Attempting Ambition

Your name is Liz! I fathomed even having the energy or emotional capacity to write this post. I still do not believe words will do this experience justice. Today was the first clinic day in the Slums of Niarobi,  Kenya. Baba Dogo to be specific. This isn't the worst slum, in fact, it is actually a hell of a lot nicer than the others we will be seeing, as I'm told. We loaded up the vans with our medical supplies, got on our high American horses and road in like knights in shining armor. It is true, we help these people a great deal to the extent our supplies allow, but their lives would go on despite us not being there today. One fungal infection would have continued to be an annoying itch, one skin ulcer would cause a young HIV mother pain for another day, and one case of Malaria would go untreated. By no means am I saying that we didn't do good things today. Hell, we busted our asses, stepped out of our comfort zones and treated the poor, undernourished, & uncl...

Most of my blogs are written with the intent to inspire...over the next two weeks I can't promise I will have the energy to wrap it all up in a nice to-the-point blog that has deep meaning brought out by my experience in Kenya. For the next two weeks you will be looking for the meaning and I will simply be keeping you all updated. We arrived in Kenya Monday 4/29. You could feel the rich African culture the moment you stepped off the plane. Driving to our hostel was an experience as well, so many people walking to work, selling newspapers in the middle of the highway, women with baskets carried on their heads. We then began to unpack our luggage and get settled. We met the people we will be working with and then began sorting and organizing our medical supplies for our clinics. The atmosphere while sorting through the supplies had an energy that I have never felt before. Future nurses and doctors collaborating on the best possible organization techniques to sustain six, 10-12hr ...

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."- Mister Rogers With the recent bombing in Boston, and my pending trip to Kenya, I felt this post was fitting.  These helpers are not fearless. The fear is pushed aside as their strength and compassion for human life break through. You will find these selfless citizens running directly into disaster, instead of away. They are the helpers that Mr. Roger's mother was speaking about.   The people of Boston went through an unimaginable tragedy that will not soon be forgotten. The fear in the runners and spectators was fierce, I'm sure. Three dead and more than 170 injured. " Patrick and Jessica Downes were married...

Sometimes when I am feeling like I need to write, for whatever reason, I think of things that can impact others. This post is slightly different. Recently I read an article about "writing to yourself, for yourself". The idea is that writing to a younger version (you pick the age, usually young teen years) of yourself can stimulate a sense of understanding and control in ones life. Here it goes. Dear 13 year old  Liz, I am 22 and I am you. Yes, you make it through this awkward stage of being severely taller than EVERYONE in your class. That awful bang trim you gave yourself does grow back. You also never really learn to whistle or cook.   Here are some points you should understand well. On education: This is something that is currently the most important thing to me (older you). Currently you are going to school because you are required to. You do enjoy learning-even if waking up in the morning is tough sometimes. Your thirst for knowledge doesn't go away. You wil...

As some of you may know I was accepted to go to Kenya in April of 2013. This trip will allow me and other fellow nursing students go into an underprivileged area and give medical care to many of the impoverished and sickened people of Kenya. As I am truly excited for the trip, I am also a bit apprehensive.  I am selfish. I am spoiled. I am stubborn.  These are my three worst qualities.  I am selfish. Being raised as an only child my life consisted of MY own toys MY own room, MY own bed, MY own food, MY own parents, and MY own dog.  In becoming an adult, I attempt to be less selfish, but I have yet to tell that quality to leave and not let the door hit it in its rear on the way out. I have an immense amount of desire to change that attribute that is so caustic in my life. As you can see, a selfish person wanting to go do good in a third world country seems a bit odd. I will be truthful and tell you it is not just a selfless act. I believe that a trip to Kenya wi...

Nothing makes me lose my mind more than when I’m walking through the mall and somebody steps out of a store right in front of me and walks slowly. Why didn’t they look? I would have looked. I do look. It might only take less than two seconds for me to skirt around said person, and resume my regular mall-cruising speed, but that’s enough time to make my eyes harden, my teeth clench and wish I could have pushed said person down and watched them cry. It’s enough for my mind to start getting self-righteous. If I’m not careful, I end up in an internal dialogue about certain basic courtesies people should uphold in public, or maybe a half-daydream about how the oblivious lady in front of me must live a life of total obliviousness, wandering into busy streets or onto active construction sites, all without a clue that she may be affecting people’s lives with her deplorable lack of awareness. In either case, I end up feeling agitated, and slightly better than her. The basis...

#1. Seven days of the week sleep in a nice warm bed with my husband next to me and one spoiled fur baby snoozing next to us. #2. Six of the days I wake up exceedingly early to drag my happy ass to school or work.  #3. Five days of the week I shower and shave my legs.  #4. Four days of the week I eat a home cooked meal with the family. #5. Three days of the week I eat out. #6. Two days of the week I stop at the gas station for a large fountain drink.  I do #6 for three reasons: 1.        Because I LOVE fountain drinks more than any other type of drink (excluding margaritas). Cans and plastic bottles don’t do it for me like a cold, crisp carbonated fountain Coke does. 2.        Because I am a sleep deprived nursing student who needs caffeine to make it through even the shortest of lectures. 3.        Because it is a treat that even on my husband’s sala...