with extra cheese please: May 2011

Tuesday 10 May 2011

pilgrims rest

best cappucino this side of the country!! it even had edible glitter and marshmellows!!

This is Doris. I met her on one of my missions to Pilgrims Rest. She has her own little curio store on the side of the road of hand made African items and scarves. She is a mother and grandmother and was very concerned about all her children especially the teenagers and young adults. When she found out I work in the hospital, she had many questions about HIV/AIDS, TB and what she can do to protect her family - she said "they do not want to listen." It was quite an experience being able to comfort her and she really touched my heart. I hope my words helped her.

Doris was very concerned about her lack of teeth - this was a scarce one of her smiling.

"into the sticks" is the title of my blog and I think it aptly describes what this blog is all about.

2011 is my year of community service as a radiographer; I've been sent to a rural little town somewhere in the middle of Mpumalanga.. It's a beautiful area with colourful people, rolling hills and thunderous skies. It also has the smallest x-ray department I have ever seen or worked in.

I hope to portray some of the many experiences that this year will bring and capture the changing moods and emotions that I'm sure many a comm serve worker goes through during their year 'in the sticks'. Beyond the obvious reason behind comm serve and developing one's clinical skills, it's a time of personal growth and discovery; an opportunity to explore a different part of our diverse country; a chance to meet people from all walks of life and come face to face with the socio-economic issues surrounding South Africa and it's health care system; it's a great challenge but one that will be well worth it in the end.

This blog is dedicated to all my fellow community service workers and to documenting a spectacular time in my life.

Thank you for taking the journey with me.