How time flies...

Today I had my second to last clinical day in South Africa!! I can't believe it. The time here continues to speed by so quickly. So...what am I doing for the next month and a half? Well...after this week wraps up, we have 2 weeks with no clinicals to finish up assignments and do our Senior Sem paper. For you all not accustomed to APU jargon, this is our 15 page ethics term paper that we have to write before we graduate. I am going to do mine on HIV/AIDs status disclosure to children. (A lot of parents don't know whether to test their children, or to tell them if they are/aren't HIV positive. It's so sad.) After 2 weeks, we have presentations and finals and then it's a week of driving through the Garden route headed for Capetown. We're in Capetown for the rest of the time until I leave on a plane to come home December 14.

I feel so privileged not only for being here, but for everything I have at home. I saw patients come into the clinic today, so "wasted" (clinical term for extreme malnutrition and infection as a result of the HIV disease process), it was remarkable. I watched one man who had been struggling to stand, gulp porridge faster than a young child who had just received a milkshake. It's hard, because at home we tell patients that they need to eat and drink water when they are sick (with HIV or whatever). Here, oftentimes that is not an option. Here's something I've seen before, but came across again and found interesting:

Germany : The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States : The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week $341.98

Italy : The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Mexico : The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Poland : The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

Egypt : The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador : The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan : The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03

Chad : The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

Since the last update, I have...

I have not updated in so long and as the days progressed, I knew the more I would have to write and update, so I just didn’t haha. I’ve finally gotten to a point where I kinda have to blog and figured I would just write a little blurb of catch up and then have to keep the rest of the stories for coffee dates and such when I return. So here it goes...

Since last update, I have:

• ·      Spent the night in a hut at a Zulu homestead where I “cleaned” the floors with cow dung, beaded an anklet, and watched some amazing Zulu dancing
• ·      Become an expert at drawing blood
• ·      Learned some more Zulu
• ·      Gone to the Durban market 2x where I became more learned in the art of bargaining
• ·      Gotten to know the people in my D-group (bible-study group) better who are absolutely amazing!
• ·      Gone to ladies night at the restaurant down the road (amazing food for about &$5-$7 a meal)
• ·      Seen zebra while hiking in the reserve
• ·      Missed everyone at home at least once
• ·      Learned to love Rooibos tea
• ·      Found a coffee shop I like to study at
• ·      Met more friends at dance fitness class which we go to every Wednesday
• ·      Gone on a 3-day safari and seen 4 of the Big 5 minus the leopard (Big 5=Africa’s 5 most dangerous animals, lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard, and elephant)
• ·      Gotten sick of rice and meat combination
• ·      Stayed up too late doing homework
• ·      Stayed up too late talking and watching movies with the chalet mates
• ·      Been chased by monkeys and forced to fend them off with an umbrella
• ·      Seen the biggest beetle in my life
• -   Seen the most gorgeous sunset of my life
• ·      Gone down a giant slip n’ slide in lightning and thunder at 11 pm at night
• ·      Taught kids at Mpophomeni High School about alcohol and the effects it has on your body
• ·      Printed pictures at the mall to finally adorn my walls with your pretty faces
• ·      Switched places with my roommate during a hilarious game night
• ·      Gone to a Sharks rugby game (in which we won!!)
• -   And had such an amazing time with all the wonderful people here!

Can’t wait to tell you all more stories when I get back! Love and miss you all.

My roomate (of the weekend) and I with the Zulus in traditional dress

Our dinner appetizer of grilled meat and Zulu bread served traditionally. Yum!!

"Cleaning the floor"

Durban! :D

Spices at the Durban Market

Slightly computer enhanced sunset.

So awkward, yet so beautiful.

You can't see me, but I'm in the car :)