The weekly question – What is the public transport like?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
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Safari

The majority of our students use public transport to get into town or to travel to their placement. In fact joining the hoards on a busy bus can sometimes be the best way to integrate yourself into local life. Trips to work can also provide some of the funniest travel experiences of your time away. We asked our students “ what is the public transport like in your area” in the hope we might hear about some of these funny and typical travel experiences. We had some fantastic responses from each of our destinations, with real insight into each country.

Starting in Africa;

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Weekly Question ”Why would you recommend your destination to future students”

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

We get hundreds of students coming to us knowing they want to do a clinical placement overseas, but with no idea exactly where they would like to go. If this sounds familiar then maybe our current students will help you decide…..

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Prasanga the caterer and the gardener Uncle

Katie and Clare in Sri Lanka have a list too long to post but here are some of our favourites; (more…)

The weekly question: What is the structure of a typical day on a placement?

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

A couple of weeks ago we had a blog about a typical day on placement in Mendoza Argentina, it proved to be extremely popular so we decided to ask students in all of our destinations how they were finding there time on away.

We try and give you an idea before you head out to your chosen destination what a typical day might be like even though I think we all know, each day can be completely different.  Below provides you with an insight into the average day of a student on placement with us.

Kate is currently in Sri Lanka and her day’s starts at 7am sharp with a shower and breakfast before heading out to get a tuk tuk to the hospital for an 8am start

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On ward round in Sri Lanka

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Radiography in Dar es Salaam – Society of Radiographers winner reflects on his trip.

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

Student talk, the site provided by the Society of Radiographers, has run a great interview with David Evans, the winner of the Work the World and SCOR competition last year. David provides an amazing insight into what his placement in Dar es Salaam was like, and the reality of studying radiography in the only specialist cancer hospital in the country. Have a read below, or check out the student talk site.

If you want to enter the competition this year, follow the link …. and good luck!

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Rob’s Swahili lesson – part six!

Friday, September 9th, 2011

One of the most useful things you can learn before you placement is the Swahili for different areas of the body. Our final lesson for now is on “anatomy”:

Mwili – body

Kichwa – head

Kifua – chest

Tumbo – stomach

Mkono – arm

Mgu -leg

Mfupa – bone

Mgongo – back

Jichi (Macho) – eye (eyes)

Sikio (Masikio) – ear (ears)

Pua – nose

Mdomo – mouth

Ulimi -tongue

Shingo – neck

Rob’s Swahili lesson – patient interactions!

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

We thought it would be a good idea to work on  “patient interactions”, so here is your next lesson:

Tulia – relax

Kaa chini – sit down

Fanya hivi – do this / follow me

Unaumwa nini? – What is the problem / illness?

Ulianza nini? – When did it start?

Rob’s Swahili lesson – introductions!

Monday, September 5th, 2011

The third area we focussed on is “introductions”:

Jina langu ni …(name) – my name is …

Ninatokea …(country) – I’m from …

Nina ishi …(address) – I live …

Nimefurahi kukufahamu – Please to meet you

Asante – thanks

Asante sana – thanks a lot

The Weekly Question – What has been your clinical highlight this week?

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Often students tell us of rare and tropical diseases that they’ve only read about in the past. Whether it be differences in the treatment of patients, unseen diseases or progressed pathologies, an overseas placement can provide a fascinating learning environment. We have asked this question a few times but we always get some really interesting answers… What has been your clinical highlight this week?

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On the ward in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka after three weeks on the surgical ward Julie’s really built up the trust between herself and her local colleagues “I’m treated as a team member.  I had my own patients for wound care management and contributed to a burns victim dressing. This was a new approach, which had a good effect on the staff and patient as dressing time became less dramatic.”

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Rob’s Swahili lesson – manners!

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Our second focus lesson was on manners!

Sawa – ok (used for agreement. In Mwanza the locals love to say “Sawa sawa”)

Mbaya – bad

Ndio – yes

Hapana – no

Tafadhali – please

Samahani – excuse me

Naomba – I would like…

Hakuna matata! – no problem!

Sije elewa – I don’t understand

Rob’s Swahili lesson – Greeting!

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

Jambo guys!

For this second Swahili language blog I have enlisted the help from Joe our fantastic Swahili teacher who teaches the students in the house twice a week.

Joe runs through a range of really useful words and phrases over the course of the short videos.

Below is an accompanying transcript of the language points Joe covers. We both hope this will really help you with pronunciation. Practice saying the words aloud as you listen, and in a few viewings you will be all set for your arrival in Tanzania!

Bahati Njema (good luck)!

Mambo – Hi, how are things?

Jambo – Hello

Poa – Cool (you know this one already from the last post!)

Safi – good

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