Social Medicine: Grassroots vs Policy

I now find myself at a carrefour, at a intangible mental crossroad of sorts. As one chapter climaxes and reaches an end I find that a review, or reflection, is necessary in order to examine whether or not certain goals and ideals have been achieved. Although I have now graduated from University, I find that I am no closer to achieving some of the goals that I initially set out to accomplish.  If anything, I feel as if I have regressed and am now farther away from where I had previously hoped to be. 


From the beginning I had idealistically set out to change my reality as I saw it. Deeply troubled by the state of our country's education system, corrupt politics, poverty levels all over the world, and the indecencies being perpetrated in countries all over the world; I wanted to change things.  I was bothered by school systems that promoted and graduated students that could not read or complete simple mathematics.  I was bothered by the corrupt politicking that was taking place in my local region. But above all else, I was bothered by the activities and crimes taking place in countries such as Sudan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, and Burma. I set out to "fix" things. I worked in school systems, tutored young students, petitioned my local politicians, worked in food kitchens, reached out to the homeless, and even joined organizations that hoped to give faces and names to invisible children.   


I had set out to "fix" things, but I presently find myself being bothered by the same things without being able to do too much outside of alleviating the burden. It burdens my soul to work with American high school seniors that cannot read beyond an 8th grade level. It burdens my soul to see politicians wasting the time, energy, and money of the American people as they try to agree on a federal budget. Do they not realize that people depend on them for life giving medicine, food, and jobs? It burdens my soul to see the abominable state of our common relatives in countries such as Haiti, Palestine, and El Salvador.  Above all else though, it burdens my soul to see the indecencies in Somalia, Libya, and North Korea.  I think that the worst part about carrying this burden is that very few people [Americas] seem to even know and care about the problems facing our common people.  We have done a dis-service to ourselves by turning a blind eye to so many of our world's injustices. I sincerely feel that we, as the elite of the world, have a duty to our common man.  Further, I believe that we have a duty to ourselves.


So here I stand at a crossroad, a metacognition of sorts. Thinking about thinking and thinking about action. What is the nature of our reality, our world, and our common race?  Is there a way to "fix" the reality that we now submit to? After working in the field with various organizations for the past 8 years, I am beginning to see that no amount of field work can solve the problems that we face.  Field work and grass root organizations can only alleviate the situation for an absolute period of time. Volunteers and organizations can only go so far and do so much.  If reality is to change, the rules of our reality must first be reviewed and changed. Those rules, laws and policies, are controlled by a select few in our reality. I now look to bring about a change so great that the very rules of our reality are redefined.  No longer feeling comfortable with allowing others to define the rules, I set out to make my own.  At this crossroad, I believe that it is now necessary to place less emphasis on grassroots and to instead place greater emphasis on policy, advocacy, and law.   


No big deal or anything, simply setting out to redefine reality.

Packing and Prep!

If anyone thinks that the application process is tough then I promise you that you do not want to deal with getting and responding to the invitation.

You aint seen nothing yet!

Between completing an "aspiration statement" about a job that I know nothing about, multiple essays, a resume, and sending in passport&visa information, this is all a very one sided affair. I have no idea if anyone has received any of the stuff I have sent in. And let me be the first to tell you, I slaved over these random essays that my future bosses and co-workers will be reading in order to learn my life's goals, aspirations, and history. No big deal... no pressure or anything...

So after you receive your invitation, you have about one week to respond and reserve your spot. Fine right? Nope! I was kind of busy freaking out trying to figure out why the description mentions that I will be working with a nurse and midwife. As a mediocre(at best) psychology major who quit pre-med cuz it was...(wait for it)...hard.... I can safely say that I am not qualified to deliver anyone's baby. No matter how "undeveloped" the country is. Nope not happening! After a few tries, I was finally able to contact my placement specialist and voice my concerns of inadequacy. And although he had no idea what I would actually be doing, he assured me that it would not involve delivering babies....
Maybe changing dirty diapers, or the burkinabe equivalent, or even transporting babies after birth; but certainly not delivering.

Okay thats cool, I can live with this.

So I did some research and guess what, Its HOT in Burkina Faso. Dont get me wrong, its been hot here on the East Coast too, but when one uses the Sahara desert to talk about weather....
Something about the expanding of the Sahara desert......
DAMN
-_-'

(Random tid-bit, Burkinabe culture is not too cool with shorts, so long pants are a must)

Anyways, I complain and act like Im not excited because I need to balance my self-absorbed jumps of joy and glee with realism. I have started packing and preparing to leave though. Making those last few rounds to say hi&bye to friends has been really tough. I realize that I'm going to inevitably miss out on a lot. Friends graduating from law school, grad school, and younger ones from undergrad. I realize that most of the friendships I have now will weaken as most relationships do when proximity is no longer so convenient. It really makes me want to enjoy everything to the fullest while it last!

Speaking of enjoying things to the fullest; my beautiful and ever patient other half, Britt, and I just got back from our road trip. Really truly had a blast hitting up Penn, ohio,Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, And Minnesota. We really had a blast dodging bed-bug ridden hostels, horrible drivers in Chicago, hippies in the twin cities, and farmers in Ohio. Even got to become overweight experts on chicago deep dish pizza. (Giordanos is the best.. unless of course you are lactose sensitive like me.... Cheeeeesese for MILES)
Its always interesting to see how different other people's lives are within our own country. Truly something special!

Now that summer is almost over, it is finally time to start packing and pulling things together. I have read some blogs and suggested packing list and have tried to put together a list of my own. I'm most likely missing about 50 crucial items, but eythats where you guys come in. Please look my list over and feel free to comment on things i dont need or will need.
Thats all for now,
Deuces!
Peace'n out in just under 2 months!



One or two pairs of jeans 
One pair of sweatpants 
 lightweight cotton sweatshirt/sweater
10 pairs of socks
five casual button ups, four polos, and three t-shirts
A pair of sturdy sandals/flip-flops (Chaco Hipthong Sandal – 50% PCV discount on all Chacos.)
a pair of athletic shoes. 
Hats(yall know i dont leave home without multiple hats)
Breathable rain jacket
Swimsuit 
Belt 
Sturdy sunglasses
Two to four pairs of shorts for around the house and biking
Casual Slacks and/or khakis (2pairs?)
One dress-up outfit (shirt and tie)
Underwear(tshirts and boxers) something like the  NAU Merino T-Shirt?
Toiletries for 3 months!
Razor(electric?)
Foot care items-pumice stone and clippers

Sturdy backpacks.(small&medium... maybe a messenger bag?)
Suitcase
A good headlamp
 Swiss Army knife maybe Gerber Obsidian Knife Serrated
Durable water bottle 
Lightweight screen mosquito tent  (got that rei bug hut 2)
Good can opener
Duct tape
Ziploc bags (in various sizes)
Lots of good pens and paper
Notebook
A book or two of U.S. stamps (Volunteers traveling home can mail letters for me)
Frying pan and Spatula?
Sharp kitchen knife  (knife sharpener)
Good scissors
Family pictures and personal touches
A durable watch with alarm  
sleeping pad
Flash drives
external hard drive
Camera
Laptop/Netbook hmm?
Rechargeable batteries!
power adaptor (check all electronics to make sure compatible with 220)
Music!
Lantern
Roll of twenties