Thursday, February 13, 2014


T minus 36 hours until I fly out for Tanzania, and the emotion of the moment is apprehension.  I know I should be excited, but I just can’t seem to get there.  This will be my first trip to a third world country, and I’ll be spending a month there, in the bush, with no idea what to expect.

I’m not what you’d call a high maintenance girl, but I do love a nice shower now and then, and I’d like not to catch Malaria or HIV.  These diseases are prevalent in the area where I’ll be staying, along with Tuberculosis and god knows what else.  But it turns out this is good news for me, because it means I’ll get to treat these exotic conditions as a fourth year medical student.  I’ll also get to help out with deliveries and learn what it means when the cool kids refer to “global medicine.”  After an experience like this, people tend to come back grateful for our technology and access to specialists, and raving about how loving the people are.  I’m not sure being around super open and giving people is really for me.  As an introvert, I could see that being a lot of work, but I liked the Midwest okay.  That’ll be about the same, right?

So, I’m not feeling terribly verbose tonight, but I wanted to get this started before my two-day flight.  There is supposed to be internet at my apartment, so I’ll try to post while I’m there, but if not, as soon as I get home.  Wish me luck!