My trip to Arusha Tanzania
Alex Condron (Nursing)

After a long flight to Kilimanjaro airport we were met by Freddie who greeted us and took us straight for a much needed lunch before taking us to the WTW house where we were shown around and given time to settle in.  The following day was orientation day and we were shown around the local town of Arusha and got our first taste of the massai market which was definitely an experience.  Along with this we were given our first taste of the local dish Ugali (a bit like mash),  something that needs to at least be tried, and we were given our first sight of the hospital we were to be working in for the duration of the eight week placement.

During my placement I definitely experienced a lot.  I opted for 4 weeks on a surgical ward, 2 weeks on gynaecology and 2 weeks on a labour ward.  As my confidence grew I was able to participate more and despite the language barrier I was having a laugh with the staff.  As I had never had any previous experience on labour wards I wasn't sure what to expect but the doctors were very supportive and keen on teaching and so under supervision, this was where I delivered my first ever baby.  My time spent in the hospital certainly made me appreciate the healthcare services we have in the UK as much of the care provided involved improvisation using various equipment and limited space.  I was very surprised at  seeing 2 patients sharing one hospital bed, however I soon realised that this was the norm and happened on a regular basis.  Mt Meru hospital was very flexible when it came to rotating onto different wards and I always felt they tried their best to accommodate me.  The only aspect I found difficult to start with was the language barrier but with WTW providing weekly Swahili lessons and the help of a Swahili phrase book I was able to greet the patients and understand basic phrases.

During my 2 months there I was always able to fill my weekends as there were endless things to do such as the snake park or guided walks to local villages, although if you do organise a walk make sure you understand how far it is as we ended up walking many km's up a mountain in flip flops after an enjoyable evening at a local bar the night before!  Whilst all the trips were memorable the two most enjoyable were going to Zanzibar for 5 days where we experienced the white sandy beaches and turquoise seas, and a 3 day safari where we were lucky enough to see the big five as well as lots of babies due to going in March.

However it is not only weekends that you are able to fill easily.  After work there is always the opportunity to visit Paradiso orphanage only five minutes away from the house.  Despite the children's backgrounds they were always full of laughter and smiles and were able to bring a smile to the face of anyone who visited them.  One such day we took face paints with us which certainly proved a big hit, especially as we ended up with more paint on our faces than on the childrens faces.  Whilst we were there we also invited the children up to the house for a party and were able to see them enjoying the large space that surrounds the house.

Back at the house, the WTW staff couldn't be more helpful and if there was ever a problem or if you just wanted some advice or information on good places to visit they were always able to help.  Our cook Witness made amazing food and was always able to cater for individual needs and you cant fault the weekly bbqs which were often followed by a trip to the local nightclub Via Via.  Overall I cant fault my experience and most of all the help received by the work the world staff both before and during my stay and would recommend anyone wanting to experience a different culture and way of life to take advantage of the helpfulness of WTW and make the most of their support and experience.