What Have I Gotten Myself Into!

On By pennmedmattIn Uncategorized3 Comments

I finally began to realize what my daily life would look life during my Senior Projects. Wake up at 6 am, leave the house at 6:45 before the sun rises, arrive in Philly at 7:50 and begin work immediately, leave work at 5:15, take the 5:29 train home, drive home after the sun has set, arrive home at 6:20 for dinner, go to sleep, then start all over again. Lather, rinse and repeat. This is going to be a long four weeks. I hope that I can make it. During the past three days, I have worked almost 30 hours, spent five hours in transportation between my house and Philly, drank almost 100 fluid ounces of coffee, and helped to raise $1,500 for patients. I am on track to raise (and maybe even surpass) my goal of $10,000. Nevertheless, I am having a great time. This is a teaser of what the life of a resident or doctor is.

Yesterday and today, I met more of the other volunteers that I will be working with. For the most part they are nice and I plan to get along with them all just fine. That is always a good thing. I met with more patients and heard some amazing and terrible stories. One patient was from Liberia and has personally witnessed militant activity. This has left him scarred with post traumatic stress disorder. I also met with a number of people who have no means of income whatsoever and are left to pay outrageously expensive medical bills for their necessary cancer treatment. However, there is always light in the darkness. Despite all of the sadness there is still some humor and some laughter. I saw a small sticker that had a picture of Wile E. Coyote holding a sign that said health tip. It said, “If you can’t afford a doctor, go to an airport – you’ll get a free x-ray and a breast exam and; if you mention Al Qaeda you’ll get a free colonoscopy.” All of the doctors and residents that I have met are always cheery and positive. I am fortunate enough to attend a catered luncheon conference every Wednesday, where all of the interdisciplinary doctors come together are discuss their more difficult patients. They come to an educated decision on the best course of action to take. I am able to learn about cancer and the entire radiation oncological field of medicine. I am also able to meet with surgeons and ask them my questions. One of the patients that I am looking after will be getting a esophagectomy to treat his esophageal cancer. I learned that they stretch the stomach after removing the esophagus. This is really interesting to me but may seem disgusting to you. Sorry.

Today, when I was leaving work I realized how tired I was. I was standing on the train because there were no available seats. I forgot that I wasn’t holding on to anything and as the train began to stop, I began to lose my balance. However, I did not realize that I was falling, so I didn’t catch myself. Then when I was about to fall over, I finally caught myself, but unfortunately I slammed my heel into a small woman’s foot. I apologized profusely and then when she had left, I went to sit down and forgot I was holding a drink. So I spilled my cream soda all over the floor. Ugh. I’m going to need a second spring break after this spring break.

-Matt

The Friendliest People in the Entire World

On By Jordan GhanaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Before I got here, I heard that the people in Ghana are the friendliest people in the world. That is one of the truest statements that I have ever heard.

So we started teaching at Heritage! Copp and I have been having fun teaching music and rhythm to our classes. The only problem that we are having is that we feel like we don’t have enough material to keep them interested for a whole hour. The school is amazing. The kids are so adorable! The little ones are so cute. They walk around holding hands and they look at us like we are aliens. They have warmed up to us a lot though. One little girl, maybe 6 years old named Lisa, sat on my lap for about an hour today. She actually would not let me put her down. The kids go CRAZY over the cameras that we have. I was the first to pull it out and they attacked all of us! They keep asking us to take their pictures so that they can see it. It is really sweet, but when I tell you that they go crazy, I mean it! The pictures will probably be proof, and you will all see the pictures when I get home.

We went into the market today to buy material to get clothing made. I got two fabrics, one for a dress, and one for pants. The people there loved to look at us. There is a specific name for a foreigner here and we heard it about every 5 steps. They would just yell it at us while we were walking down the street. One guy told Eva that he “would give her a beautiful baby boy” she declined, but it was a nice sentiment I suppose…? We met some kids in the market that were in love with our cameras so we had a little photoshoot in the middle of the street. There is a dance called “Azotu” and it goes with a little song and some kids taught it to me at school. So when the kids in the market were doing it so I joined in! The people in the market found that VERY amusing. Everyone laughed at me, then NyAsia did it and a guy asked for her number, obviously she did it better than I did.

Ghana is great. I am learning a lot of the language, Fante, and I am in love with the kids. I still miss my mom, and I miss Becca and Jordyn and Chris, but it is beautiful here and the kids are making the time go so quickly.

Oh! I have grown close to the guy that drives our van, his name is Alaska. He was translating for us in the market today and he taught me a lot of cool stuff. Everyone is playing cards and relaxing now so it is time for me to go.

