Patrick's drive to be the best he can be

Best week yet/ possibly ever, and it didn’t really even include the first half of the week. The clinic oddly was not that busy this week, so I got to do some homework in between my patients. But I did get to remove some sutures and staples, do a couple burn dressings on kids, and learned how to give the oxygen mask to patients.  

On Tuesday night, we watched an interesting video (Mickey Mouse Monopoly) in Marita’s class on the race and sex behind most older Disney movies. It was very eye-opening, especially the conversation about how they affected some kids in our class’ lives growing up. I know I hardly talk about the classes, but I think it’s mostly because I have all these ideas being absorbed in but my brain moves way too fast to write them all down. But we have watched many films and had many discussions that have inspired me to think about a minor or possible double major in human rights. I know it would really make me a better/ more well-rounded person because I heard all of the UConn human rights teachers are amazing. I’m nervous, excited, and inspired to make this change at UConn.

Now for the weekend. After internship on Wednesday I got to go running with one of my coworkers and Kelsey. It was nice how she just invited us along with this big group of South African runners because we had mentioned once how we liked running. Then Thursday after class, 23 of us piled into a bus driven by Rashaad, one of our Orientation Drivers, and headed to Plettenburg Bay for the weekend. Shoutout to Melissa for organizing the whole trip because it was probably the best weekend of my life. We drove a lot on Thursday and got to our first hostel in the middle of no where. It turned out to be a  beautiful resort with double rooms and private bathrooms. Carl and I shared a house with Allie and Anna which was going to be good practice for when we EuroTrip together in two weeks! We only really slept there but the complex was immaculate.

We woke up the next morning and traveled to Outdshoorn where we went spelunking! Spelunking is another work for crawling through these huge old caves. The cave had a glow about it that made the whole thing very worthwhile. After about 90 minutes of adventure spelunking, we all go on the bus, stopped for lunch, and traveled to Knysna Elephant Reserve. We got to feed and play with elephants for an hour. Some people were scared but we all were relatively comfortable with them by the end. That night we went to a place called Mo’s for dinner. The food was really good and so was the live music. We stayed out late after dinner and listened to the music for a few hours. I feel like the guitarist knew we were American because he was playing Snow Patrol, Tom Petty, and ‘Sweet Home Alabama’. ‘Summer of 69’ came on and I remember the look on everyone’s faces as we thought about the lyrics ‘those were the best days of my life’. I love everyone so much and don’t want to leave at all.

After a fun night of hanging out with everyone, I woke up and did one of the best things i've ever done. I went skydiving! Someone’s alarm went off at 0545 that morning to shower and I was so uneasy I couldn’t fall back asleep until my alarm went off at 0630. Avery, Anna, and I got dropped off at the airport a little early and we just waited anxiously until people who worked there showed up. We were all honestly so nervous. Anna had decided the night before that she had wanted to do it so she was extra nervous but I give her credit for doing it. Anna and Avery went up in the plane together and came down together. They both absolutely loved it and were screaming about how awesome it was which didn’t make me any less nervous. I went after them and was shaking I was so scared. We got to 10,000 feet, the door opened, and the two instructors before me jumped. My turn came and my instructor was walking me back because I couldn’t do it myself. I put my feet on the wheel and jumped. I was in such an awe at where I was I think I blacked out for a second. He pulled the parachute after 33 seconds of going 209 km an hour and gave me the cords to steer where the parachute was going. It was a beautiful day so the view was perfect. We reached the ground and I started shaking really bad because I couldn’t believe I did it. I’m so glad I got to share this experience with Avery and Anna because they were so supportive and awesome the entire time.

Anna & Patrick at Skydiving adventure

The last thing I want to talk about was the talk Anna, Avery, and I had after our session. We were talking about how cool our lives were and how fast time moves. I remember Anna said ‘this very moment as I’m saying this will be a memory soon’. It really hit me how this whole trip, my entire college experience, my entire career will one day be a memory, so what is the point of wasting it by not improving yourself? I did something that day that made me get over a fear and made me a well-rounded person. Each day here and back home is so important the person I am and will be. It’s hard because  we will not remember the majority of the days of our lives here or in general. Making each day count for all its worth may sound corny, but it’s the only power each individual person really has. That could include giving back, appreciating time with good friends, doing something you never thought you would do, or just appreciating each day you’re given. This country, these people, and this atmosphere have given me such drive to be the best person I can each and every day. 

