anew ethos

Reality

2010-08-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

Reality is something I am learning is different for everyone. As ironic as that may seem. Logic appears to be completely absent at times here, especially in regards to health beliefs. But then I have to stop myself and remember that we all start our knowledge base with what we are taught by our culture, our parents, our surroundings. The other day I was told not to shower after I had worked a long, hot day out planting seeds at a farm. I should not have been surprised by this, as I´ve been warned by other gringos of this belief, but since I am working in a well developed NGO with educated Nicaraguans, I was. Apparently hot and cold can´t mix here, so if I was to take a cold shower (realllly cold, bucket shower) while hot, I could die. Or experience a lot of pain. When I responded saying I had done so the night before, after a long days work and heat, I was given then answer that gringos must have different bodies, or that it was only because I was accustomed to it. One girl even warned me that the pain would come years later, and then I would realize that it was a bad thing to do.

Hot and cold health theories go well beyond just hot bodies and cold showers...they even go into the diet practices...such as a cold drink with a hot plate of food (bad), spiritual practicies...such as women who have just given birth not being able to go to cemetaries for 40 days because of cold spirits (that could infect their warm uterus that just gave birth)...and the list goes on.

How does one spread health knowledge and contribute to development when up against such beliefs? I try to be respectful, and remember that they have believed this their entire lives, so I am not going to change it in one conversation. But at some point I wonder if its possible to merge cultural medical practices with scientific ones, or if they just contradict each other too much. I suppose thats why its development work...little by little, very slowly, progress is made.

This is my last week or so in La Dalia, then I will have a few days of evaluations and working on my reports for school, a week for vacation here, and then I am back to the states.

I will miss my family here I know...but I can´t wait for a good meal that does not consist of rice and beans.

Photos

2010-07-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun shots...with my host family, and with the ladies at the Casa Materna...which is where the women here go when they are far along in their pregnancy. They live there until they give birth because it is a way of insuring that they will have access to good medical care when they are in labor. The infrastructure in the country is too difficult otherwise to get a woman to the hospital once she is already in labor, so instead they come and live in the city and wait for the big day to arrive.

They have a beautiful set up at this Casa Materna, including an oven that never gets used because no one feels capable of baking. So, I went and gave a baking lesson...we made cookies, pan simple (bread) and banana bread. They big concrete looking thing in one of these photos is the oven..its an outdoor barrel oven, made with a big metal barrel, white clay and bricks...heated by firewood. Also, there is a beautiful mural painted by the last Peace Corps Volunteers in the courtyard.

my host family

2010-07-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

When I get a chance, I will borrow a camera (I forgot the charger for mine...boo) and take a picture with my family. But for now, just a quick reflection.

I live with a family of 5 -- mom, dad and three kids. Erich is 14, he`s shy with me. Angelica Maria is 12, and I love her..she is learning English and wants to practice with me every night after dinner. She is quite motivated, and she tests me on my Spanish vocab as well, so its mutually convenient. Then there is Erling, who is 7, and an adorable little boy.

The family is quite modest and humble, and I am already falling in love with them. They are all beautiful, with big brown eyes, and beautiful skin...but they are also very nice, and always concerned for my well being. My host mom asked me the first day what I like to eat, and then immediately went to buy it...ALL of it..lol. This is rare from what I have experienced here so far...usually I am only offered what is normal to eat, but she is very concerned with me eating what I want.

Anyways, more later, but I love them.

vamos a ver...

2010-07-13T18:53:00.001-07:00

I leave for La Dalia first thing in the morning, and I am nervous, excited and a little bit worried about my ability to adapt. I do not know too much about what I will be doing..
What I know of my situation in La Dalia is that I will be working with the AMC office in the city, and going out to 5 different communities in the campo to shadow and assist with health projects. I will be living with a fairly poor family, and will be using a latrine and bucket shower. I know I will be giving charlas in the schools about health and hygiene, and I will be working with land banks in different communities to diversify their crops, recycle their water for irrigation and possibly much more. I want to think about what all I can do, but I know I should be much more focused on what I can learn. I am learning rapidly here how much I actually do not know, and how big the world really is.

So, for now, I will be reflecting on what I admire in this culture, and packing my bag that keeps getting tighter everytime I repack it..even though I feel like I am using stuff up.

Something I enjoy about the culture, especially in the campo here is that the people have an unwritten code of conduct regarding the stop and chat. It is normal and expected to greet practically everyone you pass by on the road. Sometimes if you are lucky you will get a goodbye or hello followed by chuckles of satisfaction at knowing an English word. But the greatest thing to me is that they have an out for the stop and chat. If you are not available or really just not interested in stopping for a uneventful conversation with an aquaintance, or really even someone you know well, you just say Adios instead of Buenas. that easy. and in the campo they say Adiooo.. and let the word just linger in the air incomplete as they pass by. What a nice cultural norm to have a way of still being friendly, and acknowledging that we do not always need to stop for someone we know. Perhaps its the small town mentality, where you see them all the time, so its easier to just keep walking.

For now, I am going to focus my attention on the things I enjoy, so that I dont spend much time worried about the things that will probably be uncomfortable.

[dear people who are commenting on my posts frequently in Chinese...though I appreciate you reading my blog, please write in English or Spanish when you comment, or stop writing comments. thank you.]

a day in the life

2010-06-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

my day yesterday:

2 hr express bus to Managua from Matagalpa at 6:00am

Sat in AMC office for 2 hours waiting for a ride to the dentist

Root canal at the "rich people's" oral surgeon who charged me $300...less than my copay in the US

Back to AMC office, ran into my padre de Nica, who offered me a ride back to Matagalpa in the back of his truck

Waited 2 hours for him to return from a mysterious meeting

Loaded 6 cases of latex condoms in the back of the truck.. 43200 in total, boxes marked keep in a dry, cool environment...that my padre says are for the hombres del campo who don't like using them. Public health in the field...picked up 3 family members, and headed to the mall where they bought new clothes. +1 hour.

Then to the Nica version of a Sam's club that I'm pretty sure is owned by Walmart +40 mins

Then to Matagalpa.. 3 - 3.5 hr ride that should've taken 1.5 hours, luckily I was comfy enough to sleep.

I slept on the mini seat with cushioning and felt like I was being smuggled into another country. I'm getting better and better at sleeping anywhere when the need arises.

Arrived home at 8pm, could've been home by 4 if I would've taken the bus, but by far an exciting cultural experience.

Things I'm learning: I have no patience, though I thought I did. Probably in part because I'm used to Philadelphia, but I'm gaining more every day, which is good for me, and character building.

Public health in the field means giving up the best case practice for the overall goal sometimes...i.e. transporting condoms in an open pick up truck ...boxes which are marked "keep in a cool, dry place" ...whilst driving in 90 degree heat in the day and rain after dark.

