It’s weird for me to think you all are still at work and I’m blogging before I go to bed. Craziness!
Okay… just took a temporary break to watch Elizabeth put on her hip hop show for my flat mates. But I’m back…
Today was my “If I only came for that child it was worth it” day. I have been working with a little 7 year old boy who was burned on his legs. Today he was scheduled to go to theatre, so I prepped him. The prep basically turned into a medical play session because he doesn’t speak English and I (as I have made very clear) don’t speak Xhosa. I showed him the pictures in the prep book Caroline recently completed and then just let him play with the items in the prep box. He put on a surgery mask and hat and then played and played with the oxygen mask and tubing. He put it up to his face and my face and would smile and laugh. Prof walked by as we were doing it and grabbed his camera so he could capture the picture. It really was a picture perfect child life moment. Later that day, M ended up getting his staples out in the treatment room rather than theatre. He’d been given some morphine, so the sisters said he should sleep, but he didn’t. I went to the treatment room with him and tried to comfort hold, but was told he had to lie down. So I just held his hands, sang to him, and tried to help him relax. He did pretty well – but it was very painful for him. At one point he tried to kiss me, though. It was pretty cute. Then at the end after the staple were removed, I let him sit up and lean against me with my arms around him to keep his hands away. He just held my hand and stroked it with his head on my shoulder. That was my “If I only came for that one” moment. ☺
All around I had some great interventions with many kids today. It was a really wonderful day and I am so thankful for it. I really focused today on trying to share love with each person I met (not that I was successful, but I will continue to attempt it). After work I walked to the market by myself and got some more groceries. It was really fun and I felt pretty cool walking back. Oh the things that thrill me these days.
Tomorrow is the big seafood braai. I’m really excited because Caroline and her husband decided to come, so I will know a couple people. Isn’t that exciting. God blesses us so much – even in the little things.
I couldn’t end this note without making mention of the best e.mail ever which I received from my sister today. She was catching me up on all the fabulous things in her life right now… like Millie waving and Eli having to play with the “mean boys” at recess. The best part of her e.mail, though was when she told me how she was trying to explain adoption to Eli. My aunt and uncle are in the process of traveling to Africa to adopt a girl from Liberia and Eli was curious what that was about. Here’s the interaction as told by Erin… “We were talking about Ron and Di adopting Ruth and Eli wanted to know what we were talking about. Adoption had come up for some reason the day before and I had tried to describe what it was. We said that there were children in Africa who needed a home. Eli immediately said that he was going to adopt Cara from South Africa. :-)” How much do I love my nephew? I would love for him to adopt me any day! ☺
Well, that’s all that I have for today. Just wanted to thank you all for you continued love and support. I’ll think about you tomorrow when I’m sitting on the beach eating seafood for 4 hours! I’ve heard the weather has been super cold at home. Hopefully I can send some sunshine your way! ☺ Love you all.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
last minute update
okay...so i couldn't leave the day with that blog. :) the bad thing about blogging is people are going to just how crazy i am!
after i wrote that i went and worked out - which always clears my head. i started thinking about the weekend and the potential it holds - with the seafood braai and church and i'm excited about the possibilities.
then i came back and hung out with mwaka. she asked me about church and i explained my background- not very well, but explained it none the less. i was happy for that opportunity.
i decided my goal tomorrow as to show everyone i run in to the love i have for them.
i'm not having the lonely day i just wrote about anymore. thanks. :) God is good.
after i wrote that i went and worked out - which always clears my head. i started thinking about the weekend and the potential it holds - with the seafood braai and church and i'm excited about the possibilities.
then i came back and hung out with mwaka. she asked me about church and i explained my background- not very well, but explained it none the less. i was happy for that opportunity.
i decided my goal tomorrow as to show everyone i run in to the love i have for them.
i'm not having the lonely day i just wrote about anymore. thanks. :) God is good.
