The Bird Lady...

Hey guys! So today we went to a place called Birds of Prey and then we did a quick tour of PMB (Pietermaritzburg). Birds of Prey was really cool; it had birds like hawks, owls, vultures, eagles, storks, etc. They even did like a bird show which was really cool! :) So it's kinda hard to post pictures on here, so you'll have to go to my facebook and see all the pics that I have been taking in SA. We also went to this Lion Park but we had to drive down to the area to see the lions in groups and the workers who were down there told the first group that they could get close to the fence, but when the lady who we paid came down she got really mad...and kicked us out! So I didn't get to go to the fence, I just got to see like a couple lions from far away. Boo! :) But I guess we'll see a bunch on our safari! The others were telling me thought that were like 2 feet away from the lions....just separated by a fence...and that they were even roaring!

After we drove around PMB and stopped at a train station. I soon found out that this was the train station that Mahatma Ghandi was kicked off the train because he was not white. This is where is his campaign against racial oppression. That was prettty cool to know that I was in the same place as he was once before! After, we went to a look-out point in the mountains where you we were able to see all of PMB! It was gorgeous! I'm having a great time so far, but I do really miss home. Until next time....

My first clinical experience here in SA

Today was the first day of clinical, and I was at Caprisa, which actually stands for the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa. I didn't know what to expect so I guess you can say that I was ready for anything! :) Caprisa, begun in 2002, is a research-based HIV clinic providing services to patients who have tested positive to HIV/AIDS with a CD4 count under 200. They also screen for HIV/AIDS, as well as provide immunizations and vaccinations for other diseases, but their main work is with HIV/AIDS patients. This clinical agency is funded by PEPFAR, which essentially is US money. Patients who qualify can receive their ARV's at Caprisa, as well as medications or referrals for other diseases/conditions. The head nursing supervisor is Gugu, and the nurse that I spent most of my time with was Sister PK. Meeting Sister PK and getting the opportunity to work with her was the best thing about today's clinical experience. She is so passionate about what she does, and she is extremely knowledgeable! She did such a great job with teaching me all that she was doing, as well as translating to include me in the the day.

At Caprisa, there is a team of workers. There are doctors, nurses, counselors, individuals working at the pharmacy, etc. I was surprised how organized the clinic was, and it ran quite effectively. All of the patients I saw today were HIV/AIDS patients and some were or had been infected with TB. I administered Depo, pregnancy prevention, injections as well as performed assessments, wrote diagnoses, and created treatment plans. I felt really confident in my clinical skills, and I felt like a real nurse! :) The visits comprised mostly follow-ups on the patient's ARV medication regimen, as well as check-ups on their overall health.

There are many differences among the patients and the nurses here in SA in comparison to the patients and nurses in the US. One of the differences that I saw in the patients here was that they come from more rural areas. Another major difference was that a couple of the patients we saw today had sent other family members on their behalf for the visit, because they could not come due to their work schedule. This is quite different than the States, because that would not really be allowed. At Caprisa, they highly stress compliance with appointments, medication, and so on; so it is better for someone else to come for you rather than no one to come at all, on the one condition that the person who is absent is healthy and well. Also, the nurses here do diagnosing and treatment planning like how an NP would do in the states. It felt really good for me to be able to write down the medication that I thought the patients needed for their other medical issues, such as fungal rashes, diarrhea, aches/pain, and then the patients go to the pharmacy to pick them up. I can feel the confidence in me growing, as well as the skills and knowledge I have learned from nursing school thus far being applied.

What surprised me, as well at the same time, caused me dismay was the knowledge that I learned about HIV/AIDS from one of the doctors at the clinic. Some 6 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS here in Africa and at one point in time the heaed of the government did not support the use of ARV's for treatment. This stigma that was present on receiving treatment for the disease made me feel frustrated and discouraged that the problem will never be eradicated; but it also ignited in me a passion to learn more about HIV/AIDS. The matter that I will commit to study is learning more about the epidemic of AIDS in the area. I will commit to prayer all the staff at Caprisa, as well as the people of SA who are suffering from this epidemic. Overall, my first clinical experience here in SA was AMAZING, and I already can't wait to go back! Until next time....

-Chels

Just a jog in the jungle...