Is Paul Farmer right that we should not settle for giving poor people just "appropriate" technology that sacrifices quality for quantity....or is that just not realistic in a place where its difficult to accomplish even the quantity part?

Things I love today: the fact that I learned how to talk in future tense. And that Nicaraguans are so patient, and understanding of my poor Spanish grammar. And that they all live together, and love each other regardless, with more patience and sacrifice than I can imagine.

I'm also grateful for the Scottish and Canadian girls down the street who gave me lasagna tonight. Thank God for Italian food when beans and rice just aren't cutting it.

estoy viviendo donde mucho es diferente, pero sigue siendo lo mismo

2010-06-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hola amigos.

Its been a while, and there's much to tell. So far, so good considering. I've had a series of health frustrations...but, I'm still in one piece. As my AMC supervisor puts it, my body is adjusting to a whole new world of bacteria and its information overload.

Besides that, I've made so much progress with my Spanish studies, and I'm very excited to continue my studies.

What I've noticed the most so far are the cultural similarities and differences. Similarities first. The shopping culture here is very much like that in the states. People have a lot less money, but everything costs a lot less, so in some odd way, it works out...at least in the city...except for those who purchase brand name clothes for the same price as they would in the states. LOCO. In the campo (country) where people are much poorer, my opinion is that it doesn't work out, because people do not prioritize the important things, such as diversifying their diets, buying medicine and soap..etc. Instead, they spend money on cell phone minutes, bags of chips and sodas. Often I see television sets and cell phones in houses with dirt floors where people eat beans and rice for every meal. Its so similar to what I felt when I worked with a poor population in North Philly -- very poor conditions, but satellite dishes on their rooftops.

Things I've noticed that are different are interesting, because I'm learning that not everything is what it seems -- I assume certain actions to be inherently natural, as if they are instinctual part of human nature. What I'm learning here is that assumption is far from true. For example, to point at something, people here use their lips, not their hands. To wave for someone to come over, they point their hand down and wave, not up. One thing I am most grateful for is the whole emphasis on word problems in the States -- we learn logic through paragraphs of words where we have to sort out what is important for solving the problem, what is just extra detail, and how to logically work through that. Here, they do not have such education..and its obvious. And it makes me feel really impatient. But, I'm learning more patience and how to be a much more empathetic and understanding individual.

Mi primero semana en Nicaragua

2010-06-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

Week one has been a good introduction to my summer. After my arrival, I hung out with the peace corps group for a training...Michele and other volunteers spent the day training new trainees (aspirantes) on food security. It was fun to meet people and spend a day seeing what Michele has been working on.

On Saturday night after the training, we went to Michele´s training town in Fatima and met his host family from his first three months here. They were quite hospitable, and his host sister was excited to take us dancing at a festival in the town nearby. It was just like a carnival in the states...cheesy rides, and fried food, and a concert with a boy band...a bunch of teenagers dancing. Good times.

We returned to Managua the next day, and arrived in Matagalpa, where I am studying Spanish for the month of June on Monday evening...just in time for the foreign bacteria in my stomach to settle in. Within a few hours I was violently ill, the onset of which conveniently happened on my way to the bathroom at a cafe...luckily it was out the top end! And, lucky for me, Michele stayed and took care of me, got me cipro, and made sure I got better before he left for his site. No pasa nada.

I´m doing great now, no health problems (knock on wood) and I´m settled in quite nicely with my host family. I´m learning Spanish quickly, though its tricky with native speakers, because they talk soooo fast! My host family is quite hospitable, and fairly wealthy I imagine...I have a toilet and shower, and they have nice tile floors. Its normal in the city, but outside of the city it is much more poor. So, this is good for me now to get aquainted with the culture and the language, and then in July, I will probably have to adjust to poorer conditions.

Today´s cultural observation...in Nicaragua, the taxis pick up as many people as can fit in the cabs, even on different trips, as long as they are all going the same direction. Logical for them, better money for them, but a strange adjustment for me. They also charge more to give you a ride home at night than during the day...perhaps its more of a risk for them to be driving at night?

More to come later...for now, I must go to the park and see the girls from my family dance in a festival!

Safe arrival

2010-06-04T09:23:00.001-07:00

I'm safe and enjoying my morning here in Managua, on my first day of this summer adventure. Thanks to all for the encouragement and support.

I'll be heading up to my language school in Matagalpa on Monday, and then La Dalia in July for my internship.

Here's the NGO I'll be doing the internship with, in case you want to know what they are up to: http://www.amcenglish.org/

Exciting things to come!!

the next chapter

2010-05-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Long time without a blog...so here's the latest news.

I've been given the opportunity to go abroad for an internship in Nicaragua this summer. I will be working in northern Nicaragua, with an organization that assists in communities with health issues. Hopefully I'll get some experience with sanitation and hygiene education, as well as working with water resource management -- perhaps digging wells, securing safe water, building latrines to protect the groundwater, etc. We shall see. I'm being told by the organization I'm going with that everything must be flexible in Nicaragua...so, we may plan for something, but that never guarantees it will come to fruition. That's obviously the case for every development project I would assume...

So, this means I've resigned from my job -- my last day is in less than two weeks, and I fly out the next day. Its all very exciting. I must say, with all the arrangements and such, this has been an incredibly smooth process, and every step of it has been good. I don't feel much resistance or difficulty at all, which reassures me that this is the right decision for me. Its a truly great feeling of peace, to know that I am making a major life change and I feel totally confident that it is the right choice. Especially for someone as indecisive as myself, this has been an amazing blessing for me. Oh - and I did end up getting that scholarship :)

I will do my best to update this blog with news of my latest adventures, so be sure to check back.

pretty please

2010-04-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

hoping for a scholarship to come through...I should find out this week. It would be incredibly helpful and release me from some obligations that need to be let go of.

say a prayer for me!

sex ed

2010-03-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

I taught a sex ed class at a Catholic church last weekend. In the sanctuary. To a group of adults in a premarital class at the church...all immigrants I think, not sure. And the priest asked us to teach on contraceptives and reproductive health. We passed around condoms, and showed them what different forms of birth control were available. We told them of clinics where they could get affordable reproductive care.

They asked questions about orgasms, periods, hormones and the like...and listened comfortably, all while a statue of Jesus and Mary stood behind us at the altar.

I'm impressed with the progress this church has made. We need a church that views sex as part of life, instead of only as taboo. We need proper education and equality to be promoted in the church, if we expect people across the world to progress, especially when so many around the world still rely on the church for their guidance. We need population control, we are on our way to 10 billion people, a # so large that our Earth will have difficulties sustaining us, and wars over water, food and land are inevitable...we need people to be responsible about having children, especially when they are barely affording to feed themselves. Not to imply at all that people of any socioeconomic status have less rights than others to reproduction. But, we are no longer in the age where you have 10 kids in hopes that 5 survive, at least not in the US. Let's stop acting like we are and start being responsible with the science and medicine available to us.

why health reform matters

2010-03-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

Last night I volunteered at the clinic I am a coordinator of in South Philadelphia, one that primarily serves Mexican immigrants. It was a good time. Besides getting to work side by side with bright and interesting students from all over Philly, I got to talk with patients and practice my Spanish.