the lonely day
I knew this day would come soon enough. I’m NOT writing this so that everyone feels like they need to pump me up, I’m just trying to document what I’m truly feeling while I’m here in South Africa. It was a very good day at work, but we got off a little early so I’ve had the whole afternoon to relax and spend some time alone – not that that type of time is hard to come by at all. ☺ We left work about 130. Caroline and I went to the bookstore to buy some books for the hospital. Then I came home and took a long nap. I felt a bit guilty doing that because I feel like I’m here I need to take advantage of each moment. But then I decided that I also needed to give myself a chance to rest and adjust to this new schedule, etc. After my nap I headed up to the roof (where I remained despite my fear of blowing away!) to journal and look through my book on South Africa. I decided if I am going to be adventurous while I’m here, it was time to start planning my adventures. I found some things around here that I feel like will be safe to check out on my own, so I’m making a list of things to do in my free time. Unfortunately a lot of things close down by 5 and we don’t get off work until 3 or 4, but on those days I get off early, I’ll now have things to accomplish…and there’s always the weekends, but those seem to be filling up fast. Anyway, while up there I was just thinking about how nice it would be just to have one good friend here that wanted to explore the city – then we could tackle it together and go and do whatever we wanted. I came at a funny time in that many people already have an established friend set or have seen the things they want to around here. Many of the interns are pretty young and interested in exploring different things than I am. Don’t get me wrong though – I’m aware I’ve only been here 3 days and have been so blessed by friends in that time (especially Caroline the other CL girl), so I’m not complaining – I’m just excited for that time to have a travel companion. ☺ (Are you reading this Jamie?! No pressure!) I’m also not making this my final statement – I still have yet to give this whole Connect thing a chance – starting with this trip Saturday. We’ll see what happens. This is just a momentary bump in my first week adjustment.
Aside from that…today was a great day! Thursdays are “Theatre” days on the burn unit – aka surgery days. The doctors and sisters are amazing at this hospital. They are totally open to us being part of any process. During theatre days we accompany the patients to the OR and stay with them until they receive their anesthesia. Even better than that – the parents are allowed to be with the kids in the OR until they fall asleep! I know – my CL friends are amazed right now. ☺ Following surgery, we stay with the kids while they wake up in recovery and then accompany them back to their rooms. It’s awesome. I was with one of the kids I’ve been working with when he went back to theatre. His mom wasn’t able to be with him, so I held his hand while he fell asleep. The doctors all thanked me as left. How awesome to be working in this environment!
I have found that there doesn’t seem to be any territorialism as far as we’re concerned in the areas we’ve been working. Everyone is open and inviting to our services and seeing how we can all work together to make things better for everyone. How great!
I did meet a really nice nurse when I was waiting with a child in recovery. She was amazed that I had to fund the whole trip by myself. She didn’t know why the hospital (especially one in the US) wouldn’t have at least paid for my ticket for an opportunity like this. She said that her hospital had funds set aside to assist staff in such volunteer endeavors. She said the US has so many more resources; she couldn’t believe that I didn’t have help. Don’t worry- I told her that I had wonderful friends, family and coworkers that helped me raise most of the funds I needed to travel her. I told her that I sold cookbooks to raise the money. She thought that was pretty funny. This led to a discussion about people who have more don’t always give more. That got me thinking about my own giving. This whole experience has caused a desire in me to be more giving to others. It has meant so much to have people walk up and hand me a check for my trip (no matter how large or small). It is so humbling and creates in me a desire to provide that love and joy to someone else. When I get home, my budget (that I promise to make!) will now include specific funds for random needs I see in others.
Speaking of giving – I received the best e.mail from a friend today. My friend Bethany told me that she was contributing to my trip by contributing to a world hunger crisis fundraiser. She mentioned that she was pretending the child she was helping was in South Africa – thus the connection to me. ☺ I didn’t ask Bethany if I could do this (so I hope that’s okay b.lar – I don’t know why I just called you that!). Here’s part of what she said,
“Anyway, it's something that I've never done before, to give a substantial amount, but I was just thinking about how quickly we spend money on shopping, or movies etc. So I decided to just not think twice about it and give. I learned that there are over 900 million people, 300 million being children in the world who are starving and that someone dies of starvation every 7 seconds. That number is just too big to comprehend, but then John & Sherry were talking about those people, even though we don't know them, will be our "neighbors" in heaven. I thought that was such a unique way to think about it, we don't have to know the person to do our part to help.”
I was so proud of her I cried. There are so many ways to help out this world, from traveling to South Africa, to making financial contributions to good organizations, or finding people in your own community who just need a helping hand. It’s about loving others – that’s what this whole trip is about. Realizing that God IS love. Where love is – God is. Where God is – Love is. If we don’t have love – we don’t have God. It’s so simple, yet so difficult for us. So my inspiration note for this entry- Go right now and find a way to show God’s love. I promise you’ll feel it 10 times in return! I love you all!