Patrick, Avery & Anna in front

Patrick loving his work and feeling at home in Cape Town

Monday through Wednesday at work were pretty normal days. But even a normal day at Tafelsig is far superior than a great day at any other job. I remember Marita saying “once you find your passion you’ll never work a day in your life”. I know I’ve only been there for about three months but I have yet to get sick of it and I know for sure I want to be a medical officer. What kind of medical officer I still do not know. But this trip has taught me so much about who I was going to be and now what type of person I want to be. Ive learned that it’s ok to take time off and do other things. I was going to go immediately to PA school after college, find a job, settle down probably in New England. There’s nothing wrong with that but that’s not the person who I am anymore. I want to travel the world after my undergrad, maybe join the UN paramedics program, maybe teach English in Thailand or another African country for a semester or more. This trip has mainly taught me that its ok to live my life however I want to do so. I love you parents and sister, and I am so grateful for this experience, but I don’t feel like you’re going to be happy to hear I want to spend a bunch of my time over the next years traveling the world. I could very well end up in the US, maybe even CT, but I don’t want to resent my parents or myself for not taking these opportunities when I can. And for that reason, I am going to Europe when I leave here! For two weeks, I’m traveling London, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, and Dublin. I’m really excited to go to all those places but I don’t want to leave here at all. I don’t even want to go to Johannesburg for a week because I know I’ll miss this place so much. But life is about experiencing new things, and so I’ll have a good time and hopefully realize how home-like this place is.

Patrick contemplating his future while enjoying the present

Our last day before Johannesburg was Good Friday. I had a nice morning of running and going to Church. That night we had a dinner for Vernon. All of us worked on a dish to prepare for him. It was really nice because I feel like everyone was genuinely happy to work together. We’ve all had some problems with each other but for the most part we all really love each other. And although I’m not that excited to go to Jo’burg, I’m excited to share this experience with all my friends. 

Patrick's amazing and completely full week

You can’t have a non-insane week in South Africa. Monday through Wednesday at Tafelsig was crazy as always. On Wednesday, I even helped save a life! This man came into the clinic and immediately collapsed on the floor. It turned out he was an epileptic who was mixing alcohol with his medication. He was having terrible fits for almost an hour and a half, seizing so bad that he was smashing his head into the floor. The nurses and I had to wrestle with this man so that he would not hurt himself or anyone else. It made me think about how the clinic really does not have any bigger stronger employees to hold anyone down. On the chance that two people came into the clinic having seizures, what would happen? Would the other be left to die? It’s a sick reality that epileptic people in Tafelsig have to deal with, hoping they are the only ones to be having trouble that day. Anyway, he was seizing terribly and the nurses had given him a pill which he almost threw up, an injection which took a while to work so they were going to start with an IV. They had pricked him probably seven times, but the vein would blow every time and he wasn’t getting the effect of the IV. I had found a vein in a place the nurses hadn’t looked, so I informed them and they told me I could try. I was so nervous because I had never been in this position before. My heart racing, I administered the needle, and it immediately filled with blood meaning I had hit a vein! I attached the drip, taped it down, and he started to calm down. I was probably freaking out more than him at this point. I was so excited and proud of myself. Apparently now he is still in the hospital but in stable condition. I don’t think he’ll ever realize the impact he had on me.

We also didn’t have class this week because it was human rights day so that was cool. But the day itself started off rough. We got to the school and discovered that all of our paint and most of our supplies were stolen. I was pretty upset all day because now we had to start going into our own pockets to buy new supplies. The taxi ride over is only 12 rand but it all adds up really quickly. I hadn’t started feeling better until we got to the Eastern Food Bazaar that afternoon, and that was just because the food was so good. We even got to go to the Casinos that night for my ‘fake bachelor party’. Yes, Morgan and I got fake married here. We had the ceremony at the house, where Anna was the minister, Aimee was the ring bearer, and JR was the flower girl. Lindsay, Brianna, Ethan and I also sang. It was just because we wanted to do something together, and that we did. Almost everyone came, and even some of our South African friends joined as well to celebrate our fake marriage. Usually I would be really uncomfortable with this type of thing, but it was just a stupid event which everyone turned out to love. We also went to a karaoke night after the wedding which was crazy, stupid and fun.