What struck me most was how great of a relationship the doctors and nurses of this clinic have with the members of this community. The patients are treated for free, and many walk in without appointments and are unsure of how good they will be treated, weary of past experiences at other free clinics. But, they have no choice as they work in restaurants in Philly, without insurance, and barely make ends meet. Greeted with a warm smile, they are welcomed in for a thorough checkup, no strings attached. There is always detailed care given to every patient, with ample time taken and all concerns addressed.

In the regular health care world, doctors have to see patients every 7 minutes or less in order to make enough money to support their practices. Insurance companies pay only a portion of what the initial invoices list, though they make millions off of people to ensure that they are treated properly. Why is this a problem? Because doctors have to worry more about costs and time than they do about their patient's well being. They have to rush through appointments, missing important clues in patient cases, and above all, they have very little time for establishing great relationships. In my opinion, health care is a field where relationships are required for the comprehensive care of a sick person.

Why do I say all of this? Because our country is in need of change. Health insurance companies should not hold the power to the treatment of patients. Health care providers should. The doctors and nurses who I know didn't get into the field to keep insurance companies booming...they got into it to make a difference in peoples lives. Making an easy buck is the last thing the students eagerly learning in this clinic are thinking of.

Consider it: supporting health care reform

Unlearn it: that people only deserve the health care they can afford...what if you didn't have money or a job with insurance?

Engineering a future in sustainable health

2010-02-26T05:47:00.000-08:00

I am almost at my half way point in the spring semester, and on my way to class last night, I surprised myself with motivation I would've never imagined having. I'm taking an engineering of sustainable water and sanitation resources course...a sort of glorious meshing of theory pertinent to my public health studies and frightening three-page-long math equations.

As a psychology undergrad student at Drexel, a very strong engineering school, I have years of ridicule under my belt for going to a technical school to earn a liberal arts degree. Never did I have an interest in even taking a peek at what engineers learned, nor would I have had the courage. Not to downplay the hard work that is put into earning a Bachelors of Science in Psychology...I definitely did my share of work. Drexel actually has quite a decent program. But I successfully avoided all things engineer related during my time there.

Now, here I am, a few years later, a bit more brave and curious, and I decided to take this ESE course at the masters level. At UPenn no less. My auto response is oh my goodness what was I thinking. But last night, having 3 pages of math written out for homework, none of which actually arrived at a correct answer, and on the brink of another snow storm, I still did not even hesitate to go to this class. I looked at the topics for the lecture on the syllabus, and was so excited to learn what they were teaching that my motivation completely overshadowed my dread of more hours of math and driving home late in a snowstorm.

Needless to say it was worth showing up to class. I've been learning about gravitational factors in water catchment, velocity and flow of water sources, calculation of head loss and diameters for the selection of proper piping for a safe water system, finding hydraulic grade lines, and how all of this has a real world impact on the health of the people I wish to serve. Who would have ever imagined I would be the most eager student in an all engineers course? I really hope this knowledge I gain will compliment my work in public health, and keep me up to speed on the necessary technical aspects of this field.

A thought to preface a future blogpost: we discussed which should be priority when only one option is feasible...providing a community with access to sufficient amounts of fairly clean water (which may still have some contaminants) and emphasizing hygiene methods for prevention (i.e. hand washing) or providing a completely pure water source, even if it does not yield enough water to meet the needs for high hygienic standards. Which do you think is more effective in public health prevention?

Consider it: giving a completely different discipline a bit of your attention...to find how it can compliment your knowledge and broaden your capabilities and creativity in your field.

Unlearn it: mentally disposing of all the math in your head once you are out of freshman level undergrad because you "will not need it" in your field (trust me, not the best approach...)

birthday wishes

2010-02-22T11:43:00.000-08:00

looking forward to good health and lots of learning, love and growth in my 25th year.

:)

Cafe Harvest

2010-02-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite experiences while I was in Nicaragua was touring a coffee farm, picking the berries with the workers and learning all about the process of prepping coffee for sale. I learned the entire process, from the tree all the way to your cup. I think that Mike's blog sums it up best, so with permission...I'm sending you there, because I couldn't do a better job at explaining. He's got some great photos too.

Cafe Journey, from the tree to the cup

I really enjoyed learning about it, and it gave me insight into the inequality of what we value. A coffee harvester in Nicaragua may make $10 on a good, 8 hour day. He or she usually does not have steady work outside of the coffee harvest season, meaning that $10 a day for four months has to sustain them for an entire year. Unfortunately, it seems many Nicaraguans do not have the education to know how to properly budget, so that money does not end up lasting them an entire year, which contributes to their extreme poverty. What struck me the most was reflecting on coffee culture there versus in the US. There, it is their livelihood, and people wait and rely on coffee to ensure they will have money to feed their children. Here it is to some what keeps them moving, but it is the livelihood of very few. Few who are paid well, even Starbuck's employees get health benefits if they are part time, and I'm sure no one makes under $7 an hour. So, we as the coffee drinkers spend on average $4 a cup for this delicious product, and then we throw out the paper and plastic is packaged in and forget all about it. In Nicaragua, they are paid about $1 per 5 gallon bucket of coffee they pick. When I picked, Mike and I shared a basket and in over an hour we only picked half of a bucket. Granted, we are not skilled at this sort of thing, but it was still a timely process. Then, the farmer who does all the work of fermenting, washing, depulping and prepping the coffee still does not make anything in comparison to the coffee shops who sell it.

Perhaps we as the consumer value the coffee we are drinking, and are willing to pay fairly for what it is worth. But the companies who are paying for the product to serve are not sharing the profit fairly. It does not make sense to me that one of the most profitable markets in the US would still leave those producing the product in poverty. I'm no economist, but I'd venture to say that we are not acknowledging the true cost of coffee. Someone always has to pay, like I learned in Economics back in high school, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Consider it: buying only fair trade coffee products

Unlearn it: that the coffee you are consuming has no consequences to those on the other side of the planet.

what's in the water?

2010-01-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

Sorry its been a long break between posts. I have had so many observations in public health this month that I can't wait to share.

My adventures in Panama and Nicaragua were quite enjoyable. I was able to travel a great deal, and to spend time at Michele's site in the mountains of Jinotega. I learned how to milk a cow, make cheese, produce coffee from tree to cup, and to surf. Michele and I went surfing on one of our last days and we were both able to stand up on our boards a couple of times, which we were quite proud of. I have so many fun and wonderful experiences to share. The interaction with the children was one of my favorite parts...but that is for another blog post.