Aside from that…today was a great day! Thursdays are “Theatre” days on the burn unit – aka surgery days. The doctors and sisters are amazing at this hospital. They are totally open to us being part of any process. During theatre days we accompany the patients to the OR and stay with them until they receive their anesthesia. Even better than that – the parents are allowed to be with the kids in the OR until they fall asleep! I know – my CL friends are amazed right now. ☺ Following surgery, we stay with the kids while they wake up in recovery and then accompany them back to their rooms. It’s awesome. I was with one of the kids I’ve been working with when he went back to theatre. His mom wasn’t able to be with him, so I held his hand while he fell asleep. The doctors all thanked me as left. How awesome to be working in this environment!
I have found that there doesn’t seem to be any territorialism as far as we’re concerned in the areas we’ve been working. Everyone is open and inviting to our services and seeing how we can all work together to make things better for everyone. How great!
I did meet a really nice nurse when I was waiting with a child in recovery. She was amazed that I had to fund the whole trip by myself. She didn’t know why the hospital (especially one in the US) wouldn’t have at least paid for my ticket for an opportunity like this. She said that her hospital had funds set aside to assist staff in such volunteer endeavors. She said the US has so many more resources; she couldn’t believe that I didn’t have help. Don’t worry- I told her that I had wonderful friends, family and coworkers that helped me raise most of the funds I needed to travel her. I told her that I sold cookbooks to raise the money. She thought that was pretty funny. This led to a discussion about people who have more don’t always give more. That got me thinking about my own giving. This whole experience has caused a desire in me to be more giving to others. It has meant so much to have people walk up and hand me a check for my trip (no matter how large or small). It is so humbling and creates in me a desire to provide that love and joy to someone else. When I get home, my budget (that I promise to make!) will now include specific funds for random needs I see in others.
Speaking of giving – I received the best e.mail from a friend today. My friend Bethany told me that she was contributing to my trip by contributing to a world hunger crisis fundraiser. She mentioned that she was pretending the child she was helping was in South Africa – thus the connection to me. ☺ I didn’t ask Bethany if I could do this (so I hope that’s okay b.lar – I don’t know why I just called you that!). Here’s part of what she said,
“Anyway, it's something that I've never done before, to give a substantial amount, but I was just thinking about how quickly we spend money on shopping, or movies etc. So I decided to just not think twice about it and give. I learned that there are over 900 million people, 300 million being children in the world who are starving and that someone dies of starvation every 7 seconds. That number is just too big to comprehend, but then John & Sherry were talking about those people, even though we don't know them, will be our "neighbors" in heaven. I thought that was such a unique way to think about it, we don't have to know the person to do our part to help.”
I was so proud of her I cried. There are so many ways to help out this world, from traveling to South Africa, to making financial contributions to good organizations, or finding people in your own community who just need a helping hand. It’s about loving others – that’s what this whole trip is about. Realizing that God IS love. Where love is – God is. Where God is – Love is. If we don’t have love – we don’t have God. It’s so simple, yet so difficult for us. So my inspiration note for this entry- Go right now and find a way to show God’s love. I promise you’ll feel it 10 times in return! I love you all!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Range of Emotions
This may be short tonight. It’s late and I had an exhausting day. I apologize because I usually journal earlier in the night and then blog right before I go to bed. I’m doing both because there are things I want to record that I don’t really want the world to read, but I also want to be sure to share with those who are interested. So by the second time writing things down tonight, it may sound a little stale. ☺
Tonight I had supper with my roommates, Sabrina and Elizabeth, Mwaka from down the hall, and Sabrina’s boyfriend. Part of the night was spent trying to learn the different clicking sounds of Xhosa- one of the local languages. I’m horrible at it, fyi. But now it’s died down and I have a few minutes before I pass out to catch you up on a very busy day.
Wednesdays at work are Ward Rounds…which means that all the children (we have about 24 right now) have their bandages removed, are wrapped in saran wrap, draped in sterile towels and returned to their beds until the “Prof” (the head doctor) and his students pass through to look at everyone. After this, the kids are returned to the treatment room to be washed, debrided and re-bandaged. There are also a number of outpatient kids present who go through this same regimen. We started before 8 and I walked out the last treatment was done at 4.
