Honestly, you never know what can happen. You may triage kids using a Clorox Wipes Canister as your desk, water may run out, or your truck may catch a flat and your team has to trek up a mountain with all your water and supplies to successfully open your clinic for the day.
Regardless, if you stay open, positive, and flexible you can make it through anything! Being in impoverished countries things are going to be completely different than what you’re used to but embracing and adapting is what your already good at as a travel nurse so use it to your advantage. Keep Calm and Nurse On!
• You Cannot Over-pack
Coming from the Queen of “Oh crap I forgot that” – I’m notorious for having to pray someone brought extras. So don’t be like me, prepare and pack accordingly. You have to remember most of the time what you use at home is not available in these countries, so if you need it you should bring it. Sunscreen, clothes, medicines, snacks, etc. — make a list and pack the essentials. I always end up leaving and donating most of what I brought to orphanages or the host organization. So I rarely go home with even 1/2 of my luggage.
– Research
Don’t be naive, do your research. You don’t need to complete a dissertation on the country you’re going to but be mindful and aware – from culture/customs, language, and safety, to things as simple as weather and WiFi. There are certain things that make your trip run smoothly if your somewhat knowledgeable of the area you’re going.
A big help for me was practicing a little bit of the common phrases in the native dialect just in case I got lost or needed help and no one spoke English. You’re not going to know or remember everything but a little respect for the country and its people, goes a long way. Also look into the organization or group your traveling with.
These trips really tug at your heart strings, face it as nurses were little saps on the inside anyways! I journal throughout my trips because medical missions give you more than just the ‘feel goods’ -your truly tested mentally spiritually and physically. From Haiti I learned Strength, Russia I learned Independence, and Africa I learned Love. So, put your time into getting to know the people, the country, and yourself through service. Try and learn the language, eat the food, dance and sing with the children. Listening to your patients or staff stories is one of the most eye opening dialogues you can share. The you who left, if your lucky will not be the you that returns. Embrace the differences and attempt to submerge yourself into the new. You will thank yourself, trust me.
Your Way Is Not Always The Best Way
As travelers, we know the “well at my home hospital” type of people. Don’t be that nurse. Your way is not their way and that’s for good reason. Most hospitals or clinics in third world countries do not have the resources, supplies, access, or education to support most westernized medicine practices. So, instead of pushing what you know – listen, listen again, then observe.
You may come up with a solution or change that can effectively be implemented in their setting, but you have to understand all the variables and background before offering suggestions that are unsustainable. Stay humble, you can stand to learn a bit too.
Travel nurses are always seeking ways to help out after a disaster. Preparation is crucial. Be prepared by signing up for the state disaster volunteer registry near you or where you are licensed. We’ve included state, national, and community organizations for your convenience. Additionally, please let us know if we’ve missed any agencies that need to be added.
REGISTER NOW!
If you hold a state license, get registered now as a state disaster volunteer. I recommend that you add this to your assignment arrival checklist so that you are ready to go as soon as your feet hit the ground!
Who is Eligible? In most states the following can register as healthcare volunteers
Behavioral health professionals (marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, psychologists, and mental health counselors)
Cardiovascular technologist and technicians
Dentists
Diagnostic medical sonographers
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics
Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians (includes phlebotomists)
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists
Medical records and health information technologists
Pharmacists
Physicians
Physician assistants
Radiologic technologists and technicians
Registered nurses
Respiratory therapists
Veterinarians
Disaster Volunteer Registry State Agencies
The following list is of State-operated volunteer registries for disaster and/or emergency response. There are many other opportunities to volunteer with independent and national agencies. Please let us know if you find any broken links or if we’ve missed anything.
In addition to State agencies, there are several National Agencies that you can pre-register with. These are national Government approved disaster volunteer organizations. Please let us know in the comments below if other government organizations should add to this list.
What happens when a Travel Nurse Volunteers in China? One of our FB Group Members is currently in Shanghai. With tons of interest and questions from the group, we asked her if she would provide a run-down of what it took to get there and her initial thoughts on being a Nurse Volunteer in China.
I’m currently in Shanghai, China, volunteer teaching nursing to students. Here, I’ll talk about how I ended up here, what was required, and challenges I’ve experienced. You can also read more about my adventures over at Wanderlust Nurse!
“How did you get to go to China to teach nursing?!”