The next day Allie, Anna, Liz, Kelsey and I went to Nyanga with Allie’s dad who came to visit. Allie’s dad drove, and we ended up getting lost in Guguletu, the township connected to Nyanga. He was actually getting really antsy when we were in the car, while we were all just hanging out enjoying the view. Cape Town has such a relaxed environment that we have gotten used to and so it was weird having a little part of the fast pace of the US back in our lives. That day was awesome though because we got to finish almost all of the painting. We completed the walls with our new paint and started to lay the first couple coats of our quotes on the walls. I even dedicated part of the big wall to the Sandy Hook school shootings. The quote read ‘We Should Meet in Another Life We Should Meet in the Air Me and You 14 December 2013’ and was in green and white, the Sandy Hook school colors. It was an awesome way to tribute the victims and their families and I was so happy to be a part of it.

Patrick painting a message in memory of those killed in Sandy Hook School 12/14/12

That night was the soccer game. There aren’t words in any language that could describe how much fun and how exciting that was. It was a FIFA qualifying match in the 2010 World Cup stadium. The South African national team Bafana Bafana played Central Africa Republic’s national team and won! We had our flag, faces painted, fresh jerseys, and vuvuzelas. We went absolutely nuts every time Bafana Bafana scored.

Jerard, Janiel, Allie, Ethan, Carl Patrick, Sharon and Anna ready for the Bafana, Bafana Game

My ears were still ringing the next morning when I woke up but I powered on and went to Mzolis’. It had amazing piles of meat. We only had to wait 2 hours for our food which wasn’t too bad because in the mean time we all were dancing and having fun. After Mzolis’, some of my friends and I went to the prep school down the road to play soccer. We met some highschool African kids who absolutely destroyed us.

Overall the week was amazing and completely full. I also remember Morgan said on our way home from the karaoke night, “Everyone we will never have this moment back and never be together like this again!” That really resonated with me and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. It gave me such a different perspective and I really appreciate Morgan for it. It has been almost two and a half months and has felt like one day. Mom and Dad, I really miss you, but I really, really love it here.

Patrick filling up every minute of his time here

First of all, what/ how. How has it already been nine weeks? I remember like it was yesterday when my mom texted me saying “one week down, a lot more to go!”, and it has been eight weeks since then. I love and miss my parents but it is insane how not homesick I have been. Maybe it’s because I’m so distracted all the time but I’m also so happy to be here and don’t want to go home at all.

Monday through Wednesday this week at the clinic was interesting. I have gotten to do so much hands-on work there. The sisters, or nurses, leave me alone all the time to do bandaging by myself. It’s really awesome how much I get to see/do. On Tuesday, the 3 women left me alone all day to go to a Gender Based Violence Workshop. It was definitely an experience to have them gone that day, and I have such a greater appreciation of having friends with me at work. Also being the only white person in a room full of 500 was definitely interesting to say the least. Thursday after class, me Avery, and Allie stayed around UCT to play soccer for a couple hours. It was extremely hot that day so we didn’t last as long as we wanted to but it was a nice time because we got to distress and talk.

Patrick & Allie painting what will become the schools first ever library

The next day Allie, Anna, and I got up early and went to the paint store for Books For Nyanga. We chose the aptly titled ‘hope’ (peach) and another green color. After, we went directly to the school to see the job the carpenter did on the shelves for the books. We paid him a lot of rand so we were hoping it was going to be worth it; and it definitely was. All of the chairs and desks that were piled high to the ceiling were moved out. The broken down piano was thrown out and the shelves were varnished and nailed down. After a quick rejoice we started working on the walls. By the end of the day we had taken down everything that was unnecessary/broken down from the walls and fixed all of the scratches, and laid a first coat of paint on most of the walls. We were exhausted by 6:00 P.M. so we came back and ended up getting some incredible news: our story was about to be aired on NBC Connecticut! Completely unexpected, we all had to do a Skype interview to an NBC correspondent which she used portions of for an online article and a live newscast. It was so cool to be able to know we got the word out and how great this project could actually become. While talking about this I want to bring up a point that was reiterated in the online article. Allie, Anna, and I do not want this to be about us. We don’t want to set any precedent for any future UConn students to beat or match. We hope this happens but we definitely don’t want anyone on this trip or in the future to feel inadequate because all we really did was come up with an idea, send out a couple of Facebook messages, and do the work. But that being said, the idea was not hard and if we all actually wanted to give kids better lives here in South Africa and make them pass their exams we definitely could.

