For my last summer as a student I decided to spend some time volunteering abroad and WWISA arranged for me to work at the Plettenberg Bay Day Hospital and Clinics. I finally arrived in Plett after a long two days of traveling from Toronto but I had a weekend to recover before my first day at the clinics. This gave me time to settle into the slower pace of African life and I was introduced to rugby and had a great tour of the area from Mac.

At first it was hard not to feel overwhelmed in the clinics. I was faced with a language barrier, (I soon came to regret having never learning Dutch from my grandfather, that would have given me a little more to work with than the few words I learned of Afrikaans) high rates of medical concerns rarely seen in North America and a lack of resources and supplies we take for granted at home. But faced with all these obstacles the nurses do amazing work, and it was inspiring to work along side them.

Life at Rocky Road was never dull. A week after my arrival the house filled with a group of education students from Florida. Mac and Rocky were somehow able to organize us all and I was able to do all of the things I had hoped in my short month there including skydiving, a game drive and visits to the local monkey, bird and elephant sanctuaries. The area surrounding Rocky Road is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and we spent a lot of time on walks around the farm and in Nature’s Valley.

My time in South Africa has changed my perspective on nursing and the care I provide to my patients. I am back at school, finishing my final year and know that I will be a better nurse because of my experiences in Plett. I learned so much from the nurses there, but even more from the patients I worked with. I take less for granted now, and am beginning to think about my next trip to Africa, once I have finished my degree.
To Mac, Rocky, Marietjie, their friends and the staff at the Plett Clinics I can’t thank you enough for what has been a truly life changing experience!

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