Today was a good day, because I got to sleep in since Wednesdays are our study days for my online Nursing Research class. I talked to my Dad this morning and texted Paul, which both made me really happy. By the time it was lunch, I was starving because I had skipped breakfast and tea time. :) After lunch, I worked on some more homework for my Ethics class, but I got to sit out and enjoy the sun at the same time...and the monkeys...running around campus! It was a beautiful day today, because it rained all day yesterday! And I do mean allllll dayyyy!! But it was nice. Brianna and I actually went for a run in it down to the closest restaurant. It was definitely an adventure!!

Before dinner the girls and I decided to go for a walk into the game reserve. Little did we know what we had in store for us..... So we're just walking and enjoying the beautiful view and the forest/jungle after it had just rained when all of a sudden we turn the corner and we see......TWO zebra!! One was an adult zebra and the other was a baby!! We couldn't stop taking pictures!! :) And then out of nowhere about 5 or so minutes later another zebra comes jotting up!! So we take even more pictures!! :) And then guess what?!?....Yep! Another one!! So no biggie, but yeah I saw FOUR zebra today and I got like 15ft. close to them!! It was amazing!! So after taking s many pictures of the unexpected zebra we saw :) we started to wal back and then all of a sudden our path was blocked by like 10 or so monkeys!! It was crazy!! Eventually we made our way back to AE and had dinner and then I had my first Zulu class. The language is one of the 11 official languages of Africa. It is so hard to learn and speaking it is even more difficult! There are all these clicks and stuff but it's fun..and funny....trying! I'm gonna go to bed now, becuase we have our first day of clinical tomorrow! I'm really excited! Until next time....

-Chels

Some of the first memories in South Africa

So, hello all...or should I say...Sanibonani!! :) This is my first blog entry here in South Africa. I decided to start a blog, because I know I will experience so many new things and have such exciting memories that its a must that I capture them. I invite you to read about my life here in South Africa for the next 3 and a half months.

Right now, I am in Pietermaritzburg, but I have been in South Africa for four days now. We are a group of 53 students, including me, which is the biggest group that has ever come here. It's pretty crazy, because we're always together! :) But it's a good thing. The first three days we spent in Johannesburg. We toured Soweto, which is a black township, and many historic spots in the township, including the Apartheid Museum and the Mandela Exhibition. Both places were such great learning experiences. The white supremacy and segregation during the Apartheid time effected millions of people. For me, it was intense to learn about and very eye-opening. To be honest, it made me wonder why such a horrible event would happen to such wonderful people.

One significant thing that stuck out to me was the category of different people groups at that time: Whites, Blacks, Colored, and Indians/Asians. This concept is quite different to me even more, because I was told that I don't fit in any one of those groups, because they consider Chinese as Asian and most people here think I am Chinese. The real interesting fact about this time period is that people who were once black became colored and people who were Asian became white and people who were colored became black and all different combinations. Depending on what people group you were in was what determined what kind of privilege and power you had. Two very important and significant words during that time. The Mandela Exhibition at first was a little overwhelming because it had alot of information, but Mandela was a great man who was a true advocate for his people. (We also got to pass by the Mandela House).
We also got to visit one of largest Catholic churches in Jo-burg. It was really nice, and one cool thing was that even Bill Clinton had visited it before. It also was one of the safe zones when the riots broke out in Soweto, because the police had shot a young boy.

When we got to Pietermaritzburg (PMB), which is in the province of Kwazulu-Natal, it was a little overwhelming for me at first but the surroundings were gorgeous...everything in sight is green! Oh...and there are monkeys running around everywhere!!! :) My room is a little small, but I am adjusting, but I have a roommate who is a sweetheart and a real encouragement.

Today we also had the first day of class, but most of it was just orientation, which was still exciting! Like for example I learned that Africa has the Big Five: Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Buffalo, and Elephant! Many of which I will see...but I'm not sure yet which ones! :) Every time they talk about all the plans they have in store for us I get more and more excited! We also met our nursing professors Wendy and Glenda, who seem really nice. I am excited to learn from their knowledge. For nursing classes, I am taking Community Health Nursing, Nurisng Ethics, and Nursing Research. For the other classes, I am taking The History and Culture of South Africa and the Principles of Community Engagement. We start clinical on Thursday, and I am really excited!

The people are really nice here and very hospitable. For example, we have three huge meals a day and two tea times...with muffins! Yes....tea time!! :) We are also here with another group, they are a youth group dance team called Foxfire, and they are really fun too. The sense of time here is way laid back, which is something different for me, becuase I am so used to planning every single day and every single minute! :) But as they say....TIA....This is Africa. So until next time.....

Miss you all,
Chels