After a very challenging first day at the Gugulethu Community Health Clinic, three of us returned this morning with new action plans of how to find our place in this large and busy clinic. While waiting to meet with a head Sister (nurse) we experienced the phenomenom of “Africa time”. In Africa the term “now”, “now-now”, and “just now” all have very different meanings, and when the Sister said she’ll meet with us now, it really meant we had to wait fifteen minutes to talk. Waiting for the Sister, we listened to the people in the waiting room all singing in prayer together; it was a beautiful song and made us all feel hopeful for a good day.
Today we were able to observe a doctor in the HIV clinic, she explained the process of testing, referrals, and counseling for patients that come to her. We observed HIV positive patients come in for meetings with the doctor, however none of the conversations were spoken in English. The importance of paitent confidentiality was always on our minds, especially because some of these men and women have not disclosed their status with even their closest relatives and friends. The doctor spoke of the emotinoal toll of her job, and how hard it is to see younger patients and unfortunately some contemplate suicide after learning they are HIV positive. One message we took away from the clinic were the ABC’s of HIV; Abstain, Be Faithful, and Condomise.
We also spent time with other Sister’s in the tea room, which Karah learned yesterday literally meant it was a room for a tea and food break. Thanks to Ivy’s earlier Xhosa lesson, we responded “Siphilile nkosi” to the Sister’s welcoming, “Molweni! Ninjani?”. We were also made part of the group when another Sister greeted each of us with a kiss on the cheek. I left the clinic feeling that our observational role today was much more fitting, and I am hopeful that tomorrow we will again have a good experience.
We came back home to find that a very classy evening was planned for us, a picnic dinner at sunset on top of Table Mountain. We bundled up, and packed into the cable car that led us to the top of the mountain. As the name alludes to, there was no “peak” to Table Mountain, only a vast expanse of flat land at the top of the cliffs. We ate our food prepared by Ivy and watched the clouds roll in as the sun went down. We began exploring the paths for photo opportunities, and then a cloud literally surrounded us and we could not even see over the edge of the mountain it was so foggy. We descended down the cable car to get below the cloud line, and we were met with the city lights of Cape Town, which was truly breathtaking. Pictures truly do not do the view justice, but here is my attempt to capture it!
Cheers! Steph
***Due to technical difficulties the pictures aren't posted yet, but they will be soon!!
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