As I mentioned in my last post, the book Six Months in Sudan renewed my thoughts and plans for my nursing career. The author, Dr. James Maskalyk, describes his time in a war torn area in Sudan. The intense situations and abject poverty are difficult to comprehend, but I learned from his different perspective. I was reminded me of the vast needs in maintaining the basic human right of health care all across the world, and that is one reason why I am a nurse. My nursing career decisions will likely be shaped on my plan to return to service work, hopefully with the Catholic Medical Mission Board.
Now I just started reading Dead Aid by a bold African woman Dambisa Moyo, born in Zambia. A Kenyan professor first introduced this idea to me as she explained how Americans and the West do not want to accept that the popular belief in aid to help Africa is not effective. As Moyo states in Dead Aid,
"The notion that aid can alleviate systemic poverty, and has done so, is a myth. Millions in Africa are poorer today because of aid; misery and poverty have not ended but increased. Aid has been, and continues to be, an unmitigated political, economic, and humanitarian disaster for most parts of the developing world."This goes against all that the media, celebrities, politicians, and our Western culture has continued to teach us for decades. This book has already started up my brainstorming on sustainable medical help. It's fascinating how listening to or reading a new perspective can possibly change our view of our life and the world.
Finally, I benefited from an enriching conversation with a family member. He is a doctor in the Navy, and by far the most charismatic and intelligent doctor I have met. I listened to him talk about his path as a doctor, his family, the Middle East, health care reform, and more. It was then I realized how beautiful and simple learning can be. As a new graduate nurse, I am overwhelmed by the vast opportunities and endless knowledge that I have yet to discover. But in that moment it was clear that our interactions with new perspectives-in books, conversations, reflecting on our experiences-allow us to learn and encounter the world.
Please pray for me as I find a way to piece together all of my interests & passions into my future as a nurse. And join me in savoring and learning from every discussion, paragraph, experience.
