All it takes is a smile

When I woke on the morning we traveled to Bamako Mali, I didn't quite know what to expect.  I was nervous more than anything, really. The only time I had been out of the country was with family for a vacation and was no where near as far or "foreign" as Africa.

The thing that sticks out the most in my mind at this point in our visit here is...after all the work that we've done, and all the things that we've seen that we aren't used to...it's not so "foreign" after all. Yesterday I over heard a woman thanking my classmate out side of the ER for all that we're doing for her people. They are not her people, they are all of our people. When you are in Mali, you are Malian. This rule should apply for anywhere.

Family members stick by their ill loved ones sides, they worry, they bond and laugh. They wave at you and are incredibly polite. Here, like anywhere in the world, the easiest way to get a mother to smile, is to talk to her one year old son. Regardless of language and cultural barriers, there is a universal unspoken language of sorts. Today we did rounds around the Internal Medicine ward with the residents with at best, broken english from a Physician to keep us updated as to what was going on. We were using purell as they were using whisky after every patient and reading chest x- rays with them side by side...they were auscultating, and palpating, as well as checking the color of her sclera. These are ALL things that we have learned and will also use every day. Different in so many ways, but similar in more. The difference between these doctors and us, is that we learned this but will use mostly diagnostic tests that we will order in large hospitals through out our careers where as they have these skills perfected. These doctors use their given senses to diagnose and evaluate and these are things we all need as future health care providers to take with us forever.

I find my self staring out of the bus window every day, not even taking pictures and barely talking to my classmates and friends. Not because anything is wrong but because I want to take in absolutely everything while I am here, while I still can.

Malians

We are officially "Malians" as the people of Mali like to call us. They say if you are living in Mali, then you are Malian, regardless of where you are from. That is a perfect example of the culture here. The people are so warm and welcoming here, it's like nothing I've ever experienced. Every single person that I say "bonjour" to, replies back with a big smile on their face. Not a single person is rude, not a single child is scared of us. They really are the friendliest people I've met. The culture here is so unique. Traveling through the city, I've seen the poverty, the trash everywhere, and the shacks with a mother and 4 children sitting inside. And yet everyone appears happy. Everyone is dressed well, and enjoying the company of the neighbors. Along with seeing the poverty, I've noticed that there will be a mansion built within the main streets lined with shacks. I've been so accustom to the American lifestyle, where the rich live with the rich, and the poor live with the poor. Back home, the rich dress very well, and the cannot afford to dress well. There is a distinct line separating the groups in America. Here, everyone is united as one community. The rich live with the poor, and everyone dresses their best. There is no way to tell the difference between a wealthy person and a poor person walking along with street. Everyone treats each other equally, even the wealthy children play on the streets with the poor children. It's very humbling to see that. It reminds me that we are all human beings, and how much money we have does not determine the type of person that we are, or the type of person that we are allowed to be.

On another note, we have started working in the main hospital in Bamako, which is located on top of a mountain, miles and miles from the city. Keep in mind that many people have no means of transportation, and many others cannot afford a cab or an ambulance ride. Many walk there, and wait outside. They bring blankets and food with them, prepared to wait outside for days. The buildings are old and dirty. Very few nurses work there, so the patients get little attention, except when the doctor sees them. The families of the patients camp out on the dirty floors next to the patient's bed. They have food packed and blankets to cover the beds, because there are no sheets on the beds when the patients arrive and no nurses to even help them set up the bed. The patients squat in buckets next to their bed to go to the bathroom. Many patients can't even afford the treatment the doctors offer them. Regardless of all of this, I see that the patients are so peaceful, happy, and humble. They still say bonjour to me when I walk by. The patients passively allow me to listen to their lungs without their putting up a stink. Not a single person yells or complains about waiting. They are such a patient and peaceful community. It is really an inspiration to me to see that, and I know I will be taking that home with me. The next time I'm put in a situation where normally I may lose my patience and get frustrated, I will think of the Malian's, and smile to myself. Ok I've talked too much and everyone else needs to blog too!! I will blog again soon. I have so much to talk about!

Friday Morning

It is the Friday morning of our departure... Friday the 13th. I'm patiently waiting for the arrival of my parents, who will take me to lunch and then the airport. I'm about 90% packed but still feeling very overwhelmed. As I'm looking at my bags and sitting on my couch "taking a break" I'm getting more and more nervous. What I'm nervous about, I'm not quite sure. Perhaps its that I'm going on this 10 day journey during which I will have little to no contact with my parents or fiance. Perhaps I'm worried about the food - I'm a picky eater, I have a GI condition, and I'm petrified of being sick the entire trip (Because of this, I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll probably lose 10 lbs and will be surviving on dry cereal and peanut butter). Perhaps I'm afraid of flying after recent political events (namely, the death of Osama bin Laden). In an effort to combat these fears, my fiance matter-of-factly rattled off statistics about the un-likelihood of plane crashes over the phone (he left for Texas last night to visit his parents). Unfortunately, this does not help me.

In reality, I know it all boils down to the unknown. I'm stepping far out of my comfort zone and the honeymoon excitement phase is over (hopefully it will come back when we land!). Deep down, my "logical" brain knows I will be just fine and that this will be an absolutely wonderful experience - but its my "unlogical" brain that feels the stress and the desire to just stay home and sleep for two weeks after finishing our last didactic semester of PA school. Oh well, I guess. It will be an awfully big adventure.

Jessie