May 2012
14 posts
“Life always creates difficulties. You must move forward and not be afraid to make mistakes. But don’t allow mistakes to go on too long. And don’t cover up the difficulties…”
—Uncle Ho
“On this Mother’s Day, let’s remember that 1,000 women still tragically die every day in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications that are preventable with skilled clinicians, drugs and equipment. Maternal death is an ongoing crisis, but it is an avoidable crisis and it deserves our attention.”
—Kara Blackburn, from Brisbane, Australia, is a registered nurse/midwife who joined Doctors Without Borders in 2006. She has practiced midwifery for 14 years. In her current role as medical advisor for women’s health, based in Sydney, Blackburn supports a number of Doctors Without Borders women’s health projects globally.
Read the rest of her article from WomensENews.org (via doctorswithoutborders)
Read the rest of her article from WomensENews.org (via doctorswithoutborders)
"What's it like to be back in civilization?"
One of the many questions I was asked at my first family dinner since being home. That, alongside “so, tell me what cocker spaniel and poodle taste like” warranted the most awkward smiles and laughs (and fortunately, my dad reminding my uncle that I am a vegetarian and therefore evading the question all together).
I’m lucky that few members of my family are as ignorant as this particular member, but that says little about the remainder of people I might and will interact with on a daily basis.
Being back in Canada for almost two weeks now, I have had the pleasure of being cooped up with the craziest, loudest, and most amazing people in the world - my fellow INDEVOURS. My first week with solely the 2012 class and the second week with both the 2012 and 2013 class, I was surrounded with like-minded people with similar experiences and excitement.
It was the easiest reverse culture shock that I’ve ever experienced* or so I thought. However, after a meal with a few of my cousins, aunts, and uncles, I soon realized that the world is not similarly comprised of these fantastic people who have wonderfully blockaded me from the rest of the world since being back in Canada. Whereas I’ve gotten used to driving again, can sleep on my bed, and have not yet yelled “em oi” to get someone’s attention, one of my biggest hindrances will be how to cope and [politely] answer or respond to people who I’d rather just punch in the face.
Living in Toronto again, I am hoping that the next few months aren’t filled with my crossing paths with ignorant individuals (or me punching them in the face). However, I am prepared to surround myself with the amazing people who supported me for not only the last two weeks but the last four years if that happens to be the case.
*After coming back from MEI I sat on my bed crying because my room was white and I had a closet I could put things in, rather than my suitcase.
