Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Can't Believe It's Over/Sorry for the Delay

Hey everyone!
I'm right about to leave for the airport (can't believe it's already over!). Just wanted to let you all know the status of my final posts. Long story short, I ended up spending the last few nights with family of a friend in Joburg. Between that and my stay in Thaba Tseka I've had almost no time to draft posts. I want to make sure that I spend plenty of time and love on my final week posts, so they'll be posted about a week after they actually occurred.
Can't wait to see you all soon!

Erika

Monday, August 2, 2010

Kadi's Last Day

kadi's last day was on tuesday. it was very bittersweet.

as she hugged everyone goodbye and had her name announced during morning prayer, i began to think about my upcoming (and dreaded) last day as well.

i never made a post describing a typical day in the clinic, so i don't think i ever mentioned much about morning prayer. and now as i think about this wonderful piece of my trip that i left out, i can't seem to understand how i forgot to write about this important part of everyday clinic life.

so, in an attempt to make up for it...

for the past two months i've started my day with morning prayer.

it happens at 7:50am, during which time the entire clinical staff (nurses, doctors, administrators, pharmacists, custodians) gather in a circle with the patients in the main waiting room. they sing well known sesotho hymns and follow them with a prayer (also in sesotho). although i can't understand what they're saying, it's my favorite part of every morning. it's the time when i become completely relaxed and have a few moments to simply meditate and feel connected with every worker and patient in the clinic.

it's the time when i feel free and at peace with myself and the world.