It wasn’t something I actually thought of doing, ever, well at least not up until I applied. Just pick up and move to a foreign country where I don’t speak the language to teach nurses? I have taught clinicals, some staff classes, been a primary preceptor, and really enjoyed all of that. I reserved the thought of university teaching for much later in my life. But sometimes things happen in our lives at the right time, and you just think, “Why not?”
I was on Facebook one day and saw one of my GVSU nursing school classmate’s pictures from a volunteer project with Project Hope. For some reason, I decided to visit their website, and “China-Volunteer Nurse to teach at San Da School of Nursing” jumped out at me. I had the minimum qualifications (MSN, two years of nursing education-related work experience; no Chinese language skills required) so I talked it over with my wife, and applied on August 1st. I thought I’d just put it out into the universe and see what happened.
Project Hope contacted me a week later, asking for my availability. I was caught off guard, and had a million questions for them. We emailed back and forth for 4 months, and I finally bought my ticket on New Year’s Eve 2014.
“What did you need to do to prepare to go to China?”
To prepare for my visit, I had a background check, and had to have a physician sign a statement declaring I was fit for international travel…really not much different from all the paperwork required for a travel nursing job. I did get a polio booster because there are active cases of polio in China. The other recommended vaccines were MMR, DPT, Hep A, Hep B, and Typhoid, which I’ve had because of my job, and from my previous travels in Southeast Asia. In addition to that, I had to apply for a Chinese visa, because it is required for stays longer than 72 hours. I am from Michigan, and the closest Chinese consulate is in Chicago. The visa application has to be delivered IN PERSON, so, we thought we’d drive, to Chicago, in the middle of winter…just to save a few bucks. It was FREEZING, and this is coming from a girl who grew up in Michigan. We even had to make 2 trips because they won’t issue the visa on the same day. Next time, I think I will just cough up the visa service fee.
“What type of compensation do you receive while you are in China?”
I think for a “volunteer position”, my compensation is very generous. Project Hope and San Da University reimbursed me for my RT flight ($1900) & Chinese visa ($140), provide a monthly stipend (about $300), and pay for my housing (a very nice 2 bedroom apartment). I also get a meal card that I can use on campus, where a cafeteria lunch costs $1.28. The Metro costs 48-80¢ per ride, and I take a free university shuttle bus to campus (about 40 minutes each way) on days I teach.
“What have you seen and eaten in Shanghai?”
We have visited many parks and gardens, some temples, and eaten a lot of dumplings. I find the food to be good, but somewhat bland. Shanghai is not known for spicy or extremely flavorful food. Think of a Chinese restaurant menu item with the white/light sauce, and that’s pretty much the flavor of a lot of things: salty, maybe a little sweet. What Shanghai is known for are their xiaolongbao, or “soup dumplings”: little pillows of heaven for your mouth that could scald you with their internal soupy goodness. Delicious.
“What cultural differences have you noticed?”
A city of 25 million people, Shanghai is surprisingly clean, and very easy to get around using the Metro. But there are A TON of people and the concept of personal space isn’t a reality here, so the metro rides can get interesting. We get stared at, a lot. They don’t pretend to just take a side look, they full on STARE, and then when I turn back to look at them again, STILL STARING. Yes, I am white, and I look different than you. So, little things like that are definitely a cultural adjustment.
I’ve seen a lot of personal grooming in public spaces: nose picking & Q-tip using on the Metro. Girls are all very touchy, so best friends hold hands. On the first day, my faculty mentor, Rong Rong, just linked her arm in mine, which caught me off guard. Not in a bad way, just in a, we-don’t-do-that-at-home way. Also, pedestrians are the lowest life form. Even when there’s a “Walk” symbol, you still have to look both ways the entire time you’re crossing the street. Cars just don’t stop.
“What challenges have you experienced in Shanghai?”
One of the biggest challenges is the language barrier. It was not a requirement for the position; however, day-to-day life outside of our apartment really requires some knowledge of the language. There’s a lot of miming and hand gestures to convey what we want. Also, that all of Google is blocked, including Google Translate & Maps, has been difficult.
At school, the challenge is creating all original content for my classes. I cannot use the school’s textbooks, as they are in Chinese. I did bring a CCRN book, as well as a couple of digital books to help, but it is just a lot of work. And I wasn’t really expecting that. My ‘Intensive Care Nursing’ lecture is a total of 160 minutes, and coming up with enough content and PPT slides is an enormous amount of work. At least with a nursing job, I can just work my 3, 12’s and not have to think about work again until I go back. Here, it’s like, when’s my next class, how long is the class, gotta make some more PPTs. Even on the weekends, I’m preparing for my Monday class. It’s a completely different workload.
