Medical internship in Cape Town Experience report

The beginning of my Africa adventure

When I started my adventure in Vienna I was very tense and very excited. I had to think all the time about what to expect and how I would be received in my host family.
Finally I landed in South Africa. My heart was racing wildly. Luckily I met Marica at the passport control and so there were two of us to be welcomed by the organization. Now it was time. Chad greeted us with the suitcase in hand. He was immediately very friendly and took away any fear from me. I had particular inhibitions about the English language. But right away it turned out that I mastered it. It's just a matter of practice and you'll quickly get back into English.

My great host family

After we arrived at the student house and already got to know other girls, I was brought to the host family. I was very nervous on the way there, but very excited to finally meet her. Chad told me about the family. I then realized that I would be in a different family, but my family turned out to be very loving and just perfect for me. When I arrived, my host parents and their granddaughter were in the house. There I was warmly welcomed. I was immediately embraced and kissed.

I was tired from flying, but there was no time for sleep. My host family wanted to know everything about me. I then showed them the photo album I made especially for the host family. They were also able to gain an insight into my life in Austria. We liked each other from the first moment. I already loved the family.

Safety in Cape Town

I mainly spent the first 2 weeks with the host family because I didn't have a car and was advised not to leave the house by myself for my own safety. I was a little skeptical at first because Cape Town isn't entirely safe. But I was always very careful and the host family always made sure that nothing happened to me and that I was safe. Whenever I was with the girls in the student house, the host father always picked me up. We took the minibus to get from the project to the student house.

A successful start

The orientation program was very good and helpful. I particularly enjoyed the bus tour where you could get to know Cape Town. When I had my first day in the project, I was very excited about what I would see and experience here. On the first day I was accompanied to the project by my host mom. On the second day I had to drive alone. I wasn't very comfortable with it, but I always managed it without any problems. I always thought ahead and after a short time knew the people who took the bus every day. Nevertheless, it was a special adventure for me to ride the public bus.

My internship in the clinic

I liked the medical project right from the start. I spent most of the morning in the baby ward, where I was allowed to attend births and take care of the newborns. I was over the moon in that area. That's why I decided to work at the baby station from now on, because I love children and I liked the activities. For example, I was allowed to conduct a hearing test on a baby myself.

But I also took on many other tasks. Once I was present at a mother's follow-up examination. I was allowed to remove the baby's umbilical cord and then fill out the mother-child passport. I've been a help everywhere. I found it particularly interesting when I was allowed to be present at an HIV test. I listened to the nurse explain to the teenagers why it was important to get tested for AIDS. She also spoke about the importance of contraception. I got very different insights into the clinic. I was able to thrive and enjoyed being able to get involved.

I also got a glimpse of the emergency room. I was usually here for the night shifts or when my host mom worked here too. Here you saw really violent cases that you would not see in Austria. There was a lot of work here too. For example, I was allowed to help with sewing or give infusions. Blood sugar measurement and the EEG were explained to us and we then carried them out independently. It was very exciting to work with and to be able to lend a hand. I liked the work and learned a lot of new things.

When children came to the emergency room, I was the first to take care of the children and comfort them. I studied them and examined them. The doctor was very grateful for my help because I had a good feeling for the children and was usually able to calm them down when they were crying. Especially on the night shifts I also saw very horrible things like gunshot wounds or stab wounds or other injuries like open fractures and the like. Despite all this, I loved working in the hospital and was able to convince and get more and more enthusiastic about the medical field.

The great time with friends and host family

Since the working hours were not fixed, we were able to organize our free time ourselves. Of course I also wanted to see a lot of the country and the people, so we usually thought about an afternoon program with the girls in the Student House. Despite not living with the girls, I had a very good relationship with them. Everyone accepted me and was always happy when I did something with them. In my third week, Jana, my German host sister, came to live with us in the family. We became good friends straight away and got along very well. We soon decided to rent a car and were now mobile. That was really great! From then on we traveled more and discovered Cape Town. We also did a lot of day trips on weekends. The little host sister of our family was always there. She had a lot of fun and joy and the relationship with each other became more and more intense.

I don't regret a moment in the host family. It was the best decision to stay with a host family! It was particularly great for me that I was "trapped" by the host family for the first two weeks. I was able to experience everyday life and take part in many family activities. I experienced many special events with the family. In the first week, for example, I was taken to the baptism of my little grandchild and then got to know the whole family. We also made some trips to the sea and to places that mean a lot to the family. They really let me into their life and I was very important to the family - like a new family member, a child of my own!

Abschied nehmen

It was all the harder for us all to say goodbye when I had to leave. Everyone was crying and I almost didn't make it through security. I kept turning around and thinking that I had to leave my "family" behind. I don't know when I'll be able to visit her again. But there will definitely be another visit and a new adventure. I'm really looking forward to this moment again.

I also have to say that I got on very well with the team on site. I got to know, appreciate and love everyone. Everyone became a part of me. You just belong, no matter what you look like or how you are. People just accept you for who you are.

I also had a lot of contact with the locals. I was very fond of them all and held each and every one of them in my heart. It's terrible to have left these people behind. But we'll see each other again, I promised that and that's how it will be.

Conclusion to my volunteer work in Cape Town: I want to go back!

Cape Town is really a great city worth seeing. It offers everything your heart desires - the sea, the city, the great, friendly and kind-hearted people. I'm still totally in love with this country. I miss the country and the people very much. I would like to go back!

THANK YOU for the great adventure I was allowed to experience!

Medical internship in Cape Town Experience report by Nadine K., 15.09.2015