My trip to Arusha Tanzania
Nicola Banting (Nursing)

We found out about work the world through the trusty search engine of Google. From the moment we sent out applications to the phone call from Alison the day before we were due to travel, work the world were brilliant, always there to answer any queries or concerns that we had and proving us with all the information we needed for our trip. I can honestly say i have never know anyone to respond to emails as quickly as Alison, it made a huge difference to the planning of our trip and allowed us to look forward to it as opposed to stressing out!

Stepping off the plane in Kilimanjaro we were met by the ever smiling Freddie who was there to help us with our bags and take us to the Work the World house. The car journey on that first day was so surreal, it was hard to believe we were actually in Africa, filled with nerves, excitement and anticipation, i didn't know what to expect however, Freddie's Swahili lessons in the car definately made us feel at home!

As we arrived at the weekend we were taken straight to the house to settle in and were greeted by our amazing housemates and the work the world staff who instantly made us feel at home, we did have to wait one whole day though to experience Witness's amazing cooking, however it was well worth the wait!!!

Our first day began with an orientation around Arusha with Freddy showing us the nearest banks, internet cafe's and local shops, followed by a trip to the Massai Market which I have to say definately grew on me and by the end of my 6 weeks I was a regular visitor. Freddy gave us all the information we needed to make us feel safe and comfortable in the town and he was able to answer all our questions, it was clear to see Feddie loved his job and was extremely good at it!

Our first official day at the hospital began on the Children's Ward. All i can say is that nothing can prepare you for the culture shock you will experience on your first day. Everything is different to the healthcare we are privileged to have over in England, from the hygiene, to equipment and the environment, you truly get to see a first glimpse at the struggles the staff face every day. My first initial shock was to see 2 or maybe 3 children sharing the same bed with their mothers, as you can imagine it made it extremely difficult to access the patients, but also led to confusion when trying to hunt down notes. However, the Mount Meru staff cannot be faulted for making the best out of a situation and carrying out tasks with the best of their resources, the staff always had a smile on their faces even when presented with difficult cases. We spent 2 weeks on the children ward and then the remaining 4 on the Neonatal Unit. Although extremely upsetting and suffice to say frustrating most of the time, it was very interesting to see how premature care is delivered to babies and comparing the daily routines to the ones we are used to in hospitals at home. The staff on the Neonatal unit were amazing and so so friendly, they made us welcome from the moment we started and definately made the remainder of our hospital placement memorable!

Although the placement is a big part of the Work the World experience, fun packed weekends definately made the experience a lot better. There is never a shortage of things to do in and around Arusha and a few highlights for me included the four day Safari, seeing animals in the natural environment is one of the most remarkable things I have seen and it will stay with me forever, a definite must for everyone! For those who like the idea of climbing Kilimanjaro but are not fans of the price, climbing Mount Meru is the next best thing. This is probably my proudest achievement, i cannot describe the feeling of standing on the summit after hiking through the night, but it is definately something, i would recommend it to anyone, even if you are not a huge fan of walking! If you are not hardcore enough to stay with the Massai for the whole week like me, a day trip to the village is defiantly worth it and lots of fun, you experience how the tribe live and not to mention have a million laughs learning to dance like a massai  woman or warrior!

If you are stuck for things to do after placement during the week, visit the orphanages, Paradiso and Gohetchi. Both are brilliant places to go and play with the children. These are some of the poorest children you will ever meet but I can guarantee they will also have the biggest smiles on their faces and will have you laughing the whole time you are there. It is truly inspiring to see these young children in the environment they are in and be so overwhelmingly happy, it is definately at this point you will appreciate life and how lucky you are!

Overall my trip to Tanzania was definately a once in a lifetime experience, and work the world provided me with this opportunity. It has enabled me to experience healthcare at a completely different level, learning new things and definately appreciating the NHS!

All the staff in England are extremely helpful and the staff in Arusha; Freddy, Witness, Baptista, Emmanuel, Innocent, all of them are some of the most amazing people I have ever had the privilege of meeting and I will remember them and my trip for a very long time.  

Thank you Work the World!