Many Travel Nurses Volunteer in foreign countries. If you are a Travel Nurse Volunteer and would like to share your story, we would LOVE to feature it! If you’re interested in sharing your experience and contributing to The Gypsy Nurse, please contact us.
Happy Thanksgiving Gypsies! The holiday season makes us very busy and sometimes we forget what the holidays are about. Some of you may be working, traveling, or lucky enough to spend time with your family. No matter the location, there’s always room to share some gratitude towards co-workers, family, and even strangers! Take a minute out of your day to show some gratitude this Thanksgiving and holiday season ahead of us.
Below are some ways you can express gratitude:
1.) Get them a treat.
Everyone loves getting a delicious treat, whether it’s sweet or savory. Getting someone something from the cafe down the road or a bakery in the city is a sure way to show someone you care while filling their belly with something delightful.
2.) Give out compliments
No extra money this holiday season? No problem! The best things in life are free and compliments are unlimited. Make it a point to compliment everyone you see today!
3.) Volunteer for an unpleasant tasks
Whether you’re at work or home with family, there is always that duty you hope you don’t get picked for. Instead of avoiding the task and hoping someone else will take care of it, jump right in and get your hands dirty. Most likely no one else wants to do it either, but I am sure it will make someone’s day!
4.) Give a hug or smile at someone
Another free thing to give out is a hug or a smile. Both are simple and again FREE! You never know what someone is going through and sometimes that’s all it takes to make someone feel special again or turn around their day.
5.) Thank you notes
With today’s technology, it’s easier to send someone a message in a variety of different ways but the impact of a handwritten thank you note is a sure way to warm some hearts and make a lasting impression.
6.) Random act of kindness
As a travel nurse, you travel all over the United States, and maybe even the world, meeting thousands of people. Take a moment and do one random act of kindness. This can be paying for a person’s drink order that is behind you at the coffee shop, holding the door open for someone, or even working in a soup kitchen, providing someone less fortunate a meal.
7.) Donate to charity or volunteer your time
There are endless charities that are in need of any kind of monetary donation for education or research on issues or diseases that are actively affecting our nation and/or our world that need desperate attention. Remember, every little bit helps.
8.) Tip well
Whether you’re out to dinner, getting your hair done, or paying for valet; if someone does an outstanding job, tip more than you usually do. Most people absolutely drained around the holiday season and that extra cash in their pocket might make their day and will make work a little more bearable.
9.) Say you’re sorry.
Whatever the situation may be, sometimes there is no better way of showing gratitude than righting your wrongs. If there has been a major disagreement with a co-worker in your workplace or perhaps a family member and you haven’t been able to see eye-to-eye, maybe it’s time to take the high road and apologize. In a lot of circumstances, we fail to see past our minor differences and should work towards a more positive relationship or partnership, making strides for a better future for all.
10.) Catch someone doing something right
Nobody’s perfect and a lot of us feel like we fail more than we win most days. If you see a stranger doing something positive, wherever you’re at, let them know how great of a job they’re doing! Not only will you be encouraged to do better for those around you, but it will inspire them to keep spreading positivity wherever they go. We’re all in this together!
Whether you’re with family or away on an assignment, there is always time to express gratitude to those around you. Take these 10 tips and try to use it this Thanksgiving and holiday season. Gratitude is contagious, and you won’t want to wear a mask and gloves around it. Be sure to pass along the holiday cheer this year!
The following was contributed by Kaitlin, a Travel Nurse volunteer in Cambodia. She recently completed a volunteer medical trip to Cambodia and shares some highlights of her experience below. If you have a volunteer trip that you would like to share, please send us an email!
