We made it through our first full week of teaching! It's hard work teaching through a translator but I think we're starting to get the hang of it. After teaching the same class so many times it gets a little easier. The nurses seem to really be "getting into" the classes. The particularly seem to enjoy skills practice and the scenarios we give them as application exercises.
Julie and I went through some closets at the hospital and found a muzungo body! Ok, it was a mannequin, but as we carried it out of the closet and to the classroom in a sheet it certainly elicited some strange looks. So far our poor muzungu has suffered a car vs. pedestrian accident, a fall from a roof, a traumatic right foot and left hand amputation, an open abdominal wound, a host of other unfortunate ailments.
At first I was slighltly concerned that all of our teaching materials, photos, diagrams, and examples were caucasion and thus might be viewed as ethnocentric. However, during one of scenarios on shock and bleeding, one of the participants told me that the patient was very pale and therefore in a state of hypoperfusion! I love it, another muzungu moment!
Julie and I went through some closets at the hospital and found a muzungo body! Ok, it was a mannequin, but as we carried it out of the closet and to the classroom in a sheet it certainly elicited some strange looks. So far our poor muzungu has suffered a car vs. pedestrian accident, a fall from a roof, a traumatic right foot and left hand amputation, an open abdominal wound, a host of other unfortunate ailments.
At first I was slighltly concerned that all of our teaching materials, photos, diagrams, and examples were caucasion and thus might be viewed as ethnocentric. However, during one of scenarios on shock and bleeding, one of the participants told me that the patient was very pale and therefore in a state of hypoperfusion! I love it, another muzungu moment!
5 comments:
That's great! You have your own "Buster" (the crash-test dummy from the TV show Mythbusters who has endured multiple fires, falls, explosions, launchings, crashes, even shark attacks!)
But it sounds like the students are enjoying it!
What a great experience to be able to do this. Your life is so full and meaningful! I feel pretty lame with the petty things I do and worry about day to day. :)
So funny... you guys should leave one of your outfits when you leave so they can dress their new "friend" up as you. :)
We miss you!! Everyone's enjoying your updates and praying for you...
What a bunch of cool adventures. We are going to have to start writing your biography, so I can make a video :-) "Dad & Mom". God protect you and watch over you.
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