Submitted by Jeniffer Hoffstadt on the 2017 winter session program in South Africa and Zambia sponsored by the School of Nursing…
Saying good-bye to Cape Town was very sad for our group. We have come to love and appreciate the rich culture and beauty of South Africa. However, we are excited to begin our new adventures in Zambia! We’ve been in the country four days and it has been packed with surprises and wonder! Our group is staying in tents at the Zambezi waterfront lodge which has taken some adjustments for us all. I was initially hesitant and even afraid to stay in tents and was a bit outside my comfort zone. I’ll be honest that I was really missing the indoor plumping, air conditioning and no insects. However, I have embraced the Zambian outdoors and really enjoy the experience of living simply and detached from modern amenities. It’s such a beautiful atmosphere. Some of our girls have had some scares with bugs and lizards, but thankfully, no wild animals have appeared in my tent so far (there are “beware of crocodile signs” and monkeys that run around). Today, the 23rd, was our first day in clinics and home care in Zambia. Three nursing students and I traveled to a rural village to do home visits with a local caretaker. It was a very eye opening and humbling experience to visit a community that lives very differently from myself – no running water, dirt roads, minimal food and possessions and no electricity. It was so amazing to be able to provide care to children and adults who otherwise have very little to or no access to healthcare. As nursing students, we were able to utilize our knowledge and skills learned from classes and clinicals to think critically and provide quality care to these individuals. Easy access to healthcare is a luxury that many people, including myself, take for granted. I am very grateful that we have the opportunity to see how differently people live from ourselves. I am very excited to continue in the clinics and home based care this week! Our whole group also got to go to a local school to play sports and to play and read with the children. It was an absolute blast!