida rd. Long story short I’ve never hated being white so much. These people are living in these gigantic mansions juxtaposed with the gigantic poverty that their domestic workers were living in. Although I had fun, it did highlight that there is still...
I've been trying to write this since Tuesday
Tuesday was the day that we went and visited the schools. I was in for a shock. There were 700 kids in this tiny school, with sometimes 60 kids to a class, minimum probably 30. This is with one teacher. We started off by meeting with the principle, who, although fairly genial, had some viewpoints I didn’t agree with. First of all, (and don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate what...
August 2011
8 posts
I just needed to put this down before I explode.
One of my host brothers is a typical rambunctious 5 year old. He’s super hyperactive, but he’s a normal kid. He constantly wants to interact. His mom is super nice to me, but it seems that all she does is yell at him. I even saw her slap him across the face. They told us we may see our fair share of child beating, but this is intense. Yeah I got into it a couple times and my dad started at...
Painting my Body
So my homestay has been going swimmingly. It’s pretty relaxed in the household. I come and go as I please. We went out to dinner for Haley’s birthday saturday night (got mildly sick) which was super fun. I love the fact that I ordered a hard cider with dinner and didn’t get a second look for it.
Today we went to the University of KwaZulu Natal (UkZN) for a double morning...
First Homestay!
So we left off when I was about to have my first Zulu class. First and foremost, Zulu is freaking HARD. It’s a Bantu language, so the gramatical rules are unlike anything I have learned before. The clicks are also impossible to grasp.
The next day our lectures were one about understanding public health, and then one about the Mediatisation and Myths of AIDS transmission in South Africa....
Sawubona!
YAZ WERK ZULU
My internet will probably run out before I post...
Today was: first lecture
Kinda boring, we were all tired. Then we all had to wake up wicked freakin fast. We were dropped off in small groups in city center and told to find our way to two places and then use the bus to get back to our hostels. Terrifying. I was so glad I had a friend with me.
First of all I stuck out like a sore thumb. I have never noticed how much being white is the...
Welcome to Africa, You're Not In Kansas Anymore
Woof. It has been a couple of days. It has been a culture shock, that is for sure. The second day here (Saturday) is where I’ll start this blog post. Saturday we woke up bright and early and set off for Soweto, otherwise known as the South Western Townships (Think TriBeCa or SoHo). Solely driving there was what made me realize how far away I am from anything and everything I’ve...
I'm Here!
So the flights were whatever. I met a girl who was in my program at the gate for my leg to SA. Upon arriving her, it hasn’t been so bad. I met many of the other girls (and one guy) on the program, and they’re all very nice. What’s fascinating is that it is only 70 degrees outside. We’re all huddled inside our sleeping bags trying to keep warm, as we all just came from...
Explanations! And Goodbyes
FIRST POST WHOOOOO
So some background information is in order for those of you who aren’t quite clear as to my aim for this blog/what exactly I’m creating it for. In less than 6 days I will be leaving for 3 and a half months in South Africa. I describe the program I am going on as a public health intensive. I will be taking a seminar based class, a language class (Zulu-more on that...