I love and miss you all,

Jordan

Day Two

On By ariinthemiddleeastIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Day 1: We went through a complete second security check at the  gate in the Philadelphia airport to get on the plane. In Tel Aviv, some of us were held up for a bit at customs and asked questions about our group, which has 18 students and 4 teachers. They asked me my father’s and grandfather’s names. From the airport we went to the home of T. Melissa & T. Jon’s friends. At one point they mentioned that there was a huge market for American clothes in Israel. Not surprising, as Israeli consumers are eager just like Israeli business people to emulate their counterparts in America. The father of the household mentioned that with this transfer of industries also came the same negative effects, especially the increase of the divide between socioeconomic classes. Israel is such a young country that for the most part they are experiencing growth in their business sector, but if they continue to follow the model that we know to be unsustainable, then they are blindly following the same exact path on which some say we are too far down. We took the bus to Jerusalem and crashed at the hotel afterwards.

Day 2:  Today was the first full day in the country. We toured Al Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount. We walked around Old City a lot, seeing most of the Via Dolorosa –  the way of the cross – and went to the church built on the spot where Jesus was believed to be crucified (though there are several spots that are believed to be that). This was one of the most intricate and dark churches I’ve ever seen. It made me realize just how much religion can weird me out. We ate a lunch of shwarma or falafel in a small café. We then listened to a presentation on settlements and house demolition and went out on a bus tour to see with our own eyes these realities. It has been well established by all countries except Israel that the settlements are against international law, yet no one does anything about it. Those who have the power of these laws are the only ones who would ever dare go against them, though even America has looked down upon these practices on paper. In reality, America is not doing anything regarding limiting Israel’s actions in the West Bank. We were talking amongst ourselves on the bus about how a one-state solution is the best way to go for everyone’s benefit, but at this point, there is such a feeling among many Palestinians that they have been wronged to such a level that there is no way for them to assimilate into Israeli culture. On the other side of that, the Israelis would feel that that solution would contaminate their Jewish state. On top of that, there would still be a clear race division that would play a role. Speaking of a Jewish state, that is such a strange concept. I can appreciate a place that is intentionally meant for a specific group, but when it gets to a point where it is hostile to any other group, especially a group that is native to the land, then it gets out of hand. Many believe that Obama is waiting for a second term to more forcefully push any communication between the two parties, so that if and when he hits a nerve in the process, there’s not much anyone can do, since he’ll be out soon anyway.

-Ari

Getting Real

On By CherIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

My biggest surprise when we arrived in Tel Aviv was how familiar it felt. Aside from the Middle Eastern style music playing on the radio and the Hebrew/Arabic/English road signs I felt as though I could have flown into southern California. As we continued to an Israeli friend’s house for dinner, my sheltered feeling didn’t alleviate. Their pronunciation of humus with the stereotypical throat sound was one of the few indication that we had left the United States and entered such a prominent region. As the night continued in conversation about the conflict things continued on a hypothetical and philosophical level. I could hear that they were experiencing intense conflict and had experienced great tragedy and violence in their lives yet I could not see it.

The next morning, as we toured the Old City in Jerusalem, I couldn’t shake of the feeling that I was a mere tourist avoiding the true purpose of the trip. While the buildings were beautiful and the history so wonderfully rich, the fact that we were in Israel had yet to sink in. That is until the moment I saw the Palestinian neighborhood. I was immediately met with dilapidated houses, hanging laundry, and piles upon piles of trash. Our guide told us the trash had accumulated in every corner because the Israeli government did not provide trash services to the Palestinians. The conflict continued to become a reality for me when we saw the wall up close for the first time. On it was graffiti that said, among other things, “When ignorance reigns, lives are lost” and “Welcome to apartheid”. Seeing these strong and charged words in black and white solidified for me the oppression and injustice the Palestinian people are living with daily. I also realized an Israeli teenager could easily ignore the conflict and occupation now that the wall has been constructed and the “acts of terror” have decreased significantly. A Palestinian teenager, however, lives in constant reminder that they are living are living in an occupation, that they are unwanted by many and unjustly hated by some. I am left with the feeling that as we heard during our discussion on the first night…”Life is complicated in this region.” 

-Cherylyn

AHHH!

AHHH! Just got to my first blog entry today. Sorry for the delay Westtown! Anyway the 10 1/2 hour flight yesterday ran relatively smoothly. Sleep came in fits and bursts, but I still managed 5-6 hours on the cramped plane. When we stepped off the plane into Tel Aviv the first thing that struck me was the different culture. I was surrounded by Hebrew everywhere I turned. In other countries that I have visited there is usually a language spoken that sounds relatively familiar, but Hebrew is completely different in its written form and guttural essence. Anyway, we all managed to grab our luggage, pass through customs, and get on the bus with relative ease. That night for dinner we were invited to Remi and Orna’s, T.Melissa’s friends. The food was AMAZING. Everything was fresh. From the pita, to the cucumbers, to the tomatoes it was all magnificent. And then to top it all off was the best humus I’ve ever had in my life. After dinner we discussed the conflict a little and learned some of the “Jewish” side of it all. The most interesting part of the discussion was when our Arab bus driver chimed in and had a small disagreement with what Remi was saying. Remi and the driver got into a little bit of a spat and it was the first time that I could see the conflict playing out right in front of my very eyes. That night we checked into our hotel and I couldn’t believe it, but I managed to get a restful night’s sleep.