As for now, I'm quite reflective on why my energy and interest has been consumed with learning about safe water management. Up until this trip, I understood the importance of water from a spoiled American's perspective, with most of my passion based on what I have learned in text books and class. I've traveled a bit, I know not to use the tap water and what the consequences are when you forget and rinse your toothbrush in the tap water. Or so I'd thought.

The last few days of my trip, I started having spells of stomach sickness (to put it nicely), and figured it would go away on its own. Now, 3 weeks later, I believe I may have a visitor who has made a cozy home in my intestines. Naturally, as a public health student specializing in safe water and sanitation, it irks me to think that I was not careful enough with my water consumption. How could a parasite or any form of contamination enter my body?

Then, I reflected on what I ate, drank and was exposed to, and I realized how extremely difficult it is to avoid exposure to protozoa and other pathogens when the water of a community is not safe. The only things I can come up with were coffee in a local's home (which I assumed was boiled) and juice at a restaurant (who uses bottled water, but perhaps the ice cubes were from the tap???) Imagine what it must be like for those who live with such conditions. I'm sure their bodies adapt and for many, immunity builds and they are not always this sick. I know you can build tolerance to certain bacteria, which is why that's what I thought this was (as Michele did not get sick and has been there 8 months now). But I tested negative for a bacterial infection, and was given antibiotics just to be safe...which do not seem to be working.

I'm not certain of the immunity one can build for parasites. Perhaps its more of an adaptation to the lifestyle of constant exposure, where you always have symptoms. There is only so much any digestive system can tolerate before its too much and unfortunately, survival of the fittest often dictates the outcome. Most of the time, children are the ones in a community who suffer the most, with severe illness and death. I now understand why so many children -- between 1.5 & 2 million a year -- die from diarrhea related illness. When someone spoiled, like myself, who is educated on the consequences of dehydration, and who has access to a flush toilet and adequate safe water and sanitation...and warm showers for that matter...has difficulty staying well with this, one can only imagine how a child in an underdeveloped context, with parents who are not educated on the consequences of dehydration, can so easily die.

The bittersweet part about this experience for me is that even though I am miserable, and shamefully have been throwing myself a pity party, I now have first hand experience on why it is soooo incredibly important to teach people about safe water, and to bring it to as many as possible. A great life truth really, that I had to get ill myself in order to really see what I'm investing in this education for. And for now, I have self diagnosed with having Giardia, which is a parasite with quite a few unpleasant symptoms, all of which I have. Nothing has shown up in my lab results yet though, and I've been told by several (including doctors) that Giardia seems to be one of the most difficult to diagnose, as it easily sneaks by undetected in labs. Many are warning me of the long road ahead on the path to feeling better...which I am refusing to believe. Perhaps they'll find something and treat it. Perhaps there really is nothing there, and I'm just a hypochondriac who is self diagnosing.

Or perhaps I'll get tough and tolerant in the meantime.

Consider it: being grateful for clean, safe water that is easily accessible.

Unlearn it: that nice solid, healthy looking poop is what everyone in the world must see everyday, because you do. Or for that matter, that some people ever see it or get that satisfaction.

Another semester done...

2009-12-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness!! Finally free to pack and clean and get ready for my adventures with Mike in Panama and Nicaragua!!! So, so very excited. :)

Check out my final paper, on child marriage and pregnancy. I think it turned out pretty good...could've been better with less procrastination, but overall I'm happy its done, and I'm homework free for the next month!

If you read it, drop me a comment and tell me your thoughts. I welcome comments and criticisms! I'm always trying to get more insight into my writing. :)

Happy Holidays and stay warm!!

Density Equalizing Cartograms

2009-12-10T07:04:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of maps -- I find that they can be a great tool for illustrating a point, and for better understanding a concept. Gapminder is one of my favorite websites for this. In class the other day, one of my professors was using a different kind of map, which I found to be quite useful for his points.

Density Equalizing Cartograms are maps where sizes of countries are illustrated according to whichever variable you are assessing...so, land area obviously shows a regular map:

Nothing you haven't seen before, I know. But check out these other ones.
Total population:

Total wealth distribution in 2002:

Distribution of girls in the world not enrolled in primary school:

Those with lack of basic sanitation:

HIV prevalence:

Malaria Deaths:

Diarrhea Deaths:

Lack of Nutrition related deaths:

Water Use:

Military Spending in 2002:

Public Health Spending:

Check out more at: www.worldmapper.org

Immigrant Health

2009-12-04T06:53:00.000-08:00

I have been volunteering this semester at a health clinic in South Philly that primarily serves Mexican immigrants. It is a great program, and seems to provide great services to a community who otherwise would probably not have access to health care, which translates to them waiting until they have serious medical problems landing them in the ER. This program encourages prevention health care and easy access to doctors, so that ER visits are minimized and the population stays healthier.

Almost all the workers in the clinic are volunteers, myself included. With a few attending doctors, and then medical students and a mix of others such as myself. I decided for 2010 that I want to commit myself more to this program, as I really believe in their mission, and it will also give me a great opportunity to develop my skills in public health outreach and hopefully Spanish!!

So, I applied and was accepted as one of the Programming Coordinators. Which basically means that I will be on a team who develops and organizes health education and outreach programs for the community. I think this will be a fantastic experience for me, and I hope to develop relationships with the other volunteers as well as members of the Mexican community.

My ideas right now include workshops such as:
Agriculture / migrant workers healthy habits
Stress management, including learning about blood pressure, anxiety, depression, etc.
Women's health
Parenting healthy children

we shall see what can be developed. I'm very excited for new challenges and experiences in 2010!

Learning it: Spanish!!

Unlearning it: Over committing myself -- I think this program is a great fit for me, because I will be working with other people to develop programs, I won't be on my own. I think I'm establishing a good balance: work, school, yoga/exercise & volunteering (with some socializing in the mix!)

how to avoid yellow fever.

2009-11-24T17:34:00.000-08:00

and no, I'm not referring to a pursuit of Asian women. Ironically, the real virus does not actually occur in Asia...hmmm.

Anyways, so, I am traveling to Panama and Nicaragua in a month (SOO excited!!) and I called travel medicine (after my primary doc turned me down), to see what, if any vaccinations I was required to get before traveling.

I was told a whole laundry list of suggested vaccinations, and one requirement of yellow fever. Apparently I won't be allowed past customs if I do not show proof of this vaccination. When I asked the cost, I was told that they do not accept insurance, and its $75 for the visit and $150 for the vaccine. So I've called around to CVS, other travel medicine offices in Philly, and the cheapest I can find is $180 total.

So then, I was driving to work the other day and heard a story on NPR about a campaign being launched in West Africa for the yellow fever vaccine to be given to 12 million people. So, today in class, I asked, how much will these people (or whoever is assuming the burden of cost for this campaign) paying per vaccination?

