end of another era

On the 27th December, in little "Z.U.G" (Zuki UpGrade - my pygmy 4x4) packed full to the brim (and bearly enough space for me) I left my beautiful mountain in zululand, carrying with me fantastic memories of new friends, patients and a community.

Having completed my community service at Bethesda hospital, on the Lebombo mountains in northern KZN, I'm now a free bird. My year in Zululand, will always be a highlight in my life. I had my mountain, the sea about an hour and a bit away with unbelievable isolated beaches, 4x4ing, diving, awesome game reserves, men in khaki and a welcoming zulu community. HIV is rife, with a negative growth rate in KZN, the future of the community is dismal unless behaviours start changing. I was privileged to meet and learn from some amazing people working for the community. The community itself was appreciative, and hearing "sawubona dokotela" whenever I walked into the spar in Mkuze gave me goose bumps and warm fuzzy feelings inside.

The concern about picking up bad habits clinically (..mmmm and probably socially when there is a cricket club in the local town) is valid at rural hospitals, where supervision is limited and seniors are decidedly dodgy, learning has to be through mistakes and thats if you're critical of yourself enough to pick up on them. Although, I feel I may have fallen back a bit academically, with the patient load you're forced to make decisions and act promptly(especially when its the wrong decision!). As much of a cliche that it is, my comm serv year was a character building expericence and one I am grateful for. ( and I think I may be a bushcat)

So now I'm off for 3and 1/2 months to tickle my feet in South America. Travelling with my old friend Gayle, who I'll be meeting up with in Buenos Aires on Tuesday 16 Jan. The plan at the moment is to spend a few days in Buenos Aires (learn to tango), head a bit down the coast and then spend a week with a spanish family and go to spanish lessons in Bariloche, in the lake district in the Andes. After that we'll head down to Patagonia, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador - the plans of which we'll make up as we go.

Rural communities also have their humour, have a look at the photos...when I work out how to do that!!

Here's the link http://picasaweb.google.com/nicky.bretherick/AmusingAfrica