Monday 11 June 2012

Southern Free State: Trompsburg & Philippolis

Summary

We began our drive to the Southern Free State early this morning where we met with the dietician to go over the plans for the upcoming week.  We established who would do what presentations and what languages they were to be spoken in before getting settled in at the Bed & Breakfast Guesthouse in Philippolis.

Detailed Account

I was picked up bright and early Monday morning by Imke, a 4^th year dietetics student and her brother, Reggie.  She was unable to drive due to a recent ankle surgery; therefore Reggie was our driver and comedian for the week.  We began the hour and a half drive to Trompsburg and began getting to know each other.  Immediately, we all got along well and had lots in common.  Reggie had just returned from a 4 month stay in America so we had plenty to talk about.

When we arrived in Trompsburg we met with Marli, one of the dieticians in charge of many clinics and hospitals in the Southern Free State.  We first found her at the Trompsburg Clinic where she was meeting with patients much like we had previously done at MUCPP.  She administered supplements and did check-ups on the patients before we headed to her office a few miles away.  In her frigid office we went over the plans for the week and what presentations we would need to prepare.  Tuesday would be a Diabetics talk in Afrikaans and a nurse refresher in English.  Wednesday would be a meat and fruit perishable foods talk in English and an HIV session in English.  We would leave early on Thursday morning due to a follow up appointment for Imke’s ankle. 

We left Trompsburg and headed to Philippolis where we would be staying at Die Groenhuis guest house.  The house was large with 6 beds and all the bells and whistles (excluding heat) and the owner was more than friendly (actually becoming my South African Grandfather by the end of the trip).  One of the nicest things was heated blankets that were provided, oh what a treat and so necessary.  The thing that baffled all of us was the fact that Philippolis was an hour’s drive from Trompsburg where we had to return each day to pick up or drop off Marli.  It seems like it would have been more reasonable for us all to stay in the same town but nonetheless we had a lovely time.  When we did arrive in Philippolis we grabbed a quick bite to eat and I was introduced to a Dagwood sandwich.  I stuck with something a bit more normal but Imke and Reggie explained yet another strange South African meal.

When we were settled in Imke and I began reading up our presentations for the upcoming days.  Obviously, she was going to take care of the Diabetes talk in Afrikaans, Marli requested to do the talk with the nurses because she had done it many times before.  For Wednesday I would assist Imke in the perishable foods talk and the HIV talk would be entirely on my own.  So I began reading as much as I could on HIV and patient’s nutritional needs.

My bed with an electric mattress! 

Each day I was fortunate enough to try lots of new South African food and encountered many South African experiences.  That evening we made South African pancakes aka crepes from scratch.  We had both savoury and sweet pancakes and are delightfully delicious!

crepes!