I was not given any direct answers. Just that its all relative, to the supply and demand, to the amount being produced at once, to the area of the world its going. Which I understand. But a final guess put the estimates between $3 - $5 for a drug company to produce one vaccination. And, I am all for West Africans getting vaccinated.

But how is it that drug companies in my own country charge me so much more? I suppose I shouldn't gripe, because I'm much wealthier as an American than most African's will ever be. But, I'm seriously going to try to butter up one of the drug reps that comes in to chat up our docs everyday, and see what I can do to get my hands on one of these $3 vaccinations.

Another example of how capitalism is just not all its cracked up to be.

Considering it: Being grateful for the luxury of living in a country where yellow fever isn't a risk.

Unlearning it: Entitlement to cheap vaccinations.

a sunshiney day of library time.

2009-11-15T10:48:00.001-08:00

Today I spend my day in the library. Writing my term paper on the link between women's health disparities and early marriage and pregnancy in underdeveloped areas of the world. And prepping for a statistics project.

Normally this would be exciting...I LOVE the library. I love the smell of old books, the quiet, setting up shop for 8 hours researching and writing and being my usually nerdy self. I must say, its been a while since I set up camp for such a day, mainly because that length of concentration is not my strong suit anymore. But today may be especially challenging...its mid November and 71 degrees outside right now. And I want to go play!! But, its also 3 weeks from due dates on all of my term projects, so..play time must wait.

I guess this comes with the territory of mastering an area of expertise.

wish me luck!

APHA conference reflection

2009-11-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

My day yesterday was filled with lectures, debating and a great movie.

I went to the APHA (American Public Health Association) conference, whose theme this year was WATER. How convenient for me, as this is one of my favorite topics, and hopefully an option for my masters research and thesis.

I was able to attend presentations on everything from hand washing programs in Africa, bottled water in the US and sanitation and safe water access in El Salvador. It was inspiring, frustrating and informative. Most global health lectures mentioned how great the Peace Corps is and how everyone interested in working in global health should consider joining.

Most also talked about how desperate the need is for safe water and proper sanitation in developing nations, and the programs that have made a difference so far.

A few points that stuck out to me, some of which are opinions of the presenters:

- Chlorine water treatment (point of use and for storage) is the cheapest immediate solution for providing safe water. But how sustainable is it? It appears better for the long run to invest in potable water systems.

- Bottled water is not regulated nearly as much as tap water, and has been found to have levels of contaminants above what is regulated for tap water. It is also bad for the environment, as plastic water bottles cannot be recycled back into another plastic water bottle, they are used for fillers, chairs, etc. Bottled water though in vogue right now, is not sustainable nor is it as safe as drinking tap water.

- In regards to global health outreach: don't go into a community where you are not invited. The people you are helping should always be willing and enthusiastic about working alongside of you, not expecting a mere handout. Otherwise, the solutions will not sustain when you leave.

- Charity, or handouts, though good for the short term, is not sustainable long term. Justice, or teaching and developing programs where people have the opportunity to develop their community and meet their own needs, on the other hand, is a much more effective means of short term and long term volunteer work in a community.

Finally, at my last lecture, a women in the audience made a comment basically stating that young people these days were going into health care for the money (she used the exact # of $45 an hour), not for the good will or desire to help people. I found this a bit of an insult, especially since I work and go to school with so many young people who are passionate and excited about what they are doing, and not at all making that kind of money (myself included). If they were in it just for the money, why not just go to business school and work in corporate America? So, I spoke up, and said that I was a health care work and I was getting my MPH, and my reasons were not for the money. I also noted that I was not making $45 an hour, nor did any of the young people I knew in the field. Needless to say, I was respectful to her, but still noted my concern for her unfair blanket statement. A few people clapped, and I was thanked for my comments by one girl my age after the lecture.

The movie was on a water organization in Malawi that is founded and run by a native. They are doing a great job in the country, drilling bore hole wells and bringing safe water access to hundreds of communities. I was very impressed with the founder, who was able to be there to present the film, all the way from Malawi.

Consider it: donating your time or money to an organization who takes a justice approach to their work, training locals to sustain their community.

Unlearn it: buying bottled water

fun.

2009-10-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

take the stairs.

perhaps healthy choices can be fun? or fun choices can promote healthy behaviors?? I'd probably take the stairs at work more often if I had this to look forward to. :)

continuing this thought

2009-10-22T10:09:00.001-07:00

In addition to this...I'm torn about the option of a flu shot. Especially the H1N1 vaccination...when I'm in the one of the at-risk groups for this.

Since I'm studying Public Health, I suppose its automatically assumed I will be all about vaccinations. Which in general, they are a good thing. But when you need a new vaccine every year to stop the spread of something (which begs the question, is it actually encouraging the mutation of the virus?), how good of a vaccine can it be? And then I hear stuff like this, that just scares people, myself included. From a population perspective, this is like a one in a million chance. But looking as an individual, I don't want to be that one in a million. Maybe I'm spreading fear and unsupported claims, and if I find out that I am, obviously I'll retract this post. Let me know...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEN5KGwNGeo

modern medicine - the good, the bad and the not so clear

2009-10-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

today I'm wondering about the implications of modern medicine. Obviously, modern medicine is a fantastic advancement, a huge achievement for man kind. But at what point does it yield negative implications?

I look at the field in which I currently work (psychiatry) and wonder if we are advancing medications that are simply treatment of symptoms of an unhealthy lifestyle or culture. Why are there so many anxious and depressed people in our country and all over the world? Why are we finding vitamins (i.e. B12 and Folic acid) are helpful in treating depression? Perhaps because people should not be deficient of them in the first place? Perhaps healthy dieting, stress management, and a different lifestyle are the medicine we really need -- that fixes the root of the problem instead of the symptoms.

At what point do we draw a line to say this is helpful, or this is enabling poor choices to continue to be made? From a public health viewpoint, what are the implications of mass use of antidepressants and anxiolytics? What will this mean if these meds eventually are consumed in developing countries as well??
Are we driving our society into madness by being consumed by busyness, greed, technology and isolation (caused by the American ideal of "independence")...and then using these meds as a band-aid? I need feedback on this one. I feel very perplexed by the whole situation.

Considering it: natural remedies and healing vs. modern medicines -- what are the true implications of both, especially pertaining to quality of life.

Trying to unlearn it: taking something for every ailment -- i.e. ibuprofen, tums, etc..maybe the "fix it in the moment" meds are just masking symptoms that our body is producing to tell us there is a bigger problem??

a little perspective

2009-10-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

check this out:

gapminder: population vs. water consumption

Maybe its not so cool to waste water...though advertising would tell us otherwise? Is this mentality why the US is closer to China and India on our total water consumption, though we are closer to Indonesia, Japan & the rest of the world on population size?

contemplation of population

2009-10-12T13:08:00.001-07:00

cheesy title, I know...but this is seriously what my mind has been digesting over the past few weeks. In my global public health class, I am lucky to get the viewpoint of several different professors offering a wide range of views from Penn. So far, we have had guest lecturers presenting on food security, water, child health, history of public health, etc. We've discussed the implications of outside aid, outreach issues often overlooked, pressing problems that deserve immediate attention and more. Its so much to take in at once that I find my head spinning at times.

