Student in Mendoza (part 2). A firsthand student blog by Aongola Ngenda

Monday, May 14th, 2012

Today is my first official day in Mendoza.  After a long flight, I arrived and settled into the house I will be sharing with other students.  All are medical students from different areas of the UK and parts of the world, so it´s been interesting listening to their experiences of their placements so far.  Some have been on the maternity unit and I have been assured that there will be plenty for me to observe as the unit, much like my training unit, is very busy.

After being taken on an impromptu tour of the city, we settled down and had dinner. followed by a much deserved good night´s sleep.

I have found that my days are very busy and because of siesta 1-5pm when most businesses close, I am not able to update my blog as frequently as I would like.  So I have taken up writing my experiences in a notebook and then post them on my blog when I am able.

I am usually an early riser, infact, I did wake up at 5.30am much too early and went back to sleep only to wake again to find that I had ten minutes to spare until my Spanish lesson…great first impression, but all was well!  I settled into a four hour session of not just Spanish but Argentinean Spanish.  Each county in South America has a different way of using the Spanish language.  I have been introduced to ´vos´ which is ´you´ when referring to someone one is familiar with, I am relived to find that I can also use the usual ´tu´ which I am used to as well.  The session was intensive but needed, particularly learning medical based words and questions.  Our homework for the week is to create a short paragraph presentation on a medical/midwifery condition.  I picked pre-eclampsia…good luck to me.

(more…)

Student in Mendoza (part 1). A firsthand student blog by Aongola Ngenda

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

During my last day pre departure, I wrote a few scribbles down for the blog aiming to update it on the actual day, but as usual before a big trip, things didn´t go exactly to plan.  Anyway, here´s the entry that should have been posted on 13th April….

Its the day before my flight.  I have done as much spanish revision as I can these past few months in between: placement, job applicaitons, essay submissions and practice project preparation…Cheers to time management.

One of the best things about this elective placement, is the one week Intensive Spanish Course, to bring out more of those spanish words locked in my long term memory and more importantly, to learn the medical spanish which I will need to fully appreciate my experience and ask plenty of questions.

After a goodbye dinner with friends tonight, I´ll double check my bags and then I´m ready to fly tomorrow evening.  I am nervous and excited about this trip, after all the planning and juggling of work load, it´s finally time.

(more…)

Mendoza voted best city in South America!

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
Mendoza blog pic 150x150 Mendoza voted best city in South America!

A view of the city of Mendoza - check out the back drop!

The prestigious New7Wonders Cities contest finalised its first stage in March and Mendoza was voted best city in South America! 900 cities worldwide were left behind and Mendoza is now shortlisted in a group of 300 cities for the next stage of the competition.

After the selection of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and the recently chosen Seven Wonders of Nature, the creators of New7Wonders went ahead with a new global competition: the search for the seven most wonderful cities in the world.

(more…)

The Weekly Question – which experiences would you recommend to Work the World students going on placement this year?

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Here we go with another Weekly Question blog including feedback from students on placement in Africa, Asia and South America right now!

Your overseas placement with Work the World will be an invaluable learning experience which develops your skills, confidence and knowledge in your chosen discipline, but it can’t be all work and no play! Doing your elective placement abroad should also be an amazing travel adventure you’ll never forget.

This week we asked students in each of our houses “which experiences would you suggest to Work the World students going on placement this year?”

wine tour mendoza1 150x150 The Weekly Question   which experiences would you recommend to Work the World students going on placement this year?

Enjoying some Malbec!

In Argentina one of the top suggestions was hiring a two person bike and doing a wine tour. Ewa, James and Aurore who’ve all been on placement in Mendoza for a few weeks now said they would recommend that anyone going to Mendoza hires a two person bike and cycles their way around the vineyards of the region. We couldn’t work out whether it was for the beautiful scenery or the yummy Malbec!

(more…)

The Weekly Question – how do you feel about safety and security on placement?

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Very often students and their parents (OK, more often the parents!) contact us with concerns about safety and security in the countries we work in. We know that venturing to lands unknown can be daunting and often you just don’t know what to expect. That’s why we’re here to give you all the info, advice and guidance you need before you set off and while you’re away!

Ghandruk trek Nepal 150x150 The Weekly Question – how do you feel about safety and security on placement?

