Let the Count Down End!

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Over the last few days I have made very strong attempts at posting a blog: the big “10 days left” or maybe “only a week left.” Alas, no count down happened except in my head (and of course the living room as I spread out all my belongs and made the best use of the 100 lbs that I was allotted). Try to recount all the things I needed to get done before day zero was adding a ball of stress the size of a golf ball under my left scapula so I decide to push this off until my bags were checked and I was waiting at Reno International Airport, the first of the four five airports I’ll be gracing over the next 42 hours. Thankfully, the US Postal Service has those flat-rate boxes that can (if the postal gods are feeling favorable) be shipped with the rest of my food that I had to leave behind (hint hint for anyone who feels generous!!)

Packing and struggling aside, I’m full of wonder as I prepare for this adventure. I have grown weary of explaining where Chad is located, what public health does in said location, and how I came upon such an odd opportunity. I’m sure they think I am crazy but oh well. I now just say I am starting a job at a hospital on Monday.

Over the last month, I have had to buckle down and make sure things are taken care of! Calling my banks and giving my clothes away! I tried to clean my room but (sorry Mom and Kara) my family will have to take care of that. I visited friends and families. I watched as two good friends became united by that holy matrimonial ceremony that I have no desire of partaking in for several, LONG years. I ate at my favorite restaurants and indulged in my favorite family recipes. I also stopped exercise to fatten up for the circumstances ahead (just in case as I may sweat it all out in the 112 F degree weather).

All these things have helped me realize what point of life I am in currently. I have my friends and family as well as an education. I need experience (and money to pay for that education) to help move up to the next step so, I ask, why not Chad? I’d rather have a horrible time, dragging myself back to the USA with only pennies in my pocket and a full blown case of malaria than have that feeling of regret. I can’t wait to see what this community has to offer and what I can learn from them. Being able to use my skills and expertise in a full time capacity is a dream come true.

All this to say, I am excited to start on this adventure! Feel free to email me at zgately@gmail.com if you have any questions, would like to know more, or even to send words of encouragement! Thank you in advance for your thoughts, prayers, emails, letters, and of course the occasional kindle book!

Love to all,

Zach

Trying to Pack a Pachyderm

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Packing has always hit me hard. It’s the one area that I am ever so slightly OCD about. Packing for a weekend requires at least a basic list and one repack. If I am packing for a week, the list is a bit more refined and requires probably one to two repacks. And when I am packing for trip requiring special equipment like a suit or cold weather layers, I have been know to repack upwards of five times. So, as I am preparing to pack for two years, should we take bets on how many time I will rewrite and repack? Hmmmm…

So I’ve been able to find most things on my (current) list: hammock, insect repellant clothes, tooth paste, multivitamins, toilet paper, biodegradable soap, iPad, and maybe a few pens. But the other essentials like underwear or socks or sheets or meal replacement haven’t shown up in my shopping cart yet. These items are needed before I leave this current home as there are no Targets or Whole Foods Markets in Béré, Tchad. Four weeks should be enough to find it all, right?

Moving to another continent for a new job in a different culture without online shopping is going to be a life changing experience. Not necessarily in the iconic “I-live-in-a-developing-country-so-I-have-an-even-stronger-savior-complex” experience that people share up front at church about. I hope to develop my skills of a communicator and program planner. Throw in French and basic Arabic along with a smattering of local languages and I’ll truly never stop talking. Writing, planning, administering, and evaluating a grant funded project will most like cause a few mental break downs followed by amazing data that can hopefully change the way public health is viewed in this region.

I’ve never been to this region of the world but I can tell you that I am ready to see what happens! I may not be packed yet, but as I walk on to that plane as it departs Reno International Airport and try to get some rest on the following four flight, I know I’ll be ready for that adventure!