There were some rough moments today… It’s difficult because there are so many cultural differences that clash with the principals of Child Life and I am having a difficult time resolving those in a respectful way while advocating for the emotional needs of the children I work with. Especially among the boys, there is an expectation for them not to cry or cry out. These boys, and actually most children in general are reprimanded when they show negative emotion during their treatments. As you may guess – burn treatments are very painful and these kids are much less sedated than what I’m used to on my unit at home, so crying out is very understandable. As a Child Life Specialist, my job is to create a supportive environment for kids to express emotions in a safe way. It has been a challenge to give a child permission to cry when he is being threatened for expressing that emotion. I want to be culturally sensitive, but I also don’t want these kids to have to live in fear of their medical treatment, or have to bottle up the emotions that naturally occur with pain. The pain management doctor made a good point the other day when she said a way to be culturally sensitive is to allow children to know that while in their society those emotions are not expressed – while that child is in a safe therapeutic space with a CLS or other psychosocial team member – they are free to experience and express emotion as they will. That totally makes sense, but I’m still finding it hard to communicate that same idea with the sisters at the hospital. I don’t want to swoop in and make them feel like they are wrong – but at the same time I can’t stand to watch the children so fearful. Any suggestions are much appreciated. ☺ I will say that by the end of the day, one of the nurses had softened her approach in my eyes, so perhaps patient persistence and modeling will have some effect.
My friend Caroline gave me a journal for my trip and periodically wrote in it, so that I would find her notes as I was writing. The one for today said – “Do not tell the man who is carrying you that he stinks.” –Sierra Leone proverb.
I did learn a game from one of the girls I was working with today. It’s called OMO. It’s like tic tac toe, but you use O’s and M’s and the grid is much bigger. The first person to make the word OMO wins. You continue on the same grid until all the boxes are filled…just in case someone was looking for a new activity during church (just kidding – pay attention!).
After work I fulfilled my goal of a new activity a day and went to the bookstore on the corner to look for some children’s books. It was about to close, so I just walked in looked at a couple books and walked out. So, tomorrow I will go back…and maybe I will go out to eat somewhere- even if it is by myself. ☺
So – recap of the day and the range of emotions I mentioned at the beginning of the entry. I started the beginning of my day thinking – I love this! I think I will live in South Africa forever and continue in this role. To… What am I doing here? There are people who could do much better than me. To…What’s my next adventure, this is my new life! ☺ So…we’ll see how we end this adventure feeling.
I’ll end with my inspirational thought of the day. The inscription at the beginning of my journal entry today said…
“You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:13-14
When I read that I felt quite overwhelmed by the responsibility that seems to accompany that. But I was reading in “Whosoever Repenteth” this evening and realized making this journey about me and my ability is sin. It’s about God and His ability to work through me as I align my life with Him. As I do that – he will be able to use me for a work much greater than me. The purpose is not for me to be successful, but for His work to be done in His way.
I just wanted to thank all of you who continually send me words of encouragement. They are much appreciated. I wish I could write you each back individually, but time is limited…and I imagine as I become more engulfed by my experience, my time to write will feel even more limited. But please know how much I love and appreciate each of you!
Tonight I had supper with my roommates, Sabrina and Elizabeth, Mwaka from down the hall, and Sabrina’s boyfriend. Part of the night was spent trying to learn the different clicking sounds of Xhosa- one of the local languages. I’m horrible at it, fyi. But now it’s died down and I have a few minutes before I pass out to catch you up on a very busy day.
Wednesdays at work are Ward Rounds…which means that all the children (we have about 24 right now) have their bandages removed, are wrapped in saran wrap, draped in sterile towels and returned to their beds until the “Prof” (the head doctor) and his students pass through to look at everyone. After this, the kids are returned to the treatment room to be washed, debrided and re-bandaged. There are also a number of outpatient kids present who go through this same regimen. We started before 8 and I walked out the last treatment was done at 4.
There were some rough moments today… It’s difficult because there are so many cultural differences that clash with the principals of Child Life and I am having a difficult time resolving those in a respectful way while advocating for the emotional needs of the children I work with. Especially among the boys, there is an expectation for them not to cry or cry out. These boys, and actually most children in general are reprimanded when they show negative emotion during their treatments. As you may guess – burn treatments are very painful and these kids are much less sedated than what I’m used to on my unit at home, so crying out is very understandable. As a Child Life Specialist, my job is to create a supportive environment for kids to express emotions in a safe way. It has been a challenge to give a child permission to cry when he is being threatened for expressing that emotion. I want to be culturally sensitive, but I also don’t want these kids to have to live in fear of their medical treatment, or have to bottle up the emotions that naturally occur with pain. The pain management doctor made a good point the other day when she said a way to be culturally sensitive is to allow children to know that while in their society those emotions are not expressed – while that child is in a safe therapeutic space with a CLS or other psychosocial team member – they are free to experience and express emotion as they will. That totally makes sense, but I’m still finding it hard to communicate that same idea with the sisters at the hospital. I don’t want to swoop in and make them feel like they are wrong – but at the same time I can’t stand to watch the children so fearful. Any suggestions are much appreciated. ☺ I will say that by the end of the day, one of the nurses had softened her approach in my eyes, so perhaps patient persistence and modeling will have some effect.