Today we toured Old Jerusalem and met with a man named Jeff Halper. In the beginning of the day the most striking thing for me was when we were walking along the Via Dolorosa and seeing groups of tourists carrying fake, giant crosses down the same path that Jesus walked. There were usually four of them carrying the cross while their group followed and some one would lead in the front reading the bible out loud. It came across to me as an almost extreme way to show faith in your religion and it just wasn’t something I was expecting or accustomed to coming from the States. We also saw the Al Aqsa and Dome of the Rock, which were some of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen. The blue and gold of the Dome of the Rock made it stick out from the mostly tan/white hue of Jerusalem. The second half of our day we met with a man named Jeff Halper and learned all about Palestinian house demolition. We then took a tour of East Jerusalem and that was the first part of the trip that has really provoked emotions from me. It’s impossible for me to put into words what I saw and what those things meant. Touring East Jerusalem and seeing the Palestinian desolation in comparison to the Israeli luxury was sickening. One moment we would be in a Palestinian neighborhood and there would be trash everywhere, run down buildings, demolished houses, people begging, and a slew of other awful things. Then we would turn a corner and be in one of the wealthiest Jewish settlements. There were pools, clean streets, working lights,etc. What struck me most was the water. There were Palestinians down the street who barely had enough water to get by let alone thrive, and then there were Israelis who were flocking to pools and abusing their luxuries. It just didn’t seem right. I’ve got to give the computer off now because my fellow bloggers are getting impatient, but I’m eager to see what else this place has to show me. 

-Sam

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Who is Missing?

On By Meg Seeking PeaceIn Uncategorized2 Comments

The eleven hour plane ride passed quickly. Ben and I sat together in the second to last row of a very long plane. His bubbling excitement was contagious. The standard safety protocol demonstration began, and Ben felt moved to applaud the flight attendants jokingly. Movies, sleep, meals and conversation got our 20 person group through the flight. Once we arrived Melissa flocked us through immigration like a mother goose to her 18 little goslings. 

We had gotten our things and gathered in the lobby waiting to hop on the bus that would take us to Orna and Romi’s house. I said hi to Teacher Susan for the first time on the trip. “Have you noticed who is missing?” She asked me.

“Jax and Rosie just left for the bathroom but I think we’re all together.”

“But look around Meg, on a larger scale.”

I looked around the beautiful, modern airport. I saw yarmulkes, I saw Hebrew signs. I felt more than just an absence of the Palestinian population, I felt an active  un-acknowledgment of it. Who is Missing?

At Orna and Romi’s home the conversation was fascinating about the conflict. (Orna and Romi are Israeli friends of John and Melissa’s with a lot of fascinating and powerful stories to tell about the start of Israel and about their desire for peace). I asked their family how present the conflict was in the average Israeli’s life. They said for two years, when serving in the military, as everyone has to do, the conflict is very present. But other than that, now that the terrorism has stopped mostly, the conflict is as visible as each individual desires. You can choose to pay attention. A question that I choose to keep to myself in that moment, was: do Palestinian’s have that privilege too? To ignore the conflict? How present is it to them?

Who is missing?

 

-Meg

Safe and Sound!

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Students and faculty gathered at the airport yesterday evening to travel Israel/Palestine. We have received word that they have arrived safely today!  Stay tuned for more from this program.

Arrival in Barcelona

On By phoebebarcelonaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Hello again!

After a long seven hour flight, we arrived in Barcelona, Spain yesterday around 9:00 AM. Upon our arrival, we met up with T. Jenny who teaches English in AULA. We then had a short breakfast and set off for our first day in AULA. Needless to say, we were all quite tired due to the jet lag and we passed the majority of our bus ride in silence. Despite the fact that I was so tired, I was inevitably captured by the beauty of Barcelona. Along with the beautiful architecture, Barcelona is situated right next to the Mediterranean Sea and thus the view of the city is mesmerizing.

We arrived at AULA around 11 AM and were given a tour of the school by a few students. Immediately, we were immersed in Castilian Spanish. In Barcelona, most people actually speak a mix of French and Spanish which is known as Catalán. Because we have only been taught Castilian at Westtown, the AULA students speak Castilian with us so that we may better practice the language. At first, I had trouble communicating with the students because I was intimidated by the speed at which they talked. Today, however, it was much easier to understand the teachers and the students. I’m still a bit scared to talk, but the more time I spend in AULA the more my mindset shifts from English to Spanish.