Laborious Limbo

Aside

 

 

Since graduation in June, live has been less than action packed. It’s been filled with gardening, baking, memorial service planning, and running. Reflecting on these activities now, it seems that I have turned into an 85-year-old woman. Needless to say, it has been quite relaxing. Maybe a little bit too relaxing…

I’m still preparing for my upcoming job in Bèrè, Tchad, which is ending up to be a bit more work than I have expected (as far as the preparations). Since I am not living near Loma Linda University anymore, I have had to rely on emails and conference calls to suffice for my communication with most of the preparations. Between finances, the Global Health Institute (shout out to Angeli for TONS of help), and knowing what to pack, I’ve been on the verge of pulling out my fingernails several times.

I am stoked for this opportunity but I am also hesitant, as so much has already been jumbled. This position is dripping with potential but where my abilities end and luck has to take its course is still up in the air.

My tentative leave date is September 12, 2013. Less than six weeks away and so much has to happen. What would happen if I am offered another job in Syria or Sonoma or Siberia? One that paid enough to pay off my massive student loans, plus living, plus savings, plus a trip here or there?

Professionalism is a skill that us millennial need massive amounts of help on. Its just part of “learning to grow up” I guess. If anyone has some good links or ideas on how to be professional, positive, or productive, please let me know! I am always looking for ways to be a better employee, applicant, and colleague.

Stay tuned for updates as I continue to prepare for my next adventure!

Fresh baked today!

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Public Health is Important too!

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*DISCLAIMER* I have lots of medical students as friends, I respect their ambitions, I see the importance of the career, and I know they work very hard to earn their medical degree. With that being said, please read with understanding.

I am not new to the notion of spending holidays away from my immediate family. I have spent every holiday away from family at least once, due to both choice (ie, I wanted to go travel) and to distance. Regardless, I can say that I am extremely thankful for my family, as they have supported me throughout the myriad of locals I have lived in and career choices I have brought up.

This Thanksgiving was one of those distance holidays. I had school on Wednesday so there was no way I was going to drive the 10 hours home for only 3 days. I am lucky to have my aunt, uncle, and cousin living just down the road but they weren’t doing a traditional meal this year since 1) my uncle is British, 2) who wants to cook all those dishes for only four people, and 3) we are all vegetarian. Our new family tradition is to make gourmet pizza, drink Martinelli’s, and eat apple pie. There’s much less clean up and we can move afterwards.

Still wanting some yams, dinner roast, and hot apple cider, I ventured over to the second annual “Orphan’s Thanksgiving,” reserved for those whom do not have immediate family within traveling distance over this short break. There we dived into a traditional dinner, complete with a deep-fried turkey, green bean casserole, and so much more food. The highlight had to be a dessert combination of cookie dough, double-stuffed Oreos, and brownie mix baked together.

Since Loma Linda University is a world recognized instituted (and SDA’s have lovingly called it the Adventist equivalent to Mecca), we had students represented from every school who could not go home for this holiday at this Thanksgiving feast. Among them, there were two medical students who caught my attention as they were saying their good-byes. They found out I was in public health and did the whole, “Oh. That’s nice,” with a sympathetic smile.The first medical student proceeded to name the one person in the SPH and I happen to have all my classes with him. He is also in medical school, taking a year to do his MPH in preparation for a career in infectious disease. As the conversation continues, the first medical student mentions that, “it is a nice certificate. A really good add on.” Now, I have worked both with doctors who love public health or don’t see any point in it and I can see where they come from.

But let me tell you: I am working hard for my master’s level degree. I have taken all the same science classes as the medical students as well as the MCAT but found that public health is where I want to be. I plan to continue to work hard in my field, taking care of what doctors do not have time to do.
The other medical student also shot himself in the foot as he continued to agree with the first medical student on how they don’t have time to really learn how evidence based medicine really works. He literally said that it was a good thing they had a recent MPH graduate on their research team or else they could not have found out if any of their research was even significant without her expert knowledge. If he did not have the time know learn how this works (mind you, this was during the summer which means no classes) then I am worried for when these student start practicing medicine. I want to know that my doctor has a solid understanding of why and how and if a medication or procedure will work, not just a hunch that it will work.