But the topic of population growth -- I should say the problem of population growth has been mentioned in every class. It is an underlying theme that influences every issue in public health. For me, its turning my thoughts and perceptions upside down. Current estimates, though varying, land the world population in the approximations of 10 billion in the next 50 years -- with conservative estimates assuming this will be the high point, where we will see a leveling off and potentially a decrease.

The problems this rapid growth implies are endless...a few obvious being lack of energy resources, lack of land, food security, and the list goes on and on. On an individual level I'm trying to sort out the implications for my personal mission to support fresh and local agriculture.

This topic came up in the population debate in class, and though I still can't wrap my brain around this entirely, I had a professor who was willing to stay after class for an hour as I grilled him for answers and stumbled through my explanations of my mindset. Overall, what I took away to process was that it would be impossible to achieve a sustainable approach to agriculture and food supply on a local level, especially as the population grows, because there is not enough land to do so. He explained that if we all go fresh and local that by the time our population reached 10 billion, around 40% of those people would be starving. I'm not sure what I think of this, or if this truly is the reality, but its totally opposite from my thought process. I'd like any and all comments you have on the topic as I ponder this further.

As I persisted, asking him what someone like myself can do to solve issues of food security and development issues in the face of such a dilemma, he gave a few suggestions. First, always work towards solutions, and adjust as needed as more information is provided. Ask lots of questions, and don't allow the popular view or the media influence you more than academic or empirical evidence. And finally, work on a local level to do what you can. Though he emphasized the lack of reality for food security if we decentralize agriculture, where it is possible, local food really is helpful for local economy and sustainability of a community. The population issues are most prevalent in big cities, where land for agriculture is scarce. I see his points, but I'm still not convinced local sustainability is impossible to reach. What I do know however, is that my desire to work in underdeveloped areas to reach sustainable options for health is still an important mission. Especially in water issues - where the largest problem is not availability of water, but the lack of access to that water.

check out www.gapminder.org for some illustrations that will help connect the dots on these issues...its a great website!

more to come as I learn and process further...

Consider it: family planning options. adoption. wasting less and valuing the resources you have.

Unlearn it: that you have a RIGHT to everything you have. if we all had a right to all the resources we abused, and everyone in the world used them so unwisely, we would have no resources left!

Progress with school & goals

2009-09-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

Updates on my masters program...

currently enrolled in Global Public Health (and will be writing about some of my lectures soon) and Biostatistics. Enjoying both. And trying to keep up with all of the reading. So far, we've discussed quite thought provoking subject matters such as population control issues, family planning, child health and what is helping vs what is not.

Settled the questions over who my advisor is -- he's an ER doctor with a special interest in immigrant health and good contacts in Central America. Awesome.

Have met with a few different professors and determined my goals for the year need to be gaining as much experience with speaking Spanish as possible, narrowing down my ideas for my capstone (thesis) subject matter, and figuring out a plan for where/with whom to go abroad next summer. Scouting out some good volunteer opportunities and deciding what events are worth my time and what aren't. Full time work and part time masters classes doesn't give me much flex in my schedule for extra stuff...so right now I'm successfully fitting in some socializing, yoga, exercising and volunteering.

Success -- went apple picking (reflecting on my past post on food that is local and fresh, I'd say picking off the tree is the best you can get!) -- also got 25lbs of tomatoes from the same farm for $12, Crazy!! Learning that if you buy things local and in season, they can actually be a better deal..and so much tastier! so my friend and I peeled them and made fresh sauce for storing....YUM...using the juice, skin and seeds to experiment with a few things, tomato based face mask (supposed to be good for blackheads), tomato ice cubes for blending with veggies for drinking, and juice for soup.

Considering it: the possibility of fermenting my apples for a hard cider, perhaps if I find good home instructions for this??

Unlearning it: watching television during the week -- must give up the little I do watch if I'm going to keep up on my reading.

Natural Remedies

2009-09-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

I often question if solutions found in nature, not synthetically made or picked up off the shelf at the drug store can really be effective. If they are, they can potentially be a great sustainable alternative to what is commonly expensive and presumably not too healthy to use. So, as I've come across suggested solutions, I've become my own lab rat to test them. This should not be viewed as empirical evidence, but its worth a try in my opinion. I'll be researching these further, perhaps looking for literature to see if they actually work.

mint as a bug repellent -- this definitely worked for me. Either steep the mint in water and put it in a spray bottle, or just pick it, twist it up and bruise the leaves and then rub them all over your skin.

plantain leaves for itch relief -- not the banana like plantains you eat, but the short leafy plants disguised as weeds among your grass. I'll take a pic of these and add it soon. Bruise them as well and rub on the itchy spot. This worked well for me with bug bites!

soap & water or alcohol for mealy bugs -- I had an outbreak of mealy bugs on my office plants, and leaves starting dying off. So at the office I filled a water bottle with mild dish soap and water, shook it up and drenched the plants in them. It worked fairly well. I had to repeat a couple times, but so far they have not returned. This is supposed to work on most pests as long as you hit them directly. My neighbor suggests alcohol as a remedy for pests also...she says to get the cheapest bottle of vodka or gin you can find (or whatever cheap form of alcohol you have lying around, even rubbing alcohol) and to drench the plant in it. It kills the bugs on contact. Be sure to rinse with water a few times very thoroughly as to not kill the plant in the process.

I'm still on my quest for sunscreen that I am convinced is healthy enough to lather all over my body. For now, long sleeves and an umbrella seem to be the best alternative.

I've also converted to all natural, earth friendly toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and cocoa butter in place of lotions, and peroxide for mouth wash (also handy for teeth bleaching). Soon I'll be out of toothpaste and attempting to use a peroxide/baking soda mix instead. All seem to be doing the trick except the deodorant...but that will be another blog.

*A side note: my neighbor told me to scratch a bar of soap before gardening, so that your nails get soap under them instead of dirt. Then when you go to wash your hands after digging in the soil, the soap comes out leaving your fingernails squeaky clean! Its a great idea for someone like me, who always starts off wearing gardening gloves and 5 minutes in decides its easier without them on.*

I'll keep posting new remedies as I find them. Let me know if you have any to share!

Consider it: checking your back yard or garden for natural remedies to try out. Ask your neighbors or old people you know what they used before all of the stuff we use now was around.

Unlearn it: buying for the brand name...just because it smells good and is in fancy packaging does not mean its good for you.

