June 9: Today is Heroes' Day in Uganda (and honestly, I am not quite sure what kind of "heroes" are celebrated). A child that I was talking with said that he was honoring Superman, Lucas (who provides transportation) said that he was remembering his father, and the hospital staff was honoring doctors who stayed with and treated Ebola patients.
Just after waking up, my dad and I joined some of the expats on a run through Mbarara. In the morning it is so peaceful and cool (unlike the boiling afternoons). Despite the fact that I thought it was cool, I still managed to sweat an uncomfortable amount. Many of the expats just participated in the Kampala Marathon a couple weeks ago, so needless to say, I was the lagger in the group.
In the morning, I went to the cancer clinic to meet some of the children who are patients. Because today was a holiday, there were only six children in the ward, but I was able to introduce myself and learn their names (with the help of a translator, Allen). The children were shy, which is to be expected, but they definitely smiled and giggled as I tried to speak in their native language (which is pronounced ree-an-col-é...I have absolutely no idea how to spell it, and apparently, the internet does not think it exists). I learned about what the children like to do in their free-time: the usual "sports, art, and music." I asked the children to sing a local Ugandan song next time I see them, and they are quite excited about that. The treatment schedules of each patient vary greatly, and because of this, the projects will have to be completed on a more individual-base. After talking to Dr. Becky (the head of the oncology ward), I discovered that most of the children leave after their treatments to make the long journey home to their villages, for their is a lack of sleeping space at the hospital. The time that I have to interact with the group as a whole is limited, but I will be able to travel to some of the villages to make a couple home visits.
In the afternoon, Dr. Bangsberg and two other students around my age (James and Natalie), arrived at the guest house. While they unpacked and cleaned off, I went to visit the Vice Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, who is also affiliated with the hospital. I sat in on a meeting with him and a few of the American doctors, who are stationed in Mbarara. I described to him the work that I will be performing in his hospital, and he told me that this will be the first physic-social therapy program in all of the Ugandan hospitals! The people here truly are so upbeat and encouraging of all that everyone is doing.
For dinner, we had a large group of people come over to the guesthouse (Mbararans and expats). We played corn hole and ate beef and veggies with banana foster.
Just after waking up, my dad and I joined some of the expats on a run through Mbarara. In the morning it is so peaceful and cool (unlike the boiling afternoons). Despite the fact that I thought it was cool, I still managed to sweat an uncomfortable amount. Many of the expats just participated in the Kampala Marathon a couple weeks ago, so needless to say, I was the lagger in the group.
In the morning, I went to the cancer clinic to meet some of the children who are patients. Because today was a holiday, there were only six children in the ward, but I was able to introduce myself and learn their names (with the help of a translator, Allen). The children were shy, which is to be expected, but they definitely smiled and giggled as I tried to speak in their native language (which is pronounced ree-an-col-é...I have absolutely no idea how to spell it, and apparently, the internet does not think it exists). I learned about what the children like to do in their free-time: the usual "sports, art, and music." I asked the children to sing a local Ugandan song next time I see them, and they are quite excited about that. The treatment schedules of each patient vary greatly, and because of this, the projects will have to be completed on a more individual-base. After talking to Dr. Becky (the head of the oncology ward), I discovered that most of the children leave after their treatments to make the long journey home to their villages, for their is a lack of sleeping space at the hospital. The time that I have to interact with the group as a whole is limited, but I will be able to travel to some of the villages to make a couple home visits.
In the afternoon, Dr. Bangsberg and two other students around my age (James and Natalie), arrived at the guest house. While they unpacked and cleaned off, I went to visit the Vice Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, who is also affiliated with the hospital. I sat in on a meeting with him and a few of the American doctors, who are stationed in Mbarara. I described to him the work that I will be performing in his hospital, and he told me that this will be the first physic-social therapy program in all of the Ugandan hospitals! The people here truly are so upbeat and encouraging of all that everyone is doing.
For dinner, we had a large group of people come over to the guesthouse (Mbararans and expats). We played corn hole and ate beef and veggies with banana foster.
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