Sanibona!

This past week has gone by so quickly! I know the rest of the semester will too, and it makes me sad just thinking about it! I still love it here. I feel like there are still so many things to see and learn- even just at AE. I don't know how my free time flies by so quickly, but it does. I am never bored! This blog will probably be long... I apologize!

This photo doesn't have to do with anything... I just think the keys are cool here!

Last night I was skyping with my family for awhile, and I had an urge to go on some type of adventure. I went on facebook and noticed my friend Josiah was online, so I sent him a message that said, "What are you doing? I need an adventure." He never responded. I finished skyping and went to fine Yvette, who was talking in her room with some of the other girls and Za- the lady I wrote about a few blogs ago. That was too calm for me, so I left and went to get my valentines. We each have a folder for valentines here- haha! It's like elementary school all over again, but it is so fun! Quite a few people made valentines for everyone, which was nice. Anyway, as I was leaving (and remember, it's night time and there aren't many lights here. I usually walk around with a flashlight at night, but I didn't have one this time) I heard people running toward me. I turned around and could only see a light shining in my face. Next thing I know, I am grabbed and being pulled down this path! Josiah and Jeff are on both sides of me laughing and saying they came to go on an adventure! I put my Valentines in my room, grabbed my flashlight, and we set off for the game reserve. We walked around for over an hour, and Jeff was kind enough to lead the way and sacrifice himself to all the spiders and their webs. At one point I noticed some weird shapes just to the right of us. I stopped and whispered to Josiah to stop, too. I turned on my flashlight and Josiah started screaming! hahahaha. We were RIGHT NEXT TO 4 ZEBRA! Jeff turned around and we all got to see them up close. Of course the noise and the lights made them move away from us, but it was still incredible. Probably twenty minutes later it happened again. I noticed some shapes in front of us on the road, turned on my flashlight, and several zebra were right there! They probably thought we were chasing them since we were all moving the same direction on the same road. They eventually moved off the road and tried to hide in the bushes- but we could still see them. Zebra are so magnificent in person. That was such a fun, spontaneous "adventure." Wow.

Zebra! I saw these when I went with Phillip to pick up the biology students from their fieldtrip. I wish I could take bio here because they go on weekly fieldtrips and see amazing things! I can't ever go with them because their fieldtrips are on my clinical days!!

The three nursing students on this trip are sure getting used! A few days ago a girl named Jessica was on her way to class when she tripped and somehow cut the underside of her foot and ripped her entire toenail off. http://jlucia.tumblr.com/ . One of the staff saw her, didn't really know what to do/was gagging, so he went to get Yvette who is in Jessica's class. Yvette had to cut off the nail that was hanging by a tiny piece of skin, clean out the wound, and wrap it in antibacterial ointment and gauze. I have dressed the wound since then when Yvette has been gone, and it sure looks painful! Another girl on the trip has been having reactions to the bug bites here. She got a bite on her foot the other day, and it is now so swollen that the skin broke on her "toe nuckle" and is leaking clear fluid. Someone else has been having a difficult week with Chrons Disease, and I think they may be at the hospital right now. Eeek.

My clinical site this week was at a place called Ethembeni in a settlement called mPophomini. Ethembeni is set up by a church, and they do hospice care and spiritual care for people in the local community. I did home visits on Tuesday in an area outside of that settlement, and it was quite the adventure. I felt like I was on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland because the roads were not paved, and at times we weren't even on a road! We were actually driving through the long grass and being jolted around by all the potholes and plants. The homes were all made of mud and none of them had running water. There were wild dogs, cats, cows, chickens, and goats everywhere. We met with the patients and I noticed that we mostly did social work and spiritual care. We tried to help them get important documents and then prayed for them. Most of this was done in Zulu, so I just watched and listened as the other caretakers spoke. I did not bring my camera that day and I am so sad!

Wednesday I helped bathe some inpatient people with AIDS and then went to work at what is called the Family Center, which is also run through the church. The Family Center is a place where the orphans of the township come after school to get food and play. Young children come during the day and are taught and prepared to start school. The day I went, there was only one small child due to the rain, and she was quite shy. She warmed up to me as time went on, but during her nap I spent time with a girl named Lindiwe. At first I thought Lindiwe worked at the Family Center, but I learned that she is a 19 year old orphan who does not have the means to attend university. She helps out at the Family Center and they give her lunch and four slices of bread when she leaves for dinner. Her story is one of heartache, but I was so glad to get to know her and spend the day with her. She took me on a walk around the community and showed me the local clinic, library, and a few of the schools. She also "plaited" my hair! She was a very sweet girl and I hope to learn more about her story and help her out if I can.

One of the schools- the children are waving!

Chickens eating the trash

Tessa says this is a picture of the both of us! Haha!

Goats waiting for the bus

Lindiwe plaiting my hair. It hurt!!!!!!!

The finished product

Yesterday, Valentine's Day, we went to a place called Shakaland. Shakaland was set up for a documentary that was filmed years ago, and the people decided to keep it here as a cultural site. It reminded me of going to the East Coast and visiting Plymouth Plantation. It is a replica of the traditional Zulu tribes and their way of life. People actually live there, but it is also a place tourists can stay. We went on a guided tour around the area, got to see traditional healers, see how they make Zulu beer, learn about their clothing and ways of fighting, and watch traditional tribal dancing.

Our guide Richard showing us a model of how the huts are set up

A woman weaving a mat. Married women must wear these hats, and they sleep on a WOOD pillow to keep the hats from getting messed up. Yikes.

Hey guys...

That's talent
Me and the chief

Traditional healers' hut

Kim, Yvette, CJ, Chad, and Dave trying to learn the tribal dancing

Paige and me! This is where we ate lunch

Ashleigh and Lauren tied together. Someone (I think it was Ashleigh, actually) started this game where a "cursed" elephant figurine is passed around. Whoever has the figurine must do something for the entire day at the discretion of whoever gave the figurine away. For example, Laura Jane had to stand up and sing "I'm a Little Tea Pot" whenever someone said the word, "hey." CJ had to bawk (if that's even a word) like a chicken whenever someone said his name. Megan had to wear socks on her hands all day, and Chad had to wear a dress and makeup. Ashleigh had to be tied to her roommate all day long... and I hear that she gave the elephant to Alex, who now must have his finger in his nose whenever he is speaking with someone.
I tried to upload a few videos, but there is a thunder storm at the moment and the internet is choppy. I will try again soon! Happy Valentine's Day everyone! And Happy 55th Anniversary to my wonderful grandparents!

xoxox