Where I'm at today

2009-08-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

I've been starting to get really into yoga lately, which I am quite excited about. Besides the physical benefits which are obvious, I have been surprised to find the spiritual benefits are drawing me in. Not in a way that would contradict religious beliefs or what have you. But yoga seems to boost my spirituality, I suppose making me reflect on my self image, how I live in the moment, and my appreciation for life. One thing that has really inspired me from my classes is the concept of respecting myself where I am today, my capabilities, strengths, desires and limitations. I often discourage myself by thinking I am not doing enough, or am not capable of what I should be capable of. Yoga seems to take the word should out of use, only focusing on what is. As well, one of my teachers emphasized being an indtender in class last week. As in doing everything you do with intention, not be default or accident, but by active choice and with care and energy. I would go as far as saying that on top of it, we should not half-ass anything, but actually only do what we really have the energy and will to do with our full heart, mind and strength. So, I'm going to start my new semester of school with those thoughts in mind.

Classes I will be taking: Biostatistics & Intro to Global Public Health
Both are requirements, and I am expecting them to be challenging but useful.

As well, I am spending the rest of August pinning down my choice for an Advisor -- who will help me focus my degree and determine what/where/how I will be doing an international immersion for my internship, field work and eventual thesis research. I spent a lot of time researching professors, what they are interested in, what activities they do, and where they are connected. I've found a few that are promising, but one at the top of the list whom I think has a grassroots mindset that would compliment mine. He arranged a meeting with me next week, and instead of the normal "meet me in my office" style, he called and asked that I meet him at an immigrant clinic he volunteers at, to volunteer with him while discussing my ideas. Right up my alley -- and hopefully an opportunity to practice some Spanish. So, I intend to find out what his research of the moment focuses on, where his connections are for international experiences, and how my interests align with his. I'm looking forward to this.

Finally, I will be intentionally reflecting on how to integrate my Public Health career objectives in the job I currently have. Instead of going through the motions at work, I want to feel like it is prepping me for my future career instead of just paying the bills and enabling a free education (though these are important). I want to have confidence that the time I am spending now at work is not just for a paycheck, but in some way will keep me on the path towards something great.

Consider it: Writing out your intentions for the week and seeing how well you focus on them

Unlearn it: doing things by default, or without passion, energy or purpose

waste haters

2009-08-12T09:02:00.001-07:00

I hate wasting!! I hate all of the office waste of perfectly good supplies...paper, office supplies, furniture, etc. When did we get so apathetic..to the point that throwing perfectly usable things out was a norm? How do I contradict this culture and inspire others to do the same???

I'm going to start a waste haters club I think. Are you with me??? It will be Naked Lady Parties (clothing swaps), yard sales, reduce/reuse/recycle campaigns galore!

Consider it: Check out my link below and watch the Story of Stuff. And join me when I get a chance to go live here: http://www.dancingrabbit.org/

Unlearn it: trashing things that can be of good use

what's food got to do with it?

2009-08-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to pursue health in a sustainable context? Can I strive to be sustainable as an individual by the way I treat my own body? I suppose when I first reflect on sustainable health, I think of health care that can be maintained in challenging contexts, supplies and equipment being provided by the natives of that area, and practical application of solutions regarding the health and wellness problems in a community.

But what about in the context of the individual? What if I'm practicing poor consumption habits, not taking care of my health, hygiene or neglecting to exercise? I think in order for me to promote sustainable health in any context I must first master and sustain my own health and well being. I suppose its that concept of taking care of yourself in order to have enough to take care of others appropriately. I must say I am personally reexamining my own health and how to better sustain my own well being. It is a challenging thing to do, especially with the past few years I have had with health issues. Injuries only further complicates the matter, and I have come to realize that making all your doctor's appointments doesn't make you a healthy person.

The topic of food seems to regularly arise when pondering this issue. I went to a lecture a few weeks ago on antibiotic use in animals we eat. Which made me want to become a vegetarian. And then I went and saw Food Inc. a week or so ago - and I recommend you see it! It was quite insightful and gave me plenty to reflect upon. Perhaps sustainable health is partly achieved through eating sustainable foods. Being responsible and consuming that which has been grown or raised appropriately and without unnatural chemicals is quite important. I get discouraged with this though, because I am on a very limited budget, and I'm not great at planning out my meals and diet in general. I suppose having a gourmet chef in the house, though quite nice, also gave me an excuse to get out of the habit of thinking and planning out my meals...since he usually did this for me. But since he has left for the Peace Corps, I have realized how my personal choices for food need to be much more educated and deliberate than they are. And really if I learn how to be smart about it, buying fresh and local does not have to be too expensive. Perhaps more time consuming, but anything where you are changing a habit is. So I'm going to check out farm shares, and start researching where and how to get my hands on fresh, local and hormone free, pesticide free food products. And I'm going to start making a deliberate effort to not consume things which use CORN where it is not meant to be used. Any suggestions?

Consider it: Is this land your land or my land? Was this land was made for you and me? And if it is, why are we allowing such abuse to our resources?

Unlearn it: that you are powerless over influencing change. Every time you eat, you are casting a vote for how your food should be produced [From Food Inc.]

Water conservation

2009-07-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

Did you know that only 3% of the world's water is fresh water? How about that 1.7 million people die each year around the world because of their lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation and lack of hygiene? Or that in the next 20 years the USA anticipates water shortage problems in over half of the country? AND that there are actually people IN the USA that do not have indoor plumbing and easy access to safe drinking water. Here's the topper: about 1 BILLION, yes, 18% of the population on Earth lack access to safe drinking water. Crazy, isn't it?

So, what can I do about it? I reflect on these horrifying statistics and I feel completely powerless. Large numbers like these tend to set hope just far enough out of reach that we step back and relinquish responsibility.

A friend of mine and I decided that for our book club (shameless plug - check out the metro development book club calendar in the links & join us!) we would pick a topic each month to focus our reading and research on. And in addition to those, we would adapt our behavior in some way to take responsibly for our contribution to problems in society, empower us to see a difference even if it is small, and give us some insight on the struggles others in underdeveloped areas face. So, July is the month of water. And for this we decided to treat water that way it should be treated, as a limited resource.

We definitely did not follow all of these, instead we just picked a few to start with that would be challenging for us individually. Nor did I succeed at sticking with the ones I chose every time I used water, but I put forth a valiant effort. I also learned how much I take for granted & how easy it is to save water when you are conscious of it. I plan to continue these personally, and perhaps soon they will be habitual. Let me know what you think:

*

Water Conservation Goals July 2009

Ways to eliminate water waste

1. Showers – 7 minutes max. If you are really serious, go with luke warm to cold showers and save energy too. Only wash your hair when necessary. Don’t use conditioner everyday, it takes the longest to rinse out – your hair really only needs it 1-2x per week anyways. Swap out your 2.75 gpm showerhead with a 1.75 water-conserving showerhead and you can save more than 7,700 gallons of water per year (Based on an average of seven-minute for a family of four). You can also take baths if quick showering isn't for you. A good test to see what will use less water: next time you shower, plug the drain and see if your tub fills before your shower is over. If not, shower, if so, take a bath. Or get wet, turn the shower up and lather up and then turn the shower back on only to rinse (this is for die hards prepping for third world bucket showering).