A stunning view on the Ghandruk trek, Nepal

Safety and security is of course a key priority for us too, which is why all of our destinations are in countries considered to be politically and economically stable by the Foreign Commonwealth Office.

(more…)

Work the World info session at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

Look out, Aberdeen!

Work The World is coming to visit!

Robert gordon uni logo1 Work the World info session at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

The info session will take place on 26 April 2012.

Robert Gordon University will be hosting an informational session for students interested in expanding their horizons with an overseas placement.

We will be gathering at the School of Health Sciences (at the Garthdee Campus) in Room H405 from 5-7 pm on 26 April, 2012 for a pizza, wine, and information session. We will be giving presentations about overseas placement opportunities and providing some refreshments so come and say hello!  There will be plenty of time for asking questions and hopefully we will have some past Work the World students attending to give you a real insight into working in a developing country.

Pop by our FaceBook Event Page to let us know if you’re coming and ask any burning questions you have before the session.

(more…)

Argentina’s Supreme Court rules for abortion

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

For many years women in Argentina have campaigned for the right to have an abortion, but as a predominantly Catholic country, doctors have only been legally able to perform the procedure on the mentally ill or where a woman’s health is at risk.

48624870946788879 KFX19Pov c 150x150 Argentinas Supreme Court rules for abortion

Campaigners for abortion rights

Today the Supreme Court decriminalised abortion for all rape victims. The unprecedented move is a huge step for socially conservative Argentina, but a necessary one. The country has uncommonly high levels of unsafe “backstreet” abortions – with over 500,000 illegal abortions carried out each year. They are blamed for causing one in five of maternal deaths and many Work the World students have witnessed the repercussions of a badly performed procedure when the patients are admitted to hospital.

(more…)

Mothers day realities – when becoming a mum can kill you.

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Mothering Sunday is a day I have always associated with flowers, chocolates and homemade cards… it marks the day I became a mum and is a time for celebration. For many women though, having a baby is not a celebration at all – it’s a death sentence.

Abby 2009 4 150x150 Mothers day realities – when becoming a mum can kill you.

Maternity practices are very different

MSF reported today that Mothering Sunday would have seen 1000 women die of maternal complications, most of which were preventable. They have released a report, Maternal Death: The Avoidable Crisis, which shows that women are continuing to die needlessly because they do not have access to the care that they need. 1000 every single day.

(more…)

Work the World sends two Pampers winners on their elective

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

We’ve just found out some exciting news about the Pampers Student Vision Awards held at the start of the year…. Rachel and Aongola, the first and second place winners are both travelling with Work the World!

pampers student vision 150x150 Work the World sends two Pampers winners on their elective
RCM magazine – January

Rachel plans to go to Sri Lanka in August and told us “It was a lovely opportunity to go to the RCM awards and I was thrilled to have a won the pampers student award.  I’m really grateful to pampers and the RCM for supporting my trip, where I will gain many new and fantastic experiences whilst exploring a new culture and healthcare system.  I’m now really excited about planning the rest of my trip and will fly to Sri Lanka in late August.’

Aongola was just as excited. ““I was amazed, shocked and excited to come as runner up.  The award enabled me to fund my elective placement to Argentina to which I am really looking forward.  Elective placements abroad provide the opportunity to observe services in other countries framed by their culture.  I am excited to be able to observe the provision of midwifery services in Argentina and reflect on the contrasts with services in the UK.”

(more…)

Hiking in Cordon del Plata Mendoza, Argentina 12

Friday, March 9th, 2012

My penultimate week in Mendoza was a busy one – I had another new housemate, a British girl called Cristina arrived on Monday. She lives in Australia and has just finished her finals. She speaks perfect Spanish as her mum is from Spain, which has been very useful! We tried lots of new restaurants in the city for lunches and dinners, and bonded over an extensive wine tasting session icon smile Hiking in Cordon del Plata Mendoza, Argentina 12

081111083752 381491 705578021055 222406985 6818380 1477659253 n 150x150 Hiking in Cordon del Plata Mendoza, Argentina 12

Fabulous views of Cordon del Plata

On Saturday we all went for lunch in Lujan with Jose. It was nice to catch up with her as she had stopped working for Work the World due to upcoming exams. After, I went to get a haircut and managed to correctly ask for the style I wanted. I was worried that I would end up with one of the mullets that seem to be so beloved by the Mendocino men!

(more…)