My dream of traveling to Africa officially started after I returned from the Galapagos islands in college. After that point I was hooked, I knew I wanted to spend an extended period of time abroad but couldn't fit it into my schedule in college. So when I was accepted to Midwestern one of my first questions was, "Are students able to set up electives abroad?". One day, while taking a study break with my friend Valerie, we made a list of things we wanted to do in the next two years of medical school. On the very top of that list was doing an elective in Africa. We researched a bunch of programs online and came across Work the World. After filling out our applications we were approved from the program. Then it was time to deal with school. After months of paperwork going between us and the school and the legal department and the dean and the president of the university and the doctors at the hospital and the coordinators at school it was official on November 27, 2012. I was going to spend one month in Africa working at Mount Meru Regional Hospital.
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| Ward at Mount Meru Hospital |
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| Mount Meru Regional Hospital |
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| This way to Peds ward |
Mount Meru Regional Hospital is the main government hospital for most of Northern Tanzania. It serves as a referral center for many district hospitals and many private hospitals. I will be spending time in both the neonatal and pediatric wards. I will also be spending one week doing a village health care experience. During this time I will spend a week with the Maasi tribe- a ancient semi-nomadic community. During this time I will live with a local family and work in the dispensary during the day and spend my afternoons learning about local culture and participating in community activities.
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| Maasi Elder- taken by previous work the world student |
Am I excited? You cant even imagine. But when I realize that I am leaving in such a short amount of time all I can think about is what I am leaving. I keep picturing leaving Matt at the airport. I imagine how I am going to feel not seeing my brand new little niece for a whole month. Missing talking to my sister on the phone. Wondering if Murray will be ok without me(Matt calls me insane every time I say anything about the dog missing me or being mad at me- but 2 months is a long time!) Paranoid that I am going to have to try and scramble from Africa. A little sad I wont be able to celebrate the match at home with my family and friends. Don't get me wrong, I am more then excited. But it is easier for me to be exitedwhen I think of it in the hypothetical- ie: man that would be awesome to spend 2 months in Africa. I realize as soon as I land in Africa all of these anxieties will disappear but as for now I feel like a yo-yo between anxious and ridiculously overexcited.
So this is my blog. A way for anyone who is interested to keep up with where I am and what I am doing and seeing. 47 days until I shake things up and start my adventure.
"Not all those who wander are lost"- J.R.R. Tolkein