2. Brushing teeth & shaving – only use water to rinse, don’t leave it running.

3. Toilet use – only flush when necessary “if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down.” Replace older, less efficient toilets with 1.28-gallon High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) to save up to 16,500 gallons of water per year.

4. Dishes – when washing dishes, don’t leave water running, use as few dishes as possible. I.e. when using water cups, reuse before washing. When getting a glass of water before bed, only fill as much as you will drink. Use a brillo pad for scrubbing instead of letting things soak.

5. Eliminating contributions to water purification needs – this is an important one we all forget about. The more waste you flush, throw in the garbage disposal or rinse down the drain, the more the water you use must be processed, using lots of energy and wasting valuable resources. The more waste there is in water, the more limited safe water becomes. This is often a reason for water shortages.
*So – do not use your garbage disposal unless absolutely necessary. Compost everything you can.
* Eliminate as much toilet paper use as you can (while still being sanitary, obviously). Or if you want an extreme third world experience, don’t flush your toilet paper, throw it in the trash can. (Yes, this is really what they have to do)
* Eliminate any excess waste you throw in the toilet, such as tampon applicators, tissue, etc. One of my friends suggested using tampons without applicators; she does because she feels the applicator is unnecessary waste. The Diva Cup is another option.
* Minimize the chemicals you put down the drain. Soaps, cleaners, leftover drinks, etc.
* Do not waste food or supplies. What does this have to do with water? Well, the more you waste, such as eating half an apple and throwing the rest out, the more water you waste. Water is used in the production of crops and all products you use. When you waste them, you waste the water used to grow, produce, clean and distribute the things you use/eat everyday.

6. Laundry – reuse clothing before washing. Examples of where I plan on cutting out waste: I am hanging gym shorts to air out and reusing the a few times before washing them. They don’t really get smelly and then you aren’t wasting water. Make sure you do a full load whenever you do your laundry – most washers use just about the same amount of water whether it’s a light or heavy load. Some don’t even have a setting for light – heavy, but if they do, set it accurately for the amount of laundry you have. Consider purchasing a front-load washing machine.

7.Fix leaky faucets and install faucets with water-saving aerators to effortlessly save hundreds of gallons of water per year.

8. Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks.

9. Water your garden during the coolest part of the day, generally in the morning, and avoid watering on windy days.

10. Landscape with native or low-water plants to significantly reduce water usage outside the home.

11. Use leftover water for houseplants, instead of pouring out a half-empty glass of drinking water. You can also use most gray water from baths for this if you use mild soaps and shampoos. These will not hurt the plants, and often are a helpful pesticide. Don't do this with shaving creams or other harsh soaps & avoid hair from the drain.

12. Make sure the dishwasher is fully loaded to maximize the dishes cleaned in a cycle.

13. Get a rainwater collection system for your yard. Use a bucket or if you have the funding, buy a large rainwater collection barrel(available at Whole Foods and most hardware stores). Place them under your gutter, and use the water for your plants & lawn and such. I just leave my bucket for watering outside and it collects rainwater that I use when its sunny out. Be careful not to cause flooding or irrigation issues with this. The bigger the barrel, the better.

14. Stop buying water bottles. Unless you are in an area where the water from your faucet is unsafe to drink, you shouldn't be purchasing water bottles. Its a huge waste not only of plastic, but resources for production, transportation and marketing as well. AND, you are giving companies a reason to take someone else's water in a different area of the world and send it to you.

*

Using water for the correct purposes in the correct amounts

1. Water for drinking. Try eliminating drinking anything other than water this week. Drink 8 full glasses of water a day. This one is challenging.
2. Hand washing – washing your hands properly is very important. Taking at least a minute to wash, rinse and repeat will eliminate a lot of germs and potential health issues.

Consider it: pick a few of these and make them personal goals for August.

Unlearn it: the cultural norm of not noticing when water is being wasted...or not caring. (i.e. fix that leaky faucet instead of ignoring the drip every time you pass the sink.)

unlearning the basics.

2009-07-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

The basics. As an American, I learned from an early age the assumption that clean water, healthy food and safe shelter would always be accessible. Water was clean, food you buy from the grocery store is fresh, and Walmart was down the street if you needed anything. When you are done with something, you throw it away. Not a thought about where it goes once it is in the trash. I was raised in a modest home, with a single mother who worked 3 jobs to make ends meet. But I still had more than most in a developing country would. I still learned to be wasteful and take my wealth for granted, even though by American standards we were anything but wealthy.

I have this urgent desire to contribute somehow in the developing world. I often feel I should be somewhere in Africa or Latin America, building latrines or working in a health clinic. And someday I hopefully will be. But in all my research, discussions and experience, I am realizing that too many people jump into these contexts with both feet hoping to help and in the long run their efforts are not efficacious or sustainable, and sometimes are even harmful. Maybe a few people benefit, a bundle of money is spent and often the volunteer finds growth and fulfillment through their experience and then they leave. And the water filtration system is not maintained, the latrines they built are not utilized, or the thousands of trees they planted are chopped down and used for producing charcoal. So what went wrong? Why were millions of US dollars funneled into the construction of the Péligre Dam in Haiti, which appeared to be a great development opportunity for the country, but left thousands homeless and without farmland? Why is flooding of perfectly usable farmland acceptable? Why now has the dam fallen into disrepair, only providing around half of its potential energy? Why does poor water quality, sanitation and hygiene account for some 1.7 million deaths annually around the world? -- 90% children, and yet Americans cannot find the time to fix a leaky faucet. Politics aside, there has to be a better way to solve these issues.

My theory is that we need to unlearn the basics if we are to truly contribute to change. We need to realize how much we take for granted and STOP taking it for granted, that throwing money at something does not always solve the problem, and that first learning how to approach things from an intelligent and sustainable perspective is necessary. I may be impatient about contributing to health and sustainability in developing countries, but I cannot be in a hurry to do so. I must first take in all this MPH program has to offer, so that when I contribute to development it will be productive. I know there is never a guarantee, sometimes you have to choose the lesser of two evils, and development takes sacrifice. I know it is all easier said than done. I think being willing to drop the comfortable lifestyle and go serve in the Peace Corps or some other organization is quite honorable and I hope to do so someday. But for now, I am going to challenge myself to unlearn the American ways of waste, materialism and laziness. If I cannot start to change my own perspective on what is acceptable in our culture and what is not, how will I truly make a difference with others?

Unlearn it: "The world is full of miserable places. One way of living confortably is not to think about them or, when you do, to send money." - Tracey Kidder

Consider it:
anew: in a new form or manner. ethos: the fundamental character or spirit of a culture; the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society; dominant assumptions of a people or period.