My friend Caroline gave me a journal for my trip and periodically wrote in it, so that I would find her notes as I was writing. The one for today said – “Do not tell the man who is carrying you that he stinks.” –Sierra Leone proverb.
I did learn a game from one of the girls I was working with today. It’s called OMO. It’s like tic tac toe, but you use O’s and M’s and the grid is much bigger. The first person to make the word OMO wins. You continue on the same grid until all the boxes are filled…just in case someone was looking for a new activity during church (just kidding – pay attention!).
After work I fulfilled my goal of a new activity a day and went to the bookstore on the corner to look for some children’s books. It was about to close, so I just walked in looked at a couple books and walked out. So, tomorrow I will go back…and maybe I will go out to eat somewhere- even if it is by myself. ☺
So – recap of the day and the range of emotions I mentioned at the beginning of the entry. I started the beginning of my day thinking – I love this! I think I will live in South Africa forever and continue in this role. To… What am I doing here? There are people who could do much better than me. To…What’s my next adventure, this is my new life! ☺ So…we’ll see how we end this adventure feeling.
I’ll end with my inspirational thought of the day. The inscription at the beginning of my journal entry today said…
“You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:13-14
When I read that I felt quite overwhelmed by the responsibility that seems to accompany that. But I was reading in “Whosoever Repenteth” this evening and realized making this journey about me and my ability is sin. It’s about God and His ability to work through me as I align my life with Him. As I do that – he will be able to use me for a work much greater than me. The purpose is not for me to be successful, but for His work to be done in His way.
I just wanted to thank all of you who continually send me words of encouragement. They are much appreciated. I wish I could write you each back individually, but time is limited…and I imagine as I become more engulfed by my experience, my time to write will feel even more limited. But please know how much I love and appreciate each of you!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Initial Ramblings
I’ve written and re-written the introduction to this entry. I’m having a difficult time conveying the experiences and the responses those created in me today, perhaps because I have yet to sort through them myself. This trip has yet to feel real to me…I’m not sure it ever will. Despite my weakness in communicating the events of my day, I hope you feel a piece of what I felt.
Here is my disclaimer to this entry: In no way are these words written in judgment, but in love for those doing the best they can with the resources they are given.
This day has made me realize what a blessed and greedy people we have become in the United States. I was speaking to my roommate tonight. She is from Zimbabwe and was asking me about the economic crisis we are currently experiencing in the United States. She asked me how it compared to the way people lived here. We had to laugh, because there can be no comparison between the crisis we currently face and the every day lives of many of the people of South Africa (not all obviously - especially not in Cape Town). I am in no way belittling the hardships and struggles experienced by those that have lost jobs in the US, but have been given a new perspective on my life. So often when we talk about the economy, the government, etc and we create a sense of panic. Many like to discuss “conspiracy theory” and evoke mistrust and fear. But aren’t we called to be a people who speak love and hope to the world – not fear and mistrust? Aren’t we – even in the most fearful of times – to look up and rejoice, trusting in the one who is bigger than our trials and hardships? And…how did I get off on this tangent? Back to my day…
This morning I started my day by going down to pay for my electricity. I was given a number that my roommate typed into a box on our wall, prolonging our ability to see at night a little longer. I tell you what – you conserve energy a LOT more when you watch it tick away in front of you every day. Warning to the roommates at home… ☺
Then I joined Caroline and Taylor and headed out for my first day on the job. Caroline is the one heading up this project. She is currently finishing her Master’s Degree at Wheelock. She’s completed all her internships and is a Certified Child Life Specialist. Taylor is completing her undergraduate degree and will be doing an internship in Toronto this summer.
We arrived at the hospital and walked through the metal detector…which beeps for everyone, but no one gets stopped. ☺ The hospital is interesting because there are some new, beautiful wings, like the “theatre” (OR) located just above the older areas of the hospital. The newer areas are the ones I saw when I looked at the website. The older areas are what I imagined I would be working in. The burn unit is one of these older areas. I don’t know what era to compare it to in US hospitals, but kids stay in bays of about 6 kids. There are a couple isolation rooms. The burn unit is very hot – not because the temperatures are regulated like at home, but because the windows are closed to aid in infection control and Cape Town is very hot right now. There is one small room where windows are opened to allow a little breeze. There is a very small room designated for Music and Art Therapy and supervised play, but we haven’t really used it yet. There is also a room for PT/OT. I’m not doing it justice. You’ll have to see the pictures. It reminds me very much of what you all probably pictured I would be doing.
