Pictured Above: In the stands of Newlands stadium (capacity 75,000) supporting Stormers rugby! The SupeRugby league is kinda cool: it consists of three conferences (South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand), with five teams each. They play matches domestically and abroad.
Hello everyone! Sad to say, this is my final week in Cape Town. The past week has been just as eventful as the rest, and we are starting to wrap things up. I'll try to summarize it as best I can! The rest of the week and today I spent in the Trauma/ER unit of the Delft clinic. I was back with Dr. Lukhaski today, but also was able to shadow a couple other of the physicians. With very little clinical background previously, I am learning a lot! A large fraction of the cases are for chest pain, products of extensive smoking, asthma, and past history of tuberculosis. Yet I have been able to see cases that are more unique and interesting! Amputation, chest draining, and intubation are a few of the treatments I have witnessed.
Shifting gears a little, the past weekend was again packed. After climbing Devil's Peak Friday, I had the chance to cheer on the Stormers, Cape Town's professional rugby squad, play against an Australian opponent on Saturday. Stormers were definitely underdogs, but they held off the visiting Reds in a tight match and emerged victorious 20-15! It was very exciting, and followed by a very entertaining viewing of the European Champions League soccer final (Munich defeating Dortmund 2:1 in an exciting all-German final at London). Sunday was much more leisurely as we explored the neighboring town of Stellenbosch: Afrikaaner wine country.
As we get closer to departure, our touring is near complete and we've hit all the important spectacles, except for Robben Island. The former Apartheid prison for Nelson Mandela and his fellow political prisoners was one of my top destinations in Cape Town, yet with recent mismanagement the attraction is apparently not what it used to be. Nevertheless, I still find myself immersed in the relics of Apartheid every single day. It's not something I have to visit, I'm very much living in it.
As I look forward towards my flight to Durban on Saturday, I've been thinking a lot about my time here and if it met my expectations. It has, and also exceeded them. I've gained a perspective of the country through my medical work and service that I don't think any casual tourist could ever attain, yet still found the time to enjoy the city as much as anyone else. Four weeks has been the perfect length of stay. Not surprisingly, I will have to keep a closer eye on my cash flow next month...
I also think about what Durban will be like. Likely more consistently warm for a start. It also has the largest population of Indians outside of India. Mahatma Gandhi even lived there for a period of time. I have my new host family assigned, and Christie, one of my fellow students here in Cape Town will be traveling to Durban as well. We will be staying in the same household.
It's as much to think about as it is to write about! I'm glad we could catch Cape Town's last summer days, but we are seeing increasingly more rain. I hope to hit the beach in Durban often!
Hope everything's well in the mitten, keep cheering on the Red Wings to close out the Hawks!!
Best,
David
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