This situation is one of many I have recently had of how others with (or in this case pursing) higher degrees, neglect to recognize the importance of public health in the medical task force. It brought to mind several thoughts that I am personal having trouble dealing with. The largest one is what am I doing after I finish? I love public health. I also am very interested in the clinical aspect of health. I also love research, organization, traveling, history, etc., etc. The list could go on but I am still heavily considering a career in medicine, politics, or straight public health. The lack of awareness about public health in medicine both attracts me to and detours me from it.

The Thanksgiving medical students were just the example how both fields need to be better educated of the others’ world and how they need to work better together rather than so far apart. Public health needs medicine and medicine needs public health. So regardless what career I end up in, I will always have the respect to acknowledge and respect someone’s career/educations choices rather than saying it’s a nice addition.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” 1 Corithians 12:27-31

 

High schoolers and Global Health

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It’s been a busy two weeks! I finally made it to the beach this year and it will not be the last! A group of the new Global Health cohort wanted to visit the golden coast and we could not have picked a better day. Clear skies with a slight nip in the air provided the proper person-to-beach proportion. There were a few naked Europeans wading and inner city kids who didn’t know what to do with the water but over all it was simply a calm in the midst of a busy quarter.

 

With midterms last week and finishing up my telemarker job for the School of Allied Health (I hate calling and asking for money!), I was ready for that extra hour that daylight savings provided. Even then, Sunday was crazy busy with our quarterly My Campus event. This event focuses on minority youth in the local inland empire, exposing them to the health science professions, and mentoring them. This quarter was uniquely great due to the fact that the School of Public Health was featured. Since I am a Student Association Representative and I work for our Community-Academic Partners in Service (CAPS), I was recruited to lead out in our Global Health Booth.

 

As the high school students rotated around to the different booths, we had many of them very interested in Global health. The students’ aspirations varied from those who didn’t want to graduate from high school to others who were dead set on becoming neurosurgeons. Thankfully, most students seemed very interested in global health and what it could do for them. They were thrilled to know how Global Health could be added on to their current dreams of physical therapy, nursing, medicine, dentistry, or business. Later in the program, there was a “speed networking” time and most of the students had a great deal more questions on how they could incorporate Global Health into their lives.

 

It is encouraging to see that so many people are interested in Global Health. The most important thing that I wanted these students to realize is that that Global Health is not so much a degree as it is a life choice. A Global Health Professional is simply someone who works with a variety of cultures in some aspect of the health field. Research based or clinical practice, it all comes down to a life of service and a drive to work in a culturally aware environment. 

Adventure Starts Now!

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Well, that may be a lie. Its already week 5 and there have been plenty of adventures causing lack of sleep, great smiles and memories, along with a few “moments,” challenges, and cramming. I can’t believe that time has flown with this velocity. Somewhere along the way I should have hit my stride of Fall Quarter 2012, but I completely missed it.

Like you’ve seen in my past blogs (or you can read them here), I thrive on routines, lists, and time management allowing me to play all the more in between these set items. I just ordered something like 3000 sticky notes, I put up my white board, I have linked my iCal, Google calendar, and Microsoft Exchange calendar all to my phone and to each other but somehow I still can’t drag myself to run or even get to class on time.

Its really just a mind set. Though I have not taken HPRO 509, our health behavior class, I have glanced through the text book and see what I need to do to get myself going: I need a goal. A marathon to train for, a test to study for, a job to work hard for, anything to get me to keep something consistant to wake up and keep a daily routine. It seems easy to do but I’m just not feeling it quite yet.

There is a little bit of that feeling. I’ll do it for a couple of days but then I’ll miss a day and then I am thrown off. But here’s to change. Here’s to keeping that feeling going. To get in that grove and get on that adventure!