Jenna on her first month

1 month. 30 days. I refuse to count down the days we have left in this beautiful city that we have come to call home, so instead I count up. Saying the words “we’ve been here for a month” leaves me with an uneasy feeling. I’m realizing how little time we truly have here but promising myself to continue to make the most of each and every day instead of wasting my time praying that the end of the journey doesn't come.

Since the last post, so much has happened. We hiked up Table Mountain (a little over 3500 ft!!). We didn't have too much time that day so we decided to take the 2.5 hour trail up which also meant that it was the steepest way up. Safe to say it was very very exhausting but without a doubt one of the greatest things I did in my entire life. Special shoutout to Val, David, and Snigs for convincing me that I could do it whenever I doubted myself. It was absolutely amazing to stand at the top where it was quiet and cool and look down at the city where it was rustling with activity and noise. I did a lot of reflecting in that moment. In Cape Town I’m living a much more active lifestyle, I’m doing things that are beyond my comfort zone, and meeting the most amazing people. I am so incredibly happy here and I wish my family and friends could see that. Who knew all this realization could happen on top of a mountain right?

View from Table Mountain

                       

Interning at Tafelsig Clinic has probably been the best thing that has happened to me here. I’ve only interned there for 7 days so far and already I am gaining experience and learning so much. I have administered HIV and blood sugar tests to patients, which consists of a finger prick, a collection of a few drops of bloods, and a reading. I have also done EKGs on patients, which require me to put electrodes in various spots on a person’s body that then measures the electrical activity in a person’s heart. It’s so awesome to be learning how to do things like this because when the clinic gets especially busy (like it did this past Tuesday), the other interns and I are actually able to lend a hand and help instead of sitting there clueless and in the way. I have seen patients being connected to IVs, dressings of wounds changed, and so much more. The other students and I are building connections with the staff, especially Sister Castle. Even when we are in different rooms (adult prep room, immunization room, treatment room, etc.) throughout the day we always love to stop by her room and sit for a while as she cares for patients. She tells us stories and shows us millions of pictures. We all joke around and tell her she’s like a mom to us but in all seriousness, she really does act like one. She’s always concerned for our safety both inside and outside of the clinic, tells us she’s going to have us over for dinner, bring her to church with her, and other places around town. She’s always making us laugh but she’s serious when need be and makes sure that we understand everything that is happening when she’s talking with a patient. Portia, Joann, and Sister Stubbs are some of the others that we love seeing every day and have been a big impact on our time at the clinic. The clinic has confirmed my desire to continue my education in the medical field and makes me dream of becoming a nurse even more.

Today we leave for our homestay in Ocean View. I am terribly excited to stay with a family and experience life as they do. I can’t wait to dive into the culture and see how life is like without being a foreigner observing from the outside. I fear that a weekend will be too little time to fully immerse myself in the community. I fear that I will want more time. And I fear that it might make me miss my family more. But for now I toss those fears aside because I know that this weekend experience will only make me grow and at the end of this journey that is all I want–to grow as a person, intellectually, mentally and emotionally.