Sorry for the delay in getting this to you -
First, I am well and slowly adjusting to the pace of African life. It has been an adjustment. If nothing else I have learned to walk slower, talk slower and overall enjoy each moment.
Everything in life does not have to be done in a "New York Minute".
This is how the Tanzanian's live and work.
Since my last post - although school did not start until 3 weeks ago - I was busy.
I went to Arusha (a one hour plane trip from Mwanza), the beginning of September with 3 doctors who were running a 1/2 marathon, of which I did a 5 K. It was nice to see another part of Tanzania -
Some of you have asked me about the weather, the food and how accessible most things that I have previously taken forgranted.
The weather is about 70-80 degrees most days - some days warmer - very little to no humidity and usually a gentle breeze - somewhat like Hawaii. The tropical sun is very hot - and mid-day is not a good time to be out and about. However, coming from the Northwest, I don't think I have every sweated so much.
Tanzanian food is interesting - alot of carbs - with a flour mixture called ugali - which they form into a ball and then dip into vegetable or fish stew. Most eat with their right hand - and before and after each meal they wash their hands - The markets are full of fresh fruits and vegetables, tomotoes, avocados, mangos, pineapples, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, papaya, (most everything you would want). You buy your fruits and vegetables from the local mamas who sell in the market or by the side of the road. There are a few small grocery stores - which have unpredicable items - nothing like what you have in the US - more like a 7-11. I have learned to adjust. Occasionally there will be something like Philadelphia Cream Cheese - and all the ex-pats go crazy.
I was invited to one of the secretary's home for lunch and it was a true experience in seeing how the local people live. Very simple life - without running water - but she did have electricity and even a TV.
She lives about a mile from the main road where she catches a bus to work at the medical center. In fact she has to take two buses.
As I mentioned school has now started for both the Diploma Program at Bugando and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing -Education at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS). They really are a different group of students. The Diploma students are generally young (early 20's) and mostly men (there are 5 females in the 2nd year and 9 in the 3rd year). Their english is fair -
The BSN-ed students are older - have more nursing experience - and if they came into the program from secondary school and without previous nursing experience- they had done quite well in the sciences. Their English is much better and they seem to be able to grasp more complex topics. Last week I gave two lectures to this group on the cardiovascular system along with common disorders and they were able understand and discuss later with me what they had learned.
It is very difficult to be talking to a group of students and look out into the audience and see alot of very blank faces - but once I got over that - and tried to make things easier to understand it seemed to get better. I have to say this is really a work in progress as to how to bring more interaction into the lectures and not just have them copy everything down. They seem to be very good at that.
I enjoy more spending time with the students on the wards - As I have mentioned there are been very little to no clinical supervision of the Diploma students on the wards. Currently the 2nd year Diploma students are spending 4 days a week on the clinical wards. The first thing they do is make beds, of which they wear gloves and masks (not sure why) and then they "dust", wiping down the beds, etc. The mopping of the floors is done by the cleaning staff. Then they go for "chai" and finally around 1 pm they pass medications along with the staff nurses, which is a story in itself. It is rewarding to have them present to me one of their patients and tell me about them. I have been encouraging them to look things up when they don't know, rather than wait for me to tell them. Unfortunately there is a sense of "learned helplessness" which has come from a long history - Once they look things up, I have them ask me again and then we spend time going over their questions and what information they have found. I have also been working with them on some of their clinical skills (like starting IV's and taking blood pressures, etc).
Overall, I am very busy. I have moved into my permanent housing while I am here in Tanzania. I will send you a picture of that in my next post - and hopefully it will not be so long in between. I am living with alot of staff and faculty of Bugando -
The internet and electricity continues to be sporadic - although the hospital is on a generator so is usually not affected.
I have met some great people, many from Europe who are working with organizations at Bugando.
Thank you for all your ongoing - prayers and support.
Salama -
Dorothy