Caroline toured me around the unit including the treatment room. She introduced me to some staff she knew. There are nurses and sisters. Sisters are nurses who have been at the hospital for some time and have more respect/ responsibility. We call everyone sister because it would be seen as disrespectful to call someone a nurse if they are a sister. Then she took me to the pain management team meeting so I could meet some of the other staff – including the lead doctor, social workers, art therapist, etc. This team is amazing! They have a very clear and accurate view of Child Life. There is so much respect given for our profession. It’s very refreshing.
After the meeting we returned to work. I only interacted with one boy today, as I really just wanted to observe, but that one interaction was so simple, yet so powerful. A little boy was lying all alone in his bed (similar to a stretcher with crib rails). I went in to say hi and he did not respond. I asked if he spoke English and he still did not respond. So, I got out my bubbles and began to play. Play IS a universal language. He began interacting right away – popping bubbles with his feet and blowing them when I would hold the wand to his lips. I noticed he was not willing to move his burned arm or hand. I handed him a glitter wand to hold in his burned hand. He held it but quickly reached for it with his unburned hand and began to play. I asked if the other girl in the room was his sister. He said yes and began speaking to me more. I couldn’t tell if he was speaking Afrikaans or if I was just having a hard time understanding, but I encouraged him in his communications. I reached down and stroked the nonburned fingers of his burned hands. He flinched and pulled away. I reached down again and held on to that hand. At first I think he wasn’t quite sure what to do, but soon he continued with his play. When it was time for me leave, I went to pull my hand away, but he was holding it tightly. I tried again and he pulled it back. I assured I would be back to play again and waved as I walked out the door. He waved back at me. He did not smile during this interaction, but he played and he engaged. It was awesome! I can’t wait to go back tomorrow and continue progress. There is so much to be done here!
I’m realizing this is a super long entry, but I had to add a testimony for all who have been praying for the various needs I’ve had in this journey. Originally I was supposed to be in another apartment, but at the last minute I was changed to the apartment I am currently in. One of my roommates I am living with is named Elizabeth and is an intern from Zimbabwe. She is so sweet and wonderful. I couldn’t imagine a better roommate. Tonight we were talking and I asked if she went to church around here. She said yes – that she goes to Hillsong (the very church I was hoping to visit while I’m here!). I asked if I could come along and she said of course! I was so anxious coming here that I would find a friend willing to go to church with me and my prayers have been answered so abundantly! Praise God!!
My other update…there’s a Connect event I wanted to go to this weekend, but no one I know wants to go, so I signed up to go by myself. Those who don’t know me will probably think that’s no big deal – but those who do are probably still lying on the floor in shock. ☺ I’m telling you…you won’t recognize this girl when I get home.
p.s I’m sweaty and needing to go to bed, so I’m not reading this before I publish it, so please forgive me if there are mistakes or if I said anything wrong.
p.p.s. I'm trying to learn some of the Afrikaans and Xhosa. The Xhosa is much more difficult for me because I can't do the clicking part.
Here is my disclaimer to this entry: In no way are these words written in judgment, but in love for those doing the best they can with the resources they are given.
This day has made me realize what a blessed and greedy people we have become in the United States. I was speaking to my roommate tonight. She is from Zimbabwe and was asking me about the economic crisis we are currently experiencing in the United States. She asked me how it compared to the way people lived here. We had to laugh, because there can be no comparison between the crisis we currently face and the every day lives of many of the people of South Africa (not all obviously - especially not in Cape Town). I am in no way belittling the hardships and struggles experienced by those that have lost jobs in the US, but have been given a new perspective on my life. So often when we talk about the economy, the government, etc and we create a sense of panic. Many like to discuss “conspiracy theory” and evoke mistrust and fear. But aren’t we called to be a people who speak love and hope to the world – not fear and mistrust? Aren’t we – even in the most fearful of times – to look up and rejoice, trusting in the one who is bigger than our trials and hardships? And…how did I get off on this tangent? Back to my day…
This morning I started my day by going down to pay for my electricity. I was given a number that my roommate typed into a box on our wall, prolonging our ability to see at night a little longer. I tell you what – you conserve energy a LOT more when you watch it tick away in front of you every day. Warning to the roommates at home… ☺
Then I joined Caroline and Taylor and headed out for my first day on the job. Caroline is the one heading up this project. She is currently finishing her Master’s Degree at Wheelock. She’s completed all her internships and is a Certified Child Life Specialist. Taylor is completing her undergraduate degree and will be doing an internship in Toronto this summer.
