Horseback ride on Jeffrey's Bay

My new favorite artist

Scuba Diving Expedition

So, this morning we went out on the ocean to scuba dive.  That was a different experience, and I'll add not one of my fondest memories.  The coral and and sea creatures were beautiful, but my ears are killing me (and yes a equalized)!! It was worth it to see everything and the experience definitely, but I think I need some major practice if I decide to do it again.  I am going to go for a jog just now and later we are going to see Beauty and the Beast opera and maybe a little Christmas shopping beforehand.

Parys horse show pics

Morgan's Camera

Hello Everyone,

Sorry it's been almost a week, but good news I finally got internet on my computer so it is easier for me to update on here.  We just got back from tsitsikamma this weekend.  I will let the pictures do the talking, because I don't think words do justice!  Friday morning, Alrie and I went to Bluekrans bridge just down the road from where we are staying.  Together, we bungy jumped off the highest bridge in the world!! (and SURVIVED.  I have a DVD and pictures of it, but unfortunately it won't let me upload them.  There is a picture of the bridge as well to give you an idea of how high it actually was.  The jump was estimated to be about 160 meters.  We spent the majority of the time on the beach or taking a dip in the ocean.  We did some whale watching from our deck, and spotted several schools of them.  So, I can cross one off the big seven in Africa.  This morning we had a scuba diving lesson and hope to go out to the sea tomorrow morning to go for a dive if the wind cooperates.  The first time we practiced jumping off the boat I did a backward flip (tank, gear, and all) lol don't ask me how, but somehow I managed it.  

December 14, 2011

Today was my third day at the hospital and I have one more interview to do to complete my project! I have so much information and feel like it has been a very successful trip so far and so much more to come.  Later this afternoon we will travel to a rural community and I will observe in the hospital in that town.  We will stay until Sunday and "camp" in rural South Africa, where you do not receive cell phone reception.  I am ready to get away for a couple of days by the oceanside (and hope to come back with a good tan).  Next week, I will continue observing at St. Georges and also at a government hosptial. 

St. Georges

Today was my second day at St. Georges and a very productive one.  I spent time in both the ICU and CTCU.  The have 20 beds and I was in brain overload by the end of the day.  I completed three interviews and had wonderful discussions with a staff nurse, the nurse manager, and a registered nurse completing his honor's degree in critical care.  I have learned so much about their health care and how they adapt to the systems they have.  For instance, the staff nurse I spoke with is under the supervision of a registered nurse but still has the same responsibility.  They complete only two years, but have the oppurtunity to advance and bridge into becoming a registered nurse.  There are many options and oppurtunities similar to America only at the same time very different.  They were also very interested (and impressed might I add about the advanced knowledge of a undergrad student ;) ) about America and nursing care there. I will return tomorrow to finish up my interviews and then follow up next week to tour the hospital and tie up loose ends.  I will also be traveling to a rural hospital in a nearby community and also observe a few hours in a public government hospital in Port Elizabeth.  This is due to the arrangements by the wonderful Velleman family.  I am so blessed to know such a wonderful family. 
Today we booked a scuba dive in the ocean for Monday morning and make sure to check back Sunday for an amazing adventure update coming this weekend.  I won't tell details, because it will surely be a shocker!! All for know take care and God bless!

First Day in the Hospital!!

I FINALLY GOT TO TOUR ST GEORGES!! This was absolutely amazing this morning.  Despite the nerves before walking in ( my stomach was churning) but my nerves were quickly calmed when I was greeted by the director of nursing and the department managers.  Everyone was very accomadating and they were all excited to have me.  I spent the morning in the CCU and the afternoon in the theatre (which would be our surgery).  I have learned so much on the first day already and everyone answered any question I had.  Tomorrow I will do interviews and focus more on the CTICU nurses.  They even are going to let me observe an open heart procedure (today I was able to observe some in the surgery rooms).  The technology is quite advanced and in fact we have the same monitor systems in our ICUs in America.  The charting and patient accomadations, however, are completely different.  This is someting I took interest in.  For instance everything is open on the units (charts included)!!! I don't want to spoil my project so I won't go into detail.  Now I will write down all my observations and prepare for tomorrow's interviews! Mike, Alrie's boyfriend, is coming down from Bloem so we will spend the evening at the gym and at the local shops. 

Parys Horse Show

This weekend was our trip to the international horse show in Parys of the Free State.  This was quite a trip all together it took us 11 hours, but we broke it up to sight see a bit.  I did get to see Braveheart and meet his owner at the show.  It was so neat to watch him and it gave me goosebumps to see him move, because he did so in a way I have yet to see.  On Saturday, they had the finals and after he won they announced his retirement.  We got to see him make his last trip around the show ring dressed in the rose blanket.  It was quite a sight and a standing ovation for a magnificant horse that will go down in history (and not a dry eye). 

