I'm trying very hard not to break out into a Peter, Paul, and Mary medley but the song is stuck in my head. I just finished packing and am ready for our 5:15 AM ride to the airport. We have a 7 AM flight on Air Botswana to Joberg and then a South African Airways flight to Cape Town. I am really looking forward to a week of pure fun and relaxation after what seems to have been a 7x24 clinical experience here in Gaborone that followed an intense preparation period in Philadelphia. I really have mixed emotions with 15 hours left in Botswana: I'm incredibly grateful and pleased with the experience, and would love to stay longer to continue working on all our projects but am ready to head home. I've loved the communal living experience but sharing 2 bathrooms and 3 bedrooms with 9 other people has... well... let's just say I'm really looking forward to my own bed in another week. I think we're all at that point.
Our final day has been really interesting. We awoke after a delicious meal of Cointreau-kissed pain perdu that I made for dinner last night. We had planned for a big breakfast this morning but were pre-empted by the request to attend a nursing class at the University of Botswana. We presented an overview of our activities and related them to the ideals of community nursing. We did a little role-play that was very well received. We'll be heading over to dinner with the Dean of the School of Nursing this evening to officially close our clinical experience.
I stopped by to see my friend, Parth Mehta, at the Baylor Clinic where they focus on pediatric AIDS and oncology (among other diseases). What an incredible facility and wonderful people! I really felt welcomed and at home with Parth and his colleagues.
Parth shared a story that broke my heart. When the clinic was in its infancy, it studied the effects and efficacy of ARVs (anti-retrovirals) on children with HIV/AIDS. The study was done in a small room with a white door. As word spread of the effectiveness of the drugs, mothers were telling other mothers to make sure their child was able to go through the white door so they could live. If the child didn't go through the white door, the child was sure to die.
Now Parth is a really, really, really good storyteller and has been known to make up a few untruths (like telling people at the clinic today that I was a major donor that he was giving a tour to)... but this story is too wonderful to share - absolute truth or not.
As I post for the last time for Botswana, I have to say that this experience has changed me: I will be a better nurse, member of society, and person because of the people and places I've seen while here. I'm feeling pulled to return to Botswana but will need to let that sit for a little while to ascertain if this is a bit of a honeymoon feeling or if it's part of my true calling.
I'll be posting pictures and more stories when the Internet access allows for it. Thanks for all your support, for keeping up with us, and for helping to make a real difference in this world.
See you next from Cape Town, South Africa!
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