Dumela Botswana!

Dumela is a popular greeting in Botswana. I have been back in Cape Town for a few days now and already missing Gaborone. My short week in Botswana was condensed with warmth, inspiration, and information. I got to meet some amazing people like the Dean of UPenn, Dean of University of Washington, WHO counselors on HIV, UCSF professors, and Botswana midwives to name a few. The presentations were so informative that at the end of the day my mind would be absolutely drenched from thinking so much. Part of it was because the presentations were so thought provoking. I could tell that I wasn’t the only person processing all the information I was presented to daily and forming opinions, questions, and suggestions for all of them. I flew out of Gaborone more inspired than ever and my interest in women’s health issues has been reassured more than ever. During that week we stayed with Professor KD from the University of Botswana. The feeling of being driven around in a BMW and spending the nights in her four bedroom mansion in such a rural area of the world was unique. She seemed like she had worked hard for what she had though so that alleviated the awkward and guilty way I was feeling a bit. Most of the Botswana professors had received at least some part of their training in the U.S. It was one of the few times I felt good about America and its international influence as providing higher education opportunities to the developing world. Those women were truly making a difference in national and international levels and I learned a lot from their strength. I was also lucky enough to meet the former president of Botswana who stepped down in April. From the little bit of information I got from him I learned that he had been a gender equality activist during his term. He was still very outspoken about the power of women and his opposition to gender based violence. I guess something else I liked about President Mogae was that he was very modest when I met him and I didn’t feel like I was shaking a powerful and unreachable figure’s hand but that I was getting acquainted with a colleague. Even though he had flown from Uganda only a few hours before, he had openly accepted the gala dinner’s invitation and didn’t fail to have a good time on the dance floor. I also got a tour of the hospital and the obstetrics ward. Along the way I randomly met Dr. Ryan Phelps, a physician from Baylor working at a Baylor-Botswana HIV/AIDS Children’s Clinic. I was excited to see so much international cooperation. I also saw a Harvard Clinic. Not sure exactly what they specialized in.

After deciding to become an OB/GYN and a gender equality activist and being back in Cape Town I decided to do something I have always wanted to but have never been brave enough to do it. I figured that it was time I faced my fears and that it would make me feel that I could achieve anything. So I jumped off a plane… Ok maybe there are other ways I could have proven to myself that I could do anything I put set my mind on but the adrenaline rush of skydiving was thrilling. Coming down I got a glance of the beautiful view of Cape Town and saw whales and dolphins in the ocean. I have now ticked skydiving off of my list of “things I have to do before I die.”

Dr. Campbell, my U.S. mentor has been in Cape Town for the past week. I feel like I have gotten more done on the research this week than any other week we have been here. I was really upset about not having a clear plan for things and the thought of not being able to finish the project was really making me frustrated. I think that had to do with the fact that no one had formally met with us about the project and with a bit of Dr. Campbell’s supervision I am more hopeful and happy about our performance. We met with Naeema and Shaanaz, renowned researchers in the field of gender issues at the Medical Research Council. It was great to get a brief overview of some of the projects they are running and I hope to be able to stay in touch with them. We are having dinner with them tomorrow night.

Yesterday was an exciting day also. For the first time I got to take part in an NGO decision making meeting. The “One Man Can” project is funded by the Ford Foundation with the purpose of getting across the message of gender based violence prevention. The main setting for the conveyance of the message will be 2010 World Cup. They are planning to work closely with FIFA in order to use soccer coaches and players to become advocates for this cause. I couldn’t believe that an organization was given a large sum of money to capture the audience’s attention at such a venue but I guess anything would work. I think if I had to choose an audience I would direct my efforts to township residents and people who wouldn’t be able to afford a World Cup game ticket. It’ll be interesting to see how those efforts turn out.

Among other things, Jennifer and Tondeleyo from Durban are here the next couple of days so we will be sightseeing with them and showing them the beauty of our home, Cape Town.

The picture here is at a weaving place in Botswana. I loved the women there!

I Love Safaris!

I never thought I would be going to multiple safaris here in South Africa. I never wrote about the Aquila safari adventure we had. It was great seeing animals so close. Personally I have never been a fan of zoos… something about animals in cages just never excite me. But this was completely different. Seeing animals in their wildlife home is thrilling. I posted some pictures on facebook. During our trip to Aquila I met Hymie, a forty some year man who was very young and passionate at heart and used to be very active during the apartheid. His talkative nature didn’t bother me as much as bothered others in the van and I learned a lot from him. He has a very interesting past and is hoping to get rich by buying stock. He told me he would pick me up from the airport in his Mercedes in 2010! I also met Mr. Tchan, a lively and travel loving business man. He told me about his travels and how he has seen much of the world. I really enjoyed talking to him and he gave me a travel idea for next year. I am planning to take the Orient Express from Amesterdam to Beijing next summer. It costs about $2000 but all accommodations are provided and I would get to see much of Russia, something I have always wanted to do after my Moscow visit years ago. I hope my parents wouldn’t mind giving me that graduation present!

About work, until now we have identified all rape homicide cases for 1999-2002. the numbers vary for each year but the average is around 30 per year. 2001 had the fewest number of cases with 12. Now we are in the processes of entering the autopsy information of the rape homicide cases in the data tool set. This is a long process but I am starting to like it now that I recognize the difference between lacerations, contusions, abrasions, penetrating wounds, etc. I think I am getting more and more interested in the medical side of this.

Last weekend we went to a city called Knysna. This town was very young and lively and we got to experience the South African night life. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous with the ocean and mountains everywhere. We made it to the Elephant Park where we touched, hugged, and fed elephants (I still have some elephant dirt on my jacket…) We also went to Monkey Land where we saw more monkeys that I have ever seen in my life. It was scary to see how similar they were to humans. The Bird Park was also very fun and picturesque. I have some pictures posted on facebook. It’s been raining a lot here so it’s kind of difficult to go on any sort of adventures. We did get to go the waterfront where I got into a sailing boat for the very first time. I am planning to learn how to sail and own a boat one day.

Next week is looking great. I am flying to Botswana tomorrow so I am super excited about seeing another African country. Will update when I am back!