It is hot as heck here for sure (98 degrees, but with the humidity it feels like well over 100). Each day we walk a mile from the hotel to the training at the medical center and back. (Well some people take the shuttle, but it is good to get exercise, right mom?) Outside I feel like I'm walking through really thick air, and it is definitely harder to breath. I guess it is good practice for Africa, though there it is not nearly as humid, and right now it is 70 degrees in Botswana!
This is a view from the room where we have our trainings. The medical center is massive (the biggest in the country I think). All the hospitals are clustered in the medical center and they are building all the time (the picture only captures a small portion of it).
My fellow Pediatric AIDS Corps doctors are all really great. Baylor put our pictures online today, so you can read all about them and see pictures here:
http://bayloraids.org/corps/bios2009.php
Each day we have lectures on topics that will be pertinent to our jobs in Africa. The professors so far have been great speakers. Yesterday Dr. Kline (the founder of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative and now also the Dean of Pediatrics at Baylor) gave a truly inspirational talk about the founding of the program. Basically a lot of people said a program like this would never work and he just persevered. Many said that parents in Africa would not bring their children to an "AIDS Center" because the stigma was too high. But the opposite has been true - everyone comes, even if their child does not have HIV. We are all inspired and even more excited to begin!
Hi Leah!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like things are starting off well! I am so glad and I look forward to your posts :)
I miss everyone here - St Chris is not the same without you but Botswana is lucky to be getting you - You will be great!