Journal+Entry+2

=26 November, 2011=

====//I found out about this place when I was with the service learning group, handing out donations of food and clothing. Timmy Sharawy introduced us to a small German nunnery in Maadi that run both a school and a clinic. One of the head nuns, Sister Petra, showed us around the clinic, where we dropped off the donations- and explained that they provide free medical care and attention to those who cannot afford it. Although they are a Christian community, they accept any body in their clinic and most of their patients are Muslim. The clinic is run by the nurses and there are 3 professional doctors that alternate days. The place was run down and in very poor condition; the walls and floors weer cracked and broken and their sinks cupboards were broken. There were so many people at the clinic and the nurses all had their hands full; Sister Petra informed us that they could use as much help as they could get. Upon hearing this, I realized that this is a project that I would really like to dedicate my time to. Abir and I made a plan to volunteer at the clinic every Saturday from 7am to 12pm (when they open until when they close). //====

====//Today was out first day at the clinic and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Sister Petra told us that the most thing they needed help with at the moment was back stage work. She piled in front of us a mountain of gauze and told us there was more inside; our task was the to fold the gauze into perfect squares and pack them up. Abir and I began working and we talked to pass the time. I felt very proud when we were done because we managed to finish all the gauze and pack it up neatly. I felt like i had really made a difference because we spared the women of doing such a long, monotonous task; now they could focus their time on the patients. //====

====//At some point, Sister Petra brought us out into the medical examining room in which they treat wounds. She told us that soon they would need our help in here and we should start watching and learning the simple procedures. The sight of the open wounds, violent gashes and pouring blood made my stomach turn over and over. In that tight little room with no ventilation, I began to get very dizzy. I then got really light headed and couldnt see in front of me; I recognized the feeling from when I fainted in the nurses office at school. I ran for the gate but I didnt make it in time so I blacked out and fell and hit my head on the green metal gate. I woke up a few minutes later and found myself outside, lying on the floor with my feet up and the nurses around me. I felt very embarrassed and ashamed that I pulled the nurses away from their work. I assured them that i was fine, but they brought me water and a cookie to eat. They told us to take a break and walk in the garden. The Fresh air made me feel a lot better and then Abir and I returned to our work. Despite the little incident, we had a productive day. //====