We arrived at the hospital and walked through the metal detector…which beeps for everyone, but no one gets stopped. ☺ The hospital is interesting because there are some new, beautiful wings, like the “theatre” (OR) located just above the older areas of the hospital. The newer areas are the ones I saw when I looked at the website. The older areas are what I imagined I would be working in. The burn unit is one of these older areas. I don’t know what era to compare it to in US hospitals, but kids stay in bays of about 6 kids. There are a couple isolation rooms. The burn unit is very hot – not because the temperatures are regulated like at home, but because the windows are closed to aid in infection control and Cape Town is very hot right now. There is one small room where windows are opened to allow a little breeze. There is a very small room designated for Music and Art Therapy and supervised play, but we haven’t really used it yet. There is also a room for PT/OT. I’m not doing it justice. You’ll have to see the pictures. It reminds me very much of what you all probably pictured I would be doing.
Caroline toured me around the unit including the treatment room. She introduced me to some staff she knew. There are nurses and sisters. Sisters are nurses who have been at the hospital for some time and have more respect/ responsibility. We call everyone sister because it would be seen as disrespectful to call someone a nurse if they are a sister. Then she took me to the pain management team meeting so I could meet some of the other staff – including the lead doctor, social workers, art therapist, etc. This team is amazing! They have a very clear and accurate view of Child Life. There is so much respect given for our profession. It’s very refreshing.
After the meeting we returned to work. I only interacted with one boy today, as I really just wanted to observe, but that one interaction was so simple, yet so powerful. A little boy was lying all alone in his bed (similar to a stretcher with crib rails). I went in to say hi and he did not respond. I asked if he spoke English and he still did not respond. So, I got out my bubbles and began to play. Play IS a universal language. He began interacting right away – popping bubbles with his feet and blowing them when I would hold the wand to his lips. I noticed he was not willing to move his burned arm or hand. I handed him a glitter wand to hold in his burned hand. He held it but quickly reached for it with his unburned hand and began to play. I asked if the other girl in the room was his sister. He said yes and began speaking to me more. I couldn’t tell if he was speaking Afrikaans or if I was just having a hard time understanding, but I encouraged him in his communications. I reached down and stroked the nonburned fingers of his burned hands. He flinched and pulled away. I reached down again and held on to that hand. At first I think he wasn’t quite sure what to do, but soon he continued with his play. When it was time for me leave, I went to pull my hand away, but he was holding it tightly. I tried again and he pulled it back. I assured I would be back to play again and waved as I walked out the door. He waved back at me. He did not smile during this interaction, but he played and he engaged. It was awesome! I can’t wait to go back tomorrow and continue progress. There is so much to be done here!
I’m realizing this is a super long entry, but I had to add a testimony for all who have been praying for the various needs I’ve had in this journey. Originally I was supposed to be in another apartment, but at the last minute I was changed to the apartment I am currently in. One of my roommates I am living with is named Elizabeth and is an intern from Zimbabwe. She is so sweet and wonderful. I couldn’t imagine a better roommate. Tonight we were talking and I asked if she went to church around here. She said yes – that she goes to Hillsong (the very church I was hoping to visit while I’m here!). I asked if I could come along and she said of course! I was so anxious coming here that I would find a friend willing to go to church with me and my prayers have been answered so abundantly! Praise God!!
My other update…there’s a Connect event I wanted to go to this weekend, but no one I know wants to go, so I signed up to go by myself. Those who don’t know me will probably think that’s no big deal – but those who do are probably still lying on the floor in shock. ☺ I’m telling you…you won’t recognize this girl when I get home.
p.s I’m sweaty and needing to go to bed, so I’m not reading this before I publish it, so please forgive me if there are mistakes or if I said anything wrong.
p.p.s. I'm trying to learn some of the Afrikaans and Xhosa. The Xhosa is much more difficult for me because I can't do the clicking part.
Monday, March 9, 2009
And so it begins...
The good news… I’ve finally arrived in Cape Town and started up my blog, so that you can all enjoy this journey with me!
The bad news… My cable that connects my computer to my camera will not be accompanying me on this journey and therefore, pictures will be temporarily unavailable. I will be have to be super descriptive in my blogging and you all will need to be very creative in your imagining…It might be a good practice in guided imagery for us all (that’s for you child life friends). Perhaps we should start with the view of Table Mountain which I woke up to outside my bedroom window this morning. You don’t even have to use your imagination…just google it and you’ll see what I saw!
