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Discussion Question 5 for Strength in What Remains

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Congratulations to K.Saroja, winner of a copy of the next Global Book Club book!  Your comments and insights are greatly appreciated – thank you for participating.

Question answered by Rebecca Nunn, Assistant Director of Administration at PTPI

5. How would you compare Deo’s experiences in New York City compared to his years growing up in Burundi?  How about his return visits to Burundi?

In the first half of the book it goes back and forth between New York and when Deo was a child in Burundi.  It surprised me how his experiences in New York were much more dire than they were as a child in Burundi.  He was confronted by a culture that he knew nothing about, could not speak English and was battling sickness.  Growing up, Deo’s family was well off by local standards; they had land, a home, and a nice herd of cattle.  Deo worked very hard as a child, but he had a good support system of family and friends and was able to go to school.

In New York he had to fend for himself and did not have anyone but strangers to help him.  I can imagine it was quite a shock for him to come to America, which was supposed to be a land of promise, only to find himself living on the street and relying on others to survive.  When he started going to school and working for Partners in Health he found a better quality of life, but still felt that loneliness and guilt for leaving Burundi behind.  When Deo returns to Burundi, he was outraged and embarrassed at what had become of Bujumbura and the disorganization of the city.  On his long trip through the city and countryside, it was hard to read at times because you know he is reliving the terrible experiences of his past.  When he gets to Kayanza, his adopted hometown, he seems at peace and realizes what he needs to do to start a clinic there.  I found it so inspirational that Deo felt he needed to get back to New York right away after his trip to Burundi so he could start fundraising and speaking about starting the clinic.

The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of  People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.

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5 Minutes with Mallory Miller and Zach Abramovitz

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Zach and Mallory are just settling into their desks at PTPI World Headquarters this week, (hopefully) excited to spend the next four months as interns for the Student Department.  Let’s get to know them a bit better…

Welcome to our new interns, Zach and Mallory

A warm welcome to our new interns, Zach and Mallory

1. So you both recently graduated, Mallory from Graceland University with a degree in International Studies and History (with minors in Peace Studies and Political Science); Zach from the University of Kansas with a degree in English and International Studies (with a minor in French).

What three words come to mind when you think about that fact that you are done with school, will be spending a lot of time at PTPI over the next few months and also have your future in front of you?

Mallory: Enthusiastic, Passionate, Terrified

Zach: Grateful; Excited; and Invigorating

2. Speaking of the future, what do you hope it holds, in terms of both a career and also personal goals?

Mallory: Right now I’m thinking about grad school and looking into different Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology programs around the country.  I would love to spend my life digging up and dusting off ancient artifacts then telling you about “this old thing I found.”  I am also very interested in and passionate about all different cultures.  We’re all living in this world together and it is going to take coming together as people to resolve the world’s issues.  I want to be a part of that transformation.

Zach: Next fall I plan on studying international affairs in graduate school (hopefully in Washington D.C.!).  I hope to someday be able to use my academic and professional experiences in an eventual career in public service.  Working for the U.S. Department of State, either in the Civil or Foreign Service, would be an ideal career for me!  In regard to my personal goals, I just want to use my talents and abilities to make a positive difference in the world.  Helping other people and trying to resolve conflict in all aspects of life are important ideals to me.

3. Now back to the past, you both appear to be very interested in International Studies (as you both have majors in the subject).  What sparked this interest?

Mallory:  My interest was sparked at a young age because my mother worked for the airlines so travel was feasible.  I have had the opportunity to experience cultures around the United States as well as in six European countries.  Exploring cultures really motivates me and I was lucky to figure out what path I wanted to take by the time I got to college.

Zach: I have always had an interest in learning about foreign cultures, languages, and peoples.  It is extremely fascinating to compare the way other people live around the world to your own life.  International studies seemed to suit these interests.  Through my college coursework, I had the wonderful opportunity to learn even more about other cultures, countries, and systems of government.  It also fit in well with my French minor!

4. Any words of advice for members of PTPI who might have similar interests?

Mallory: Research is a great way to gain intercultural insight.  The internet is an amazing tool that makes it so easy to gain knowledge of places all over the world.  Also, travel as much as you possibly can!

Zach: Read often, travel as much as possible, help others, and enjoy life!

5. Are there any words you live by?

Mallory: Go after the things you want and don’t let anybody tell you they are too far out of reach.  If the desire and the drive is there, so is a way to accomplish your goals and dreams.

Zach: “There is no fate that cannot be surmounted through scorn.”  -Albert Camus

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Update from Partners In Health

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Here’s the latest from Susan W. Sayers, Director of Institutional Development at Partners In Health(PIH):

January 26, 2010 update from Haiti:

  • Having returned to Boston from Haiti on Saturday, PIH Medical Director Dr. Joia Mukherjee held a press conference call today.  Stressing the need to strengthen the health systems through the public sector, she answered questions about topics ranging from PIH’s response to women’s health needs to the monumental task of resettling millions of homeless people before the rainy season begins in April.  Dr. Mukherjee also stated that the time has come to change the model of emergency aid from to one in which resources—financial and material—remain in country long after relief workers had left.  “Haiti’s strength is in her people,” she explained, going on to say that long term investment in local institutions and individuals was the only way to rebuild the country.
  • Reverse migration continues to be of great concern as earthquake survivors flee the rubble of Port-au-Prince for the countryside; indeed the Government of Haiti is now encouraging residents of the capital city to take refuge in other parts of the country.  PIH is already seeing this influx in our catchment area in the Central Plateau and Artibonite.  Writing from one of the PIH facilities in the Lower Artibonite PIH co-founder and Executive Director Ophelia Dahl noted, “Important to note that as all the surgery, casting and x raying was going on, the courtyard was filled with at least 200-300 patients. Doctors were seeing them, as always. The nutrition program was taking place with mothers and babies sitting waiting for their children to be seen and weighed.” Our program to detect and treat pediatric malnutrition is just one of many that PIH will need to scale up significantly to meet particular needs of this extremely vulnerable displaced population.
  • While we are beginning to focus more attention on long-term recovery and rebuilding plans, we are still dedicating enormous energy to the immediate needs of quake survivors.   Writing from Cange, Ophelia reported, “Yesterday two spinal patients were evacuated from Cange to