About Kaitlin
“I’m from St. Petersburg, Florida and have been working as an ICU nurse for a number of years. I recently took up travel nursing this year to see more the country and schedule time off to volunteer abroad. I’m currently residing in Scottsdale, Arizona.”– Kaitlin Shanklin RN, BSN, CCRN
We’ve all experienced burnout in the nursing field, even if we switch specialties and take a vacation. For me, nursing in the states started becoming very corporate, and I was taking care of patients and families who were self-entitled and always right, leaving me with little autonomy and emotionally exhausted.I love nursing. I love the opportunities that nursing has given me. I love the patient care. I love learning about someone else’s life. I love watching my critical patients come back 1 year later to thank me. Nursing is a beautiful career, and I couldn’t picture myself doing much of anything else. But after five years at the bedside, I decided to take my nursing abroad. I decided to be a travel nurse volunteer. International Medical Relief is an organization that I stumbled upon while looking to vacation in Thailand. I decided to base my vacation in Southeast Asia and end it with a medical mission to Cambodia. I put down my deposit and gathered donations for my big trip. A year later, in September 2014, I found myself traveling throughout Thailand and Cambodia with a friend for 2 weeks, and then I was solo for about a week while I waited to meet up with everyone from the mission.
Who is International Medical Relief?
International Medical Relief partners up with the Song Saa Foundation, a part of Song Saa Private Island in Cambodia. The Song Saa Foundation assists several villages of the Koh Rong Islands with environmental restoration and education. International Medical Relief is one of the first medical teams to come to these islands to assist these villages with medical care. Each day we would bring around 15 suitcases packed full of medical supplies to a boat & ride to a village, unpack, and start our day. International Medical Relief is there to provide medicine and care and educate the population on oral health care, hand washing & women’s health, a focus for this current mission. Public health education is one of the most important things International Medical Relief brings to the table. The most common problems encountered as volunteers on these islands consisted of arthritic type pain, malnutrition, oral decay, high blood pressure, and dehydration. We saw a handful of HIV positive adults and children, scabies, fungal rashes, bacterial vaginitis, and burns.
Promoting Education
The people that come to the clinic to seek a check-up all left with a multivitamin or something as simple as Ibuprofen or Tylenol, and you know what? They were so incredibly thankful. We taught the children how to wash their hands properly, drink more water, and brush their teeth. We taught women about safe sex and provided condoms.
Any serious issues encountered went to our wonderful doctor. It was hot, and I was sweaty, but we are all so busy assisting the village people that it’s amazing how quickly you don’t care anymore and how the entire experience changes you. The children are adorable, the adults are thankful & I am in awe at their impact on these people’s lives.
This trip changed me.
It made me less materialistic & brought back my empathy as a burnt-out nurse. It had changed my course of life to changing my masters from anesthesia to public health/ NP with international studies included. But not until I go back to Cambodia and make a bigger difference in April.
Just remember what Brad Pitt said;
“Let us be the ones who say we do not accept that a child dies every three seconds simply because he does not have the drugs you and I have. Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right for life. Let us be outraged, let us be loud, let us be bold.”
Until next time…
If you are interested in more travel Nurse volunteer stories, please check out the recent Travel Nurse in Liberia series. Again, if you would like to share your volunteer experiences, please send us an email!
The Gypsy Nurse Volunteering in Liberia with Cross Cultural Care
As you probably already read, The Gypsy Nurse is volunteering in Liberia. I plan to bring you along with me; virtually and give you a ‘feet on the ground’ accounting of the entire process.
CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS SEGMENTS OF THIS SERIES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AS A TRAVEL NURSE VOLUNTEER IN LIBERIA.
On a Mission for an Authentic African Meal
Two volunteers arrived unexpectedly on my second night in Monrovia. Sally and Stan. They have been working out at Robertsport for about the past three weeks. Sally is an RN, and Stan is working with C3 to set up a rainwater catch system to increase water availability. The Locals are currently bringing water from the nearby river to the hospital for things like flushing toilets and washing hands.
Sally and Stan were on a mission to find some local food for me for dinner. Anyone that knows me knows that I am not fearful of street food, and I generally seek it out. Sally and Stan are no different. We ended up sitting on benches along the side of the road and eating with our bowls in our lap. The food was amazing, and fortunately, there were no ‘after-effects’ from the street food.
Summary: This dish is from the via tribe and happens to be a national favorite of most West Africans. Although cooking methods varies by country, all west Africans love their cassava leaves. In Liberia, it is cooked with assorted meats, onions, hot peppers, and palm oil. It is served with rice. – This is one of the dishes that I had for dinner last night. Mine was served over white rice and had a wonderful flavor.
This is another dish enjoyed last night which is cassava leaves ground in palm butter. Again with wonderful spices and flavor and served over rice.
