This is the last time for me to blog from the Schloss Leopoldskren --- our bus is scheduled to leave for Munich in an hour. The last two days have been very full days.
Tuesday morning we finished our preparations for our research presentation. Our task to "Make up" an organization dealing with immigration between the UK and South Africa proved to be a tough assignment. Wednesday afternoon we presented ourselves as a group from the UK seeking health care professionals from South Africa to immigrate to the UK to help in the UK's need for health care professionals. We emphasized the unrest, lack of safety, and lack of a quality health care system to a group of doctors from South Africa (the other Salzburg Seminar students) and urged them to consider to "Make the Change" to the UK. After asking for a vote as to who would and wouldn't immigrate for a better paying job, family safety, and the ability to practice medicine we then flipped the coin and asked them to consider what the effect would be on South Africa if the health care professional were to leave South Africa -- leaving the country without medical help. It would be devastating to the country. How difficult the decision would be -- to watch a people in need have no medical help or stay in a country that is unsafe, economically challenged and not allow the practice of medicine in a way that is a help to the countries people. Michelle did an awesome job as a South African doctor who had moved to the UK with the help of our organization UKHRA (United Kingdom Health Care Recruitment Agency).
Tuesday afternoon found me breathing hard and my heart racing as I WALKED up the mountain to the Fortress here in Salzburg. Katie was such a good sport to hang with an "old lady" huffing and puffing (very unladylike!) But what a view we were able to take home in our memories and hopefully capture on camera. Another group went back to town later in the evening -- much later -- but my body said ... okay screamed "I know what you've already done today and I think you'd better put me to bed and not try going up the mountain again!" Thank you Katie for such a tremendous adventure!
Yesterday (Wednesday) I found myself on a bicycle -- it must be at least 15 years since I've sat on the seat of a bike! -- cycling into town behind Melissa! What fun it was as we "dashed" into town for a few things and "dashed" back to shower and dress for a concert and banquet that was just too fun! It's been sad to say goodbye to so many new friends in Austria. But, we're on our way "home" and looking forward to seeing you all.
