Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Thin Prep
To all of you non-medical folk this blog is concerning medical stuff but it still may be of interest to you so please continue to read. Today I found out something that really disturbed me. While I was at my desk, I overheard a co-worker talking about a new way to do Pap smears. I began to eavesdrop b/c I wanted to know about the latest medical technology. Anyways, I was shocked as he began to explain the "new" method to another doctor in the office. He stated, "Instead of putting it directly on a slide, you can put cervical cells in this type of solution which they can then fix on a slide. It is so innovative!" I was appalled at what I heard. Again, non-medical folk you may not get this, but please bare with me. I was shocked b/c the method he described is something that has been used in the states for years! Supposedly 10 years or so. And out here it is something that will not even be implemented for another 1 to 2 years! I could not believe this. In medical school, I learned of the numerous advantages of using this Thin Prep system which is so simple to use. In a country with a severely high cervical cancer rate, why don't they have it already! I am sorry this is b.s. In a country where some people can afford to drive a Lamborghini, the Thin Prep system should be used.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
That's South Africa...
Sorry it has taken me so long to write another blog. I have been on the move so much, and usually when I have time to write I am at home with only my journal to write my thoughts.
I cannot believe that this Friday will make 1 month in SA! Time has really flown by. For the past month I have been working steadily on my TBM (Tuberculosis meningitis) project on weekdays, and taking part in Jo'burg culture on weekends. So far I have been to the following towns: Sandton Mall, Nelson Mandela Square, Rosebank Mall, Newtown, Melville, Randburg. There are sooooo many towns out here in Jo'burg - I hope to step foot in every one before I leave.
This past weekend was actually a 4 day vacation for me. Yeah! In South Africa, despite the fact that Christianity is not a national religion they still observe major Christian holidays as public holidays - I actually find this quite odd. Anyways, I got Good Friday off and then this Monday was "Family Day" which we also got off. It is hard to complain about having vacation but honestly I feel like South Africans have too many days off. I feel like they make up these holidays to have an excuse for a day off. Don't get me wrong they do have holidays that commemorate important historical events like "Human Rights Day" which is in remembrance of the Sharpeville Massacre. Ok, fine have a holiday but does everyone necessarily need the day off and does everything need to close early or not even open at all. Or better yet what about "Family Day", what the hell is that? I am not a hater, but how months out of the year do South African people actually go to work at least 5 days a week every week?
I think what is most frustrating about SA culture is that I feel that people have a poorer work ethic compared to Americans. Or maybe it is that Americans work too hard? I don't know but on a regular weekday, malls, supermarkets, stores of all kinds close at approximately 6pm. On a weekend it is even worse, Saturdays stores close at 4/5pm and then on Sunday it can be the same as Saturday, closures at 1pm, or just never at all. How does the SA economy even prosper which there is such limited opportunity to produce revenues? The annoying part is that this country has the infrastructure to have a prosperous economy yet it does not utilize this infrastructure to its fullest extent to make money! There are countries in other parts of Africa that would kill to have the economical infrastructure that SA has. In addition, early store closures are a big inconvenience to the working class. If I wanted to go home to buy some chicken for dinner tonight, I would be out of luck because the supermarket is closed by the time I would get there.
What are SA options to prevent starvation during the week?:
1. Leave work early - another excuse to not work
2. Send your housekeeper if you have one
3. Shop on the weekends
4. Go to an Engen gas station and buy whatever they have there
I apologize if I am rambling or complaining so much but it hard not to compare American culture to SA culture. On the surface SA is so similar to America but when you closely examine everything the differences are quite apparent.
I cannot believe that this Friday will make 1 month in SA! Time has really flown by. For the past month I have been working steadily on my TBM (Tuberculosis meningitis) project on weekdays, and taking part in Jo'burg culture on weekends. So far I have been to the following towns: Sandton Mall, Nelson Mandela Square, Rosebank Mall, Newtown, Melville, Randburg. There are sooooo many towns out here in Jo'burg - I hope to step foot in every one before I leave.
This past weekend was actually a 4 day vacation for me. Yeah! In South Africa, despite the fact that Christianity is not a national religion they still observe major Christian holidays as public holidays - I actually find this quite odd. Anyways, I got Good Friday off and then this Monday was "Family Day" which we also got off. It is hard to complain about having vacation but honestly I feel like South Africans have too many days off. I feel like they make up these holidays to have an excuse for a day off. Don't get me wrong they do have holidays that commemorate important historical events like "Human Rights Day" which is in remembrance of the Sharpeville Massacre. Ok, fine have a holiday but does everyone necessarily need the day off and does everything need to close early or not even open at all. Or better yet what about "Family Day", what the hell is that? I am not a hater, but how months out of the year do South African people actually go to work at least 5 days a week every week?
I think what is most frustrating about SA culture is that I feel that people have a poorer work ethic compared to Americans. Or maybe it is that Americans work too hard? I don't know but on a regular weekday, malls, supermarkets, stores of all kinds close at approximately 6pm. On a weekend it is even worse, Saturdays stores close at 4/5pm and then on Sunday it can be the same as Saturday, closures at 1pm, or just never at all. How does the SA economy even prosper which there is such limited opportunity to produce revenues? The annoying part is that this country has the infrastructure to have a prosperous economy yet it does not utilize this infrastructure to its fullest extent to make money! There are countries in other parts of Africa that would kill to have the economical infrastructure that SA has. In addition, early store closures are a big inconvenience to the working class. If I wanted to go home to buy some chicken for dinner tonight, I would be out of luck because the supermarket is closed by the time I would get there.
What are SA options to prevent starvation during the week?:
1. Leave work early - another excuse to not work
2. Send your housekeeper if you have one
3. Shop on the weekends
4. Go to an Engen gas station and buy whatever they have there
I apologize if I am rambling or complaining so much but it hard not to compare American culture to SA culture. On the surface SA is so similar to America but when you closely examine everything the differences are quite apparent.
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