Today is the student's last night at TCDC. Tomorrow is Switch Day, when the students leave TCDC and move to new residences closer to their hospitals. Ash and I gave the students pre-briefings on their hospitals to prepare them as much as possible for what they should expect on their first day. Most of the pre-briefings went well except for a group who had their hospital assignment switched with another. One of the groups was not happy with the switch and took it hard. However, the decision was well thought out and done in the best interest of the students and the hospital based on the students' experience, hospital resources, and team dynamic. I hope they eventually come to realize that the decision was for the best and learn to love their new hospital.
Now before I go into the logistics of switch day, I've included a map of the hospitals for reference:
View EWH Hospitals in a larger map
*NOTE: zoom out and scroll around, there are 12 hospitals total
It's been difficult organizing the cars to drop students off at their hospitals. In the past years there was only one bus to Arusha and two cars to Moshi (one for Machame, KCMC/Mawenzi, and Kibosho hospitals and another for Marangu/Hurma). However, as you can see from the map, Karatu is so far away and this year the roads are in very poor shape with may off-road detours due to construction. The trip to Karatu hospital would take the students 4 hours. Originally we did not plan for a TCDC car to drop off the students at Karatu. Instead, they would need to take public transport from Arusha. We decided this was bad idea because it would not only be the students' first time traveling alone but they will also have all their luggage with them and travel to a far away town that they have never been too. Ash and I were unwilling to put the students into such an situation.
Instead, we will have the bus go to Moshi and take two cars into Arusha. One of those land cruisers will take the students all the way to Karatu directly. Unfortunately with out budget and time limitations, Marangu and Huruma students will now need to take public transportation from Moshi town. Even though the Marangu/Huruma area is new to the students, the roads to their hospitals are very smooth and safe. I will be going with them to ensure that they get dropped off safely and with all of their luggage. I think the best thing to do would be to buy out an entire NOAH for us and all the students' luggage.
It's been a long day and tomorrow will be longer due to traveling. It was nice to wind down with some ice cream. For those who don't know, Neopolitan ice cream is my favorite. I was so confused and disappointed when I opened up this tub to find only chocolate...Oh well, still good.
Instead of squirrels, Africa has monkeys and they happen to be all over TCDC. These are Vervet Monkeys, also known as Blue Balled Monkeys. I'm sure you're wondering why they have that nickname, right? Well, they do in fact have bright blue testicles.
While this picture is mildly inappropriate, I'm including it because my boyfriend does not believe these monkeys really have blue balls. Exhibit A for you're enjoyment. You're welcome, Ryan.
For dinner we went out to eat at a restaurant just down the road from TCDC. Again Mt. Meru was looking beautiful on our walk over. I hope you won't get tired of all my mountain pictures, but mountains have always fascinated me. Some of the EWH students plan to climb Mt. Meru from August 2nd to the 4th. They kindly invited me to join their climb since it has been on my bucket list for a while now. It costs $495 each for our group of 10 or 11 to climb. This does not include the cost of equipment I need to rent (which is everything other than a backpack) or a tip for our guides. Worth it?
I was very impressed with the restaurant when we arrived. It was a nice, clean place with reasonable prices. Apparently is only opened its doors recently! Mama Gaude (my home-stay mother and swahili teacher from last year) treated me and Ash (and her son) to dinner since it was the end of the first half of the EWH program.
I guess since I'm American, they recommended I get a burger. I just went for it and it was actually pretty good!
Thanks for reading!
Now before I go into the logistics of switch day, I've included a map of the hospitals for reference:
*NOTE: zoom out and scroll around, there are 12 hospitals total
It's been difficult organizing the cars to drop students off at their hospitals. In the past years there was only one bus to Arusha and two cars to Moshi (one for Machame, KCMC/Mawenzi, and Kibosho hospitals and another for Marangu/Hurma). However, as you can see from the map, Karatu is so far away and this year the roads are in very poor shape with may off-road detours due to construction. The trip to Karatu hospital would take the students 4 hours. Originally we did not plan for a TCDC car to drop off the students at Karatu. Instead, they would need to take public transport from Arusha. We decided this was bad idea because it would not only be the students' first time traveling alone but they will also have all their luggage with them and travel to a far away town that they have never been too. Ash and I were unwilling to put the students into such an situation.
Instead, we will have the bus go to Moshi and take two cars into Arusha. One of those land cruisers will take the students all the way to Karatu directly. Unfortunately with out budget and time limitations, Marangu and Huruma students will now need to take public transportation from Moshi town. Even though the Marangu/Huruma area is new to the students, the roads to their hospitals are very smooth and safe. I will be going with them to ensure that they get dropped off safely and with all of their luggage. I think the best thing to do would be to buy out an entire NOAH for us and all the students' luggage.
It's been a long day and tomorrow will be longer due to traveling. It was nice to wind down with some ice cream. For those who don't know, Neopolitan ice cream is my favorite. I was so confused and disappointed when I opened up this tub to find only chocolate...Oh well, still good.
Instead of squirrels, Africa has monkeys and they happen to be all over TCDC. These are Vervet Monkeys, also known as Blue Balled Monkeys. I'm sure you're wondering why they have that nickname, right? Well, they do in fact have bright blue testicles.
While this picture is mildly inappropriate, I'm including it because my boyfriend does not believe these monkeys really have blue balls. Exhibit A for you're enjoyment. You're welcome, Ryan.
For dinner we went out to eat at a restaurant just down the road from TCDC. Again Mt. Meru was looking beautiful on our walk over. I hope you won't get tired of all my mountain pictures, but mountains have always fascinated me. Some of the EWH students plan to climb Mt. Meru from August 2nd to the 4th. They kindly invited me to join their climb since it has been on my bucket list for a while now. It costs $495 each for our group of 10 or 11 to climb. This does not include the cost of equipment I need to rent (which is everything other than a backpack) or a tip for our guides. Worth it?
I was very impressed with the restaurant when we arrived. It was a nice, clean place with reasonable prices. Apparently is only opened its doors recently! Mama Gaude (my home-stay mother and swahili teacher from last year) treated me and Ash (and her son) to dinner since it was the end of the first half of the EWH program.
I guess since I'm American, they recommended I get a burger. I just went for it and it was actually pretty good!
Thanks for reading!
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