We stayed in a hut right outside the showgrounds.  It was quite entertaining to have all of us there.  When we brought Morgan back from the airport in Johannesburg, I joke with her and pointed to some of the farm workers huts and told her we would be staying in one.  Her look was priceless!  Then when we arrived, she was quite suprised at our accomadtions and the first thing she said was "the least they could've done was paved the road!"  our response to that was don't worry about the tribal people singing at night the fence usually keeps them out.  The irony was that the tribal people really did sing all night!
Pictures and more to come soon!
From the beautiful country of S. Africa there is truly nothing like it!
<3cass

Trip to the Free State

Today we traveled to the Free State.  South Africa is split into provinces and districts.  The provinces are like states to us, except there are nine provinces here.  I have already been lucky enough to visit three here during my stay.  It was about a seven hour trip to Bloemfontein where we are staying for the world cup.  Our drive here was breathtaking.  The landscape here is astonishing with mountains, bush, and aloe plants as common as our pine tree.  We say the kudzu which is similar to our deer in American.  We also saw baboons, monkeys, and antelope.  So wild in front of my eyes and so beautiful. 
Alrie and I chatted about the rich history of the S. African government and the past apartheid regime.  I learned so much in one day, and it is so interesting I want to learn much more.  Our drive to the free state included passing the remnants of the apartheid regime when the whites and black were segregated. It has only been since the mid 1990's they have been under democratic rule.  I can go into much greater detail but it is late and I must get to bed.  O yes and my luggage finally arrived today :)
P.s I visited the hospital today and I was quite impressed from a quick view it look pleasant

First Day in Port Elizabeth

My luggage still hasn't arrived, however, they say it will "be here" tomorrow.  Alrie's boyfriend (where we will be staying with) in Cape town is going to pick it up when it arrives.  Today was absolutely gorgeous it was 26 degrees celcius here and we spent a few hours at the beach nearby (like 10 minutes from Alrie's house).  We were also able to workout a bit, which felt wonderful.  The people here are so nice and accomadating.  They are so relaxed compared to Americans and no one is stressed, which is unheard of in America or at least to me while in nursing school lol.  There is no hustle and bustle, except for the driving.  South Africans are horrible drivers!  To add to that comment Alrie's small truck "Daisy" tried to throw me out today.  We were driving and while we turned a corner, the door swung wide open and it was absolutely hysterical because I almost fell out!To make it worse it is opposite of America. 
 I have started to pick up on the language here that is call Afrikans.  They have little sayings and it makes for a joke whenever we discover something new.  Like today while driving Alrie said I hardly ever run red robots?! aka I never run red lights.  Or going to the lou (toliet)  Tomorrow morning we are leaving for Cape town and the World Cup Equitation Show, and I am very excited to see Braveheart(the most famous Saddlebred in S. Africa).  Until then take care and God Bless!! XOXO

Destination

I finally reached my destination in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.  My phone isn't working so this and gmail is the only contact I have.  It felt so wonderful to actually shower after 2 days of traveling and it is absolutely a fantasy world here.  Absolutely breathtaking!  I cannot wait to start on our many adventures and for Morgan Cochren to get here!  More to come off to bed I am exhausted (it is 10pm here)

JNB

Hello Everyone Day 2 of traveling and I am jet lagged and grungy.  I am so ready to lie down and sleep in an actual bed rather than on an airplane.  My luggage got left in Paris (go figure), but it is on the next flight to JNB and it should arrive tomorrow.  I am flying out to Port Elizabeth (my final destination) in approximately four hours.  Short update to know that I made it and everything is good so far!  XOXO

modernized bathrooms

my plane! 

I paid 1.5 euro for this!

Lesson Learned:

Every experience provides a lesson learned.  Today while I was waiting for my flight to South Africa I dropped in on a conversation between a man discussing the culture in South Africa.  He said attitude is everything.  Many people respond negatively to a situation and this creates problems.  His advice was to remain positive and keep a peaceful outlook and I will truly enjoy my time in S. Africa.  This made me think of my experience in Paris today, because I was disappointed in the overall attitude and environment.  Wherever I turned people had a negative outlook and no one seemed to be happy.  This immediately made me feel uncomfortable and after talking with this man I realized why.

Paris

Well it's about 4:15 pm here in Paris, France and definitely disappointed in what I experienced today.  It is rainy, cold, and miserable here and the people I have been in contact with are inconsiderate.  I didn't venture far from the airport, and when I did I wasn't impressed with what I saw.  I didn't have much time or clue what was going on, so I figured I'd better stick close by and good thing I did because it only took me 2 hours to get checked back in.  I can't believe how expensive it is here I just paid close to 25 American dollars for a ham sandwich, water, and a coffee (sigh).  My flight leaves at 2320 here (in 7 hours) and in the meantime I am going to try and refresh myself and recover from the jet lag/altitude headache that is making my head throb at the moment.

Saturday December 3,2011

Hello Everyone,

I am in Detroit laid over until 9:35 eastern time and then headed to Paris, France.  I hope to go on a bus tour of the city and so some sightseeing and possibly shopping!!! It is hard to believe this is happening, because it all did so fast.  I have such wonderful support from my family and friends and without them this wouldn't have been possible.  A special thanks to Karen Parker (best faculty mentor I could ask for), a lot of tears and late nights went into this research proposal and without her guidance I simply couldn't have done it on top of a regular school workload.  It is such a relief to be done with this semester and be on my way to South Africa to do something I have only dreamed about doing!  I only have 20 minutes of wifi here at the airport so this is short but more updates to come! Take care and god bless XOXO