I've never been happier to sit in an airport.
Normally, I find airports extremely unpleasant and stressful as I awkwardly juggle multiple bags, make sure I didn't forget anything, navigate through crowds of people while trying to locate the correct gate and then sit and wait for what seems like an eternity before finally boarding the plane.
However, as I sit at Gate B29 in JFK Airport, I am grateful that the only thing I can do at the given moment is to sit (instead checking email or Facebooking since JFK charges for wifi) and think. Between studying for 8 (or was it 9? I've lost track) finals and having my computer crash before the last one, moving out of my apartment and packing for a 2 month trip, I'm not exaggerating when I say I literally have not had a single moment to contemplate the journey that I am about to embark upon.
As many of you know, I will be completing a nine-week internship in a small animal clinic in Gaborone, Botswana with Allie, one of my classmates from Penn Vet. I was fortunate enough to visit Botswana while on safari with my dad last summer. Though our stay in the country was brief, I was immediately impressed by the diverse wildlife and the kindness and hospitality of Batswana (the local term for citizens of Botswana).
I hope that this summer will afford me the opportunity to learn even more about the culture and customs as well as form personal relationships with some of the people I meet over the next few months. I anticipate seeing many interesting cases at the small animal clinic and applying some of what I learned during the first quarter of my veterinary school education (assuming my hippocampus was able to store it all). I look forward to witnessing first hand how animals are treated and how veterinary medicine is practiced in Botswana compared to in the US.
However, I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. First and foremost, as I trade in my lecture notes and textbooks for my lightly-used stethoscope and scrubs, I am concerned that my clinical skills will not be up to par, that I won't be able to contribute, that I will not be able to learn due to communication or cultural barriers.
I am bracing myself for a bit of culture shock. I've already experienced withdrawal symptoms after giving up my iPhone in favor of my old LG Xenon. Literally overnight, summer weather will have turned to winter weather. I will have gone from living in a city of 2 million people to a country of 2 million people, from basically blending in to sticking out like a sore thumb. After having lectures and labs scheduled for me from 9am to 5pm everyday, I will certainly need to adjust to things being done on a less strict schedule, on "Africa time." Finally, I will have to acclimate myself to the sound of English interspersed with Setswana (hopefully you understand the title of the blog now) and other local dialects.
Keeping in mind and heart the words of wisdom given to me by my family, friends and boyfriend, Eitan, it is with an open mind and positive attitude that I hope to start my 9 week crash course in Vetswana.
Normally, I find airports extremely unpleasant and stressful as I awkwardly juggle multiple bags, make sure I didn't forget anything, navigate through crowds of people while trying to locate the correct gate and then sit and wait for what seems like an eternity before finally boarding the plane.
However, as I sit at Gate B29 in JFK Airport, I am grateful that the only thing I can do at the given moment is to sit (instead checking email or Facebooking since JFK charges for wifi) and think. Between studying for 8 (or was it 9? I've lost track) finals and having my computer crash before the last one, moving out of my apartment and packing for a 2 month trip, I'm not exaggerating when I say I literally have not had a single moment to contemplate the journey that I am about to embark upon.
As many of you know, I will be completing a nine-week internship in a small animal clinic in Gaborone, Botswana with Allie, one of my classmates from Penn Vet. I was fortunate enough to visit Botswana while on safari with my dad last summer. Though our stay in the country was brief, I was immediately impressed by the diverse wildlife and the kindness and hospitality of Batswana (the local term for citizens of Botswana).
I hope that this summer will afford me the opportunity to learn even more about the culture and customs as well as form personal relationships with some of the people I meet over the next few months. I anticipate seeing many interesting cases at the small animal clinic and applying some of what I learned during the first quarter of my veterinary school education (assuming my hippocampus was able to store it all). I look forward to witnessing first hand how animals are treated and how veterinary medicine is practiced in Botswana compared to in the US.
However, I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. First and foremost, as I trade in my lecture notes and textbooks for my lightly-used stethoscope and scrubs, I am concerned that my clinical skills will not be up to par, that I won't be able to contribute, that I will not be able to learn due to communication or cultural barriers.
I am bracing myself for a bit of culture shock. I've already experienced withdrawal symptoms after giving up my iPhone in favor of my old LG Xenon. Literally overnight, summer weather will have turned to winter weather. I will have gone from living in a city of 2 million people to a country of 2 million people, from basically blending in to sticking out like a sore thumb. After having lectures and labs scheduled for me from 9am to 5pm everyday, I will certainly need to adjust to things being done on a less strict schedule, on "Africa time." Finally, I will have to acclimate myself to the sound of English interspersed with Setswana (hopefully you understand the title of the blog now) and other local dialects.
Keeping in mind and heart the words of wisdom given to me by my family, friends and boyfriend, Eitan, it is with an open mind and positive attitude that I hope to start my 9 week crash course in Vetswana.
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| Plane to Johannesberg |
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| Allie practicing surgical knots in JFK |
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