My travels thus far have been graciously uneventful. Mom, Dad, Nana and Bethany sent me off from the airport. They were all weepy, but I held back my tears…well, at least until I was on the other side of the glass divider thing. Then a few snuck out. The real ones came when I was sitting on the plane getting ready to fly off. I was trying to decide where they were coming from…I’m pretty sure I wasn’t afraid or even anxious at that point (maybe 10%). But the majority of them came from the overwhelming love I have felt from the moment I decided to go on the adventure. Love from friends, family, and coworkers that in return caused a deeper love in me for them. It has been such a blessing to feel so supported. Thanks to everyone for the parties, the prayers, the support, and the love.
The planes all ran on time, the leg room was bearable (although the poor couple who sat on the outside of me on our 11 hour leg of the journey probably wished I would have had the aisle), and the food was never ceasing – they feed you like every 4 hours! I never quite felt like James Bond or an international spy maneuvering my way through international airports (the way one friend said I would) but it is pretty empowering to travel around the world by yourself. I guess I shouldn’t say by myself, because I did feel His peaceful spirit with me the whole way. I never felt alone or afraid.
When I got to Cape Town, my driver was waiting to pick me up. He told me all out drag racing through Cape Towns streets, taught me some familiar Afrikaans phrases, and gave me some advice – like grab on to a pole when the wind blows through Cape Town so you don’t get blown away! He told all about the club scene available. I told him I wasn’t a clubber. He told me I could dance. I told him I couldn’t really dance. So his final advice to me was to, “Find a black man, he will show you around and you will leave Cape Town knowing how to dance.” I wondered if he’d been talking to Caroline…
This morning I met with the Gabby from Connect 1-2-3 for orientation to the city from the apartment city. I can’t wait to get out and explore, but was warned I should get to know the city a little better before doing that on my own. I may wonder down to the book shop she told me about, though. Hopefully this evening I will meet with other Child Life girls here for the program. Tomorrow I begin work at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
Well, the battery on my computer is running low, and I need to get a converter (sorry Caroline – I think the one I needed was the one you didn’t have in there, but at least I lugged that heavy box half way across the world!). So I’m signing off for now.
Love you all!
The bad news… My cable that connects my computer to my camera will not be accompanying me on this journey and therefore, pictures will be temporarily unavailable. I will be have to be super descriptive in my blogging and you all will need to be very creative in your imagining…It might be a good practice in guided imagery for us all (that’s for you child life friends). Perhaps we should start with the view of Table Mountain which I woke up to outside my bedroom window this morning. You don’t even have to use your imagination…just google it and you’ll see what I saw!
My travels thus far have been graciously uneventful. Mom, Dad, Nana and Bethany sent me off from the airport. They were all weepy, but I held back my tears…well, at least until I was on the other side of the glass divider thing. Then a few snuck out. The real ones came when I was sitting on the plane getting ready to fly off. I was trying to decide where they were coming from…I’m pretty sure I wasn’t afraid or even anxious at that point (maybe 10%). But the majority of them came from the overwhelming love I have felt from the moment I decided to go on the adventure. Love from friends, family, and coworkers that in return caused a deeper love in me for them. It has been such a blessing to feel so supported. Thanks to everyone for the parties, the prayers, the support, and the love.
The planes all ran on time, the leg room was bearable (although the poor couple who sat on the outside of me on our 11 hour leg of the journey probably wished I would have had the aisle), and the food was never ceasing – they feed you like every 4 hours! I never quite felt like James Bond or an international spy maneuvering my way through international airports (the way one friend said I would) but it is pretty empowering to travel around the world by yourself. I guess I shouldn’t say by myself, because I did feel His peaceful spirit with me the whole way. I never felt alone or afraid.
When I got to Cape Town, my driver was waiting to pick me up. He told me all out drag racing through Cape Towns streets, taught me some familiar Afrikaans phrases, and gave me some advice – like grab on to a pole when the wind blows through Cape Town so you don’t get blown away! He told all about the club scene available. I told him I wasn’t a clubber. He told me I could dance. I told him I couldn’t really dance. So his final advice to me was to, “Find a black man, he will show you around and you will leave Cape Town knowing how to dance.” I wondered if he’d been talking to Caroline…
This morning I met with the Gabby from Connect 1-2-3 for orientation to the city from the apartment city. I can’t wait to get out and explore, but was warned I should get to know the city a little better before doing that on my own. I may wonder down to the book shop she told me about, though. Hopefully this evening I will meet with other Child Life girls here for the program. Tomorrow I begin work at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
Well, the battery on my computer is running low, and I need to get a converter (sorry Caroline – I think the one I needed was the one you didn’t have in there, but at least I lugged that heavy box half way across the world!). So I’m signing off for now.
Love you all!
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