Well i've arrived in Dar es Salaam,the busy city of Tanzania!We got here last sunday after a very long 10 hour bus ride from Arusha,after spending the week working in the emergency department of the biggest hospital in the country (quite an eye opener) we have now reached the weekend and are taking a well needed lazy day by the pool and local shops!Even plan on doing some uni work if the power stays on and allows me to sit under a fan...so far we have had a power every day/evening lasting from an hour to amlost all day.You'd think a power cut during the day wouldnt cause that much hassle but in a hot country it means all the food goes off in the fridge and freezer,there is no water as its power by a pump,no fans to cool the 38 degrees heat,no internet and no chance of charging cameras and phones etc!Not fun I can tell you!

The hospital here is on a much larger scale than in Arusha,the comparisions are huge.This hospital is a university teaching hospital so the staff on the wards consists of not only doctors and nurses but 60+ medical students also.Quite intimidating for a poorly patient to have that many people standing at the end of their bed discussing them each morning!
I am placed in the ED which is a new unit only opened in January and mostly run by Americans who are doing various roles out here to help and a few research studies going on too,however it means a huge difference to the patients as the unit is now equiped with good supplies,its clean,air conditioned,they have a toilet and most importantly the staff are being taught every day the most important procedures to save lifes.It is quite overwhelming and amazing to see it happening compared to the skills and conditions in Arusha where there is no outside help even though they are crying out for it.

My role as a student nurse is a little limited here but I am able to be involved with some things and am spending my time in the resus rooms,the cases are mostly RTA's of some kind and as the other smaller hospitals are hearing of this new department that has a supply of oxygen 24/7 they are reffering patients here,especially children and babies who turn up each day with different conditions.Its a place to learn alot from,although I do feel like i'm working on the set of ER!

Spare time is spent on little islands in the Indian Ocean with white sands and warm clear water...although I did manage to get a little sunburnt yesterday doing this!The house we are living in has a swimming pool and although that sounds like luxery we really wouldnt survive the heat without it!We arrive home from work each day after a somewhat long and bumpy dala dala ride and within minutes are in the pool cooling down.bliss!

Our plans are another 2 weeks working here in Dar,i'm staying in the ED for the whole time,then off to zanzibar for a week working in a small cottage hospital and staying with a host family in a village-should be an experience!And finally spending our last few days exploring zanzibar town and beautiful beaches before flying on the the 19th may!Time is going quickly but im pleased the end is in sight-I was very much born to be British and not live in poor conditions!!!!