Cassava Roots and leaves are utilized for many of the local dishes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassava: According to the article, cassava contains cyanide and has to be prepared properly to release the cyanide and avoid poisoning. Fortunately, I avoided any cyanide poisoning.
C3 – A Day in the Life of the Volunteer
The MoH here in Liberia has provided financial assistance for C3 to provide the volunteers with assistance to make life in Robertsport just a little easier. I’m provided with a cook and a cleaner. Jebba currently fills both roles for me. She cooks 4 days a week and cleans 3 days a week.
I have to say that although I love having the help, it’s a weird feeling to me to have someone cooking for me. For whatever reason, the cleaning doesn’t bother me; I’m unsure if this is because I’m not at home while she cleans or because this is a service that I’ve paid for in the states. I will say that although having a cook is a bit uncomfortable for me, the food has been amazing, and I’m thrilled to have her. It’s been a wonderful experience to have someone cook local foods for me, and I’ve found that I have enjoyed everything that’s been prepared.
The only thing that is a bit unlikable regarding the food is that there are many bones in the fish. I’m a bit spoiled as my dad is a fisherman, and he has always filleted the fish and removed all of the bones for me. The locals eat various fish from the Barracuda that is wonderfully large and meaty (and my preference) to dried and smoked fish, which tends to have many more bones and much less to my liking.
If you are familiar with Liberian history, the US sent many of our slaves here after being freed in the United States. Many of Robertsport’s population are descendants of these slave families. I think because of this, it makes it difficult to have one of them waiting on me. Let me give you an example:
Jebba comes to the house on Monday through Thursday evenings arriving around 5 pm. I’m usually playing cards with the local children while she cooks.
She then serves my dinner and sits to the side, scraping the bowls and eating from them. I’ve offered her to sit and eat with me, but the closest she has come is to sit away from the table in one of the chairs instead of on the floor next to the kitchen. After I finish eating, I generally pack a small amount for lunch the following day and offer Jebba to take the remainder home for her and her family (she has two girls at home that sometimes come with her).
Local dishes that I’ve tried to date include:
Cassava and Cassava Greens
Potato Greens
Eggplant Soup
Fish, fish, and some more Fish! (It’s a fishing community, after all)!
The Gypsy Nurse is heading to Liberia with Cross-Cultural Care as a travel nurse volunteer
As you probably already read, The Gypsy Nurse is volunteering in Liberia. I plan to bring you along with me; virtually and give you a ‘feet on the ground’ accounting of the entire process.
Obtaining A Liberian Nursing Permit
I’m waiting for Wilfred, my local contact to arrive for my nursing permit. Wilfred is handling the obtaining of my permit for me today. I’m hoping that he will also be able to assist me with finding some groceries and acclimating to the area of the city where I am. There are no local addresses so I’m a bit concerned about leaving and finding my way back. Normally, I would just wander out and explore with an address in my pocket to hand to a taxi when I’m ready to come home but without an address, I’m unsure how to proceed.
Just as I’ve typed this out, the neighbor introduces himself; Syed a Lebanese. He is living and working here doing ‘construction’ somewhere nearby. After our introductions, I ask him about finding a taxi and he offers to come back around 11am and take me to the grocery. The taxi’s are not good is the best I can understand.
There was some miscommunication between myself and Wilfred. I thought he was coming to the apartment and he thought that I was coming to his office…. We got it figured out and I ended up taking Syed up on an offer to drive me to the hospital and meet Wilfred at the office.
Side Trip to Immigration
After Wilfred and I tracked down my nursing permit we then headed to the immigration office to pick up another volunteer Visa. I have to say, if I had been in the immigration office alone, I would have been quite intimidated. It’s a simple block building with dark stairs, concrete walls, and authoritative desks. There are very little welcoming features and I imagined what it might be like to be interrogated here….fortunately, the smiling faces of the immigration workers made up for the unwelcoming façade of the building.
Following our jaunt to the immigration office, Wilfred and I enjoyed a great lunch of falafel and shwarma sandwiches at a local ex-pat place. I’m told that they have a great Friday night ex-pat dance crowd…unfortunately, I’ll be gone on Friday.
The Gypsy Nurse is heading to Liberia with Cross Cultural Care as a travel nurse volunteer.
As you probably already read, The Gypsy Nurse is volunteering in Liberia. I plan to bring you along with me; virtually and give you a ‘feet on the ground’ accounting of the entire process.
