Tanzania in a month!
This is the initial post for the Tenth Annual Shoulder to Shoulder sponsored Ilula Lutheran Hospital (ILH) Winter Rotation (2020).
In this space you will see essays written by our Travelers, Learners and Faculty. The writing will be reflections on the experience - perhaps there will be guests. At least I hope friends and relatives will chime in and think about what we are experiencing. For some of us, me included this will be multifaceted - a pilgrimage, a chance to visit longtime friends in Ilula and Iringa and, of course, an incredible opportunity to learn and perhaps teach.
We are always a bit wary to make sure we are doing more good than harm while we are on the ILH campus and elsewhere.
As wazungu (white people) we often blunder culturally. The best we can hope to do is to be genuinely curious and humble. This is not always easy to do when we see things that are so different from what we are used to, e.g. medically.
I invite you as readers to offer your thoughts, concerns, comments, and of course prayers in this blog, no matter what your faith choices are.
Sincerely,
Ken
In this space you will see essays written by our Travelers, Learners and Faculty. The writing will be reflections on the experience - perhaps there will be guests. At least I hope friends and relatives will chime in and think about what we are experiencing. For some of us, me included this will be multifaceted - a pilgrimage, a chance to visit longtime friends in Ilula and Iringa and, of course, an incredible opportunity to learn and perhaps teach.
We are always a bit wary to make sure we are doing more good than harm while we are on the ILH campus and elsewhere.
As wazungu (white people) we often blunder culturally. The best we can hope to do is to be genuinely curious and humble. This is not always easy to do when we see things that are so different from what we are used to, e.g. medically.
I invite you as readers to offer your thoughts, concerns, comments, and of course prayers in this blog, no matter what your faith choices are.
Sincerely,
Ken
I am looking forward to this experience in global health.
ReplyDeleteI am also excited to be part of the Days for Girls project here in Eagan, MN producing the kits for menstrual hygiene to allow adolescent girls to manage their menses and avoid missing school! We will be bringing a suitcase full of these reusable products. I have gone through the Days for Girls training to be able to educate girls and women to use and care for these kits. In addition, the Days for Girls education materials review basic female and male anatomy, the hormone cycle of menstruation, sexuality, fertility, STDs, and personal safety and respect.
Jeanne
Hello fellow travelers and friends!
ReplyDeleteI am a social work faculty member at Metropolitan State University and am excited to we begin this experience. I'm grateful to be traveling with the Shoulder to Shoulder group this January as I develop relationships, learn abut the work at Ilula, Days for Girls and other programs. Asante sana to the group for welcoming me. I am planning for a sabbatical in January 2021 when I hope for an extended stay in Iringa.
I have learned that relationships are key to meaningful connection and work together, along with a large dose of cultural humility. This is a lifelong learning process for me and I'm hoping to strengthen this on our trip.
Mambo to all and Karibu!
ReplyDeleteI was a nursing faculty member at Normandale Community College for 12 years until May 2019, when I retired. I also worked with Allina Home Health care part time until September, 2019. My husband and I moved shortly after that to North Carolina to be closer to most of our kids and grandkids. We are enjoying the HUGE change in temperature here!
I am very excited to have the opportunity to travel with Bega Kwa Bega to Ilula for the second time. The first time was winter 2018. I am looking forward to reconnecting with friends I made there and to making new friends. The warm welcome we received the first time I visited made that very easy. I agree wholeheartedly with Ellen (above) about relationships and how developing them while working together and relaxing together alongside people of another culture and belief system results in rich and meaningful connections that live on in you for a long time. I learned a lot about myself in the process....yes even at my age!
I look forward to meeting you all in DAR as I am arriving there a few days earlier to visit my daughter Jenny and her family prior to the group's arrival.
Safe travels!