Why Africa?

I had a chance to eat that final delicious Indian meal with the family (in Fremont, of course), prior to taking off. "Why are you going to Africa?" my 16 year old cousin asked. 

        "To save the starving children," I responded. Just kidding. So on my 24 hour journey, I have been simmering over how I landed up en route to Ghana for 3.5 months.

My first trip to Gujarat, India wet my travel palate. I realized how much I would like to do, how limited my capacity as a premed student was and how tranquil a life away from the bustle of everyday life in the US could be. 

I saw the opening for potential travel, unpaid, abroad this year. Afterall, I am not locked into a relationship and do not have children...so seize the opportunity. Monisha is my primary motivator to travel to an African nation: "You can come to India anytime," she said, "but when are you going to have the time and energy to see Africa for an extended period of time." 

She (as always :) was right. Little did I know that my younger brother, Munish, would beat me to it and make it out to South Africa this summer. "What is with Africa? Why is everyone going to Africa?" my mom remarked.

She wasn't incorrect, as my brother's girlfriend, Andrea had been out here the summer previous to him. How grateful I am for that as she has made my transition into Ghana a very smooth one: "We have a package for you Miss Puri," I was greeted by the hotel host. 

Wow! Who travels to Ghana and has a package waiting for them?

I think I imagined myself just stepping off a plane with a stethoscope draped over my shoulder. "Thank God I am finally a doctor. For sure I will be in high demand!" I would think. As any great adventure, that statement proved to be of utter ignorance and over confidence. Finding a well structured, non-religious, medical project in an African country proved much harder than initially anticipated. 

However, I am grateful to have landed with Foundation Human Nature . This organization funds and runs two clinics: one in Ecuador and one in rural Ghana. They picked up this clinic, as it was not being efficiently run before, about 5 years back. They have since educated and trained a lot of the full time staff and created a solid structure to provide health care and education to the surrounding 8000 villagers in the Ashante region of Ghana (about 5 hours north of Accra, the capital). 

I have yet to arrive, but I came prepared to sit, to listen, to observe prior to working (much easier said than done for me). I have come prepared to study those foreign diseases we just don't see in the US. Lastly I have come prepared to occupy my time without the benefit of the TV, friends to go out with on a whim and, my greatest addiction, the internet!

I hope to see and learn interesting things and keep you posted as I go every couple of weeks. I so appreciate you reading my blog as it is so meaningful to make this connection with so many out there!

       To great adventures, new experiences and meeting new people! Mona-Varsh