Getting Acquainted with Durban

The CFHI Durban group on the Observation Deck atop Moses Mabhida Stadium last Saturday evening.
Clockwise from bottom: myself, Alexis, Larissa, Jessica, Lindsay, Christie, Sarah, and Jennifer.

The inside of Moses Mabhida Stadium, the jumping platform is on the second highest horizontal from the arch. What a rush!!

Waving the flag to cheer on the Springboks! 

Hi everyone,

So already we've concluded our first week in Durban, the second site of my trip.  Since my last post, quite a lot has happened and I hope you don't mind me telling you about it :)

My clinical rotation last week was in pediatrics at the King Edward Hospital, a tertiary/academic/teaching hospital with over 1000 beds, under the instruction of Dr. Ramji, who has practiced there for over thirty years.  Tuesday and Wednesday we joined several interns in observing as he made his rounds about the 20-patient acute care ward (for new admits undergoing stabilization).  Because nearly all of the patients are under two, the main aspect that differentiates this kind of care from other forms of medicine is having to make conclusions from behavioral cues instead of verbal (Is he drinking water, why is she crying, are they smiling, etc.).  Thursday I moved over to the neo-natal ward, for premature newborns.  Some of these babies were born under two pounds.  Correct me if I'm wrong mom, but I think I came out at over nine, so there's some perspective.  It wasn't the easiest day for me, but it is incredible to think that many of these babies grow up to function just fine and live normal lives.

Thursday was also a big day because we finally solved our car dilemma and aquired two rentals, a manual shift (again, none of the girls know how to drive it)  and an automatic.  We took them downtown Friday afternoon to the stadiums downtown.  The soccer stadium, Moses Mabhida, has a gigantic arch spanning the length of the stadium over the field, and a cable car goes up and down along the top.  For about five dollars we were able to take the car up to the top of the arch and the observation deck, to look out and see an excellent view of the city.  The fact that the sun also happened to be setting made it quite beautiful.

Saturday was definitely the highlight of the weekend though.  Getting into town early, we arrived as the box office was opening to purchase tickets for an international rugby double-header in the evening, Scotland vs. Samoa and Italy vs. South Africa.  The South African rugby team (The Springboks) are one of the most storied teams in the country's post-apartheid history, and the subject of the film that came out a few years ago starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, Invictus.

In the meantime, Jen and I felt like putting our lives on the line in attempting the World's tallest swing, under the arch of the stadium, and over 300 feet in the air.  It was 350 steps up to the jumping platform.  Leaping off felt like free fall until the rope tethered to the top of the arch brought us gliding above the soccer field.  It was an amazing thrill, and dangling there as I was pulled back up was almost as scary as the jump!

The rugby was just as exciting.  The Samoans treated us to their tribal pre-game war dance and went on to beat Scotland.  In the stands, we heard some guys playing their bagpipes the entire time, still showing very much pride, with the crowd clapping along.  At the start of the second match, the Springbok players were greeted with thunderous fireworks and applause.  Theirs wasn't even a contest as they smothered the Italians, scoring try after try with superior speed.

This coming week may be a little trying for me, because I will be shadowing in the Surgical Department at King Edward.  The girls there last week had a great time, I hope I can get over my apparently weak stomach and really see some cool things.  There is still lots to do, and the next two weekends may be used for overnight trips to St. Lucia and the Drakensburg Mountains.  Each is about a 2-3 hour drive.

Five weeks in, and three to go, I'm very much looking forward to coming home again :)

Cheers,
David