Check out the PREVIOUS SEGMENTS OF THIS SERIES if you would like to read more about my experience as a Travel Nurse Volunteer in Liberia.
It’s a premium product here: Clean Water
Robertsport is surrounded by water…with Lake Piso (the largest lake in Liberia) feeding into the Atlantic Ocean. However, there is no running water in most of Robertsport. The locals obtain water for drinking, laundry, cooking and bathing from a local stream. Although there is a huge lake of water…the lake water isn’t safe due to the lack of sanitation. I would assume that garbage and sewage permeate its waters.
At the C3 House here in Robertsport, there is a specific system for maintaining clean water for drinking and cooking. Water is delivered twice weekly from an old UN water storage outside of town. This water is ‘chlorinated’ and utilized for drinking and cooking, dishes and laundry. It’s delivered on Monday’s and Thursdays; rationing is key. The local rate for a 5 gallon container of delivered water is $35LD per container. (The current conversion is $85.5LD:$1USD) So, for aprox $2 USD you can fill 10 gallons of water.
The Kuwaa Mission has also been at work at the C3 house
Stan, one of the Board of Directors and volunteers was at the house shortly prior to my arrival and set up a filter system for the C3 residents to be able to filter water. Water can be brought from the stream above the hospital then filtered to obtain additional clean water for drinking. Although a bit slow, the filtration process is pretty easy.
Please visit the Kuwaa Mission on Facebook to read more about the work that they are doing in Liberia.
Water Filtration Process
Note: Do not filter more than 2 days worth of water at a time, due to safety reasons.
Stan also began to place gutters on the C3 house in order to be able to collect rain water during the rainy season. Prior to being able to collect rainwater, C3 was paying for water and using the delivered water for washing.
On a Personal Note:
I awoke around 3am on Saturday with a downpour outside. With water being a primary concern, my first thought upon waking was all the rainwater that was going to waste. I quickly climbed out of bed and set the collection container beneath the gutter to collect at least some additional water. When I next awoke at 7:30am, the sun was already shining and the collection container was full. It’s a process to move the water as I’m not as strong physically as I would like to think. The process (for me) involves moving the water from the large collection container to a smaller 5 gal bucket then to the bathroom water container which is a 30 gallon plastic can with lid.
Having a new supply of bath water, I felt good about taking a luxurious bucket shower using my fresh rainwater…I’m hoping for additional rain tonight.
The Gypsy Nurse is heading to Liberia with Cross Cultural Care as a travel nurse volunteer.
As you probably already read, The Gypsy Nurse is volunteering in Liberia. I plan to bring you along with me; virtually and give you a ‘feet on the ground’ accounting of the entire process.
CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS SEGMENTS OF THIS SERIES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AS A TRAVEL NURSE VOLUNTEER IN LIBERIA.
I’ve arrived in Robertsport….
Lake Piso and the Atlantic Ocean are both able to be seen from my provided housing, and the views are beautiful. The people I’ve met so far are just as beautiful.
I arrived on a Friday and barely got my things unpacked before the community came out to give me a welcome. School lets out around noon and the children (upon seeing a new face) all stopped by to say hello on their way home. At one point, I believe that all the children in Robertsport may have been on my back porch… All with beautiful smiling faces, although some are very shy. There are several that I can already feel an affinity toward and hope to learn all the names and be able to develop relationships.
Every child that arrived requested water to drink. It’s not advisable to give things to the locals (including water) as it creates a dependency as well as the fact that it’s impossible to provide for everyone. Although necessary, It’s been extremely emotionally difficult to tell multiple small children ‘no’ when they ask for something simple like water.
The reception was almost overwhelming…especially when combined with the heartbreak of having to deny a simple item like water. At one point, I had to retreat to the sanctuary of my room to gather my thoughts and convince myself that I was doing the right thing.
The Sugarplum
I don’t know how to explain the importance that this simple fruit will forever hold for me. After spending the day acclimating to the people, the heat and the local environment a small boy runs up to me while I’m reflecting on the days events. It’s nearing dark. There have been so many small children through that I remember if I’ve seen him before. He holds out his hand and in it is a ripened sugarplum…he wants me to take it. Having been in many developing countries where all the children are trained to ‘sell and beg’ I smile and ask him ‘how much?’, automatically assuming that he is wanting something from me. He looks at me strangely, saying nothing. I ask again, and he smiles as he lays the sugar plum on the table and runs off in the near darkness.