Another reason I believe Friday was probably my best day here was that night. My roommate Carl’s birthday was Friday so all 29 of us decided to go to Mama Afrika’s for dinner which is a restaurant and bar that features live music and classic African food. Unbelievable. Not only was the food amazing, but the African instruments and dancers were awesome to watch, listen and dance to. I even ended up playing on of the drums for a while! After, we went home and went swimming even though it was raining. I literally love it here. Every day is so awesome and jam-packed. Even though I know I’m spending a lot of money, it’s completely worth it and the best possible thing I could spend my money on. When I get back to the states, what am I going to be spending my money on anyway?

Obviously woke up to another awesome day on Saturday to the aquarium in the morning, a braai at a friend of Vernon’s house in the afternoon, and Carnivale at night. Carnivale was this big parade with these elaborate and colorful floats. They even had this concert right next to the parade which was awesome as well. I feel like I keep using the same descriptive words over and over again but there really isn’t a way to express on paper how happy I am all the time here.  You really have to come here to get the full experience and understand what I’m talking about.

The next day I woke up to a St. Patricks’ Day celebration at church, and then lunch at a pub in the city. After that I went home, exercised with some friends, and went to dinner at Marita’s flat. Marita was obviously so welcoming and was nice enough to offer Allie, Anna, and I dinner while we talked about our project. After a poor week last week, I’m happy to say I’m all better. Again, I’m very thankful to Marita and my classmates for making me feel so much better.

Patrick painfully aware of his privilege

I finally had a hard week in Cape Town. I thought I was getting sick last week, and it ended up occurring in the form of a very painful mouth ulcer that made me stay home from work all week. I got to go to the doctor’s office on Monday which was kind of enlightening. It was in this nice house in the beautiful town of Claremont. The nice couches in the waiting area, the big room where the doctor worked, and the happy and overall clean staff drew almost polar opposites to the way that Tafelsig treats patients. 

Basically what happens is that patients at Tafelsig line up at 5:30AM every morning to get a good spot in line where they will then wait another several hours to be seen by a nurse or doctor. They wait this long only to be told they need to be referred or that the pharmacy doesn’t have what they need in stock. It’s a hard reality that these people need to face if they ever get sick at all so I definitely felt bad that I was receiving all of this private nice treatment. As stated in previous blog posts, I have felt guilty about everything I have been given. My parents tell me all the time how I shouldn’t feel bad about something I was born into. But nothing anyone can tell me can change the way I feel, so I wasn’t particularly happy that I got this special treatment. I did nothing to earn it, and this population of one million people living in Tafelsig did nothing to deserve what their lives have given them.

Regardless of all my conflicting thoughts, I would like to thank my housemates in this blog post because they had been so nice to me all week. I couldn’t talk, laugh, and could barely eat but they were so nice about leaving me alone when I needed to sleep or it was hurting very badly.

When I finally started to feel better, Anna, Allie, Liz and I went to our activist project in Nyanga to start painting the room. We also met with the carpenter where we discussed what he would be doing with the room. By the time we go to Nyanga this upcoming Friday, the room hopefully should be cleared of everything but the shelves and they will all be newly sanded and varnished. This statement is very hopeful. I just want this to go so well. I really don’t want this to be about me or the other UConn students helping out but about the kids of Sithembele Matiso and what they have a right to.

The rest of the weekend was fun as well. After going back to the school on Saturday to finish up what we hadn’t on Friday, a bunch of my friends and I had decided to go to a Korean Barbeque restaurant which was unbelievable. I don’t think anyone realized how much this had affected me. Not only was the food amazing, but I got to experience yet another culture within South Africa. The lifestyle of South Africa is awesome and fascinating, but the fact that they have such a distinct culture that doesn’t deter as a result of other countries’ influence is awesome.

That Sunday we also went to the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen. The beach is called Camps Bay. It took a while to get there but was definitely worth it. After a fun minibus taxi ride with great music, we were there playing soccer with some local African kids and watching the Cape Argus Cycle Tour. This is a 110-km bike race that is named as one of the most scenic bike routes in the world. I had a great time hanging out with new friends and just relaxing for a day. I even won a cooler from a random prize drawing at the restaurant we went to for lunch.

This week started off really terrible and ended on a pretty good note. Now I just hope my mouth is actually healing..