In terms of the school, it was a bit strange arriving at AULA. As we stood in the patio waiting to meet our tour guides, all the students stared at us and I could see them whispering with each other. Our tour guides later clarified that these kids were staring because the majority of classes in AULA don’t change very often. Indeed, most students have been attending AULA since they were only three years old. Given our experience in Westtown where classes change almost every year, this idea was certainly surprising.

After the tour and classes, each one of us went home with our host families for the night. Right now, I am a staying with a student whose name is Juan. Juan’s family lives in an apartment more towards the center of the city. Although I am far away from home, I feel quite comfortable with Juan’s family. They are all incredibly generous and in many ways I almost feel embarrassed by how much they do for me. For example, when I arrived here, I realized that I had forgot to buy an adapter so that I could use my electrical devices overseas. When I told this to Juan’s father, he immediately went and bought me an adapter. I couldn’t be more grateful!

After a long day, I went to bed yesterday around 8 PM and I got a full eleven hours of sleep. I’m pretty sure I’m over the jet lag, but I guess I will truly know later tonight. Tomorrow, our group is going to take a break from classes at AULA and we are going to visit a museum and a few historical sites in Barcelona.

I will be writing again soon!

Phoebe

My Adventure Begins

On By pennmedmattIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Yesterday, I started my project. I took a 7:17 train from Elwyn to University City and then made the two block walk to HUP. Then I met up with Trish. She was happy to see me after my 6 month hiatus from work. I learned that many things had changed during this time. She was no longer a patient support specialist, she was now a manager and nurse navigator. This gave her more responsibilities but gave her less time to work on each of the many different facets of her job. I also learned that of the patients that I saw during the summer, only a few were still around. I had expected this answer before I asked the question. It is important to remember that the people that I work with are extremely ill. The survival rate is low even with the advanced medicine that Penn has to offer.

We then began to discuss what my job would entail during these four weeks. She said that she wants me to become as knowledgable as possible about this oncological branch of medicine. There are multiple different conferences and educational classes that will be happening during my time working here that Trish and I will be attending. They are all in Philadelphia so it should be no problem attending them. Trish told me that my main job would be to raise as much money as possible for the patients in need. I will also be working on a system that helps the patients continue to get money from foundations after I am gone. This is especially important with Trish’s new more executive job. She will have more responsibilities and will have less time to write grants. There will be other volunteers coming once a week certain days of the weeks and Trish told me that I will taking a leadership role and will be in charge of them.

After we finished our talk, I spent a majority of the day researching the organizations that I will be in contact with. I read through all of the applications and went on the websites to see what patients are eligible for which grants. I did see one patient and presented her with a $50 Wells Fargo Visa Gift Card. I am excited for what is yet to come and the surprises that I will face during this month.

-Matt

Pulling Out Weeds

On By Tran in DCIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Our train from Wilmington arrived in Washington D.C at 11am today. We walked eight blocks from Union Station to our hostel, heavy suitcases rolling behind and bags weighing down our shoulders. As soon as we arrived, Brad – the place owner- greeted us with a smile. William Penn House is not just a lovely and cozy community home tucked in a corner of Capitol Hill, the economic and political center of District of Columbia. It is also a Quaker hospitality center that sponsors programs and seminars on social justice and community service, targeting issues at the heart of Quaker values such as social and economic justice, sustainability and community building. Through the William Penn House network, our groups will connect with many non-profit organizations that address these concerns. Today, we spent a chunk of our time getting acquainted with two of them: Groundwork Anacostia and Capitol Hill Village.

Groundwork Anacostia DC- also called “the center for green urbanism” – is a part of Groundwork USA, a non-profit organization that works to renovate public lands through sustainable environment care and enhancement. Their hands-on programs have made tremendous improvements in the area’s landscape, fostering a much safer and healthier environment for the community. Groundwork reminds me of  another “green” NGO founded by Majora Carter  (she was a Shoemaker at Westtown last fall if you remember) called “Sustainable South Bronx” where she started green-collar job training programs that get workers out of their underemployment status, an approach that pairs together economic and environmental solutions. Even though they differ in their approach and vision, Groundwork also aims at building and improving community through tackling environmental issues.

Capitol Hill Village is a non-profit organization that takes advantage of volunteers in order to provide senior citizens the means to live comfortably in their own homes as they grow older. Today we helped clear out the weed-covered path in front of Capitol Hill Village building. As we raked through the dead leaves, the brown surface was gradually replaced with green shrubs. Little by little, our minds are also transforming, filling themselves with new realizations and understanding of the world around us.

During two weeks, how many “weeds” from our mind could we get rid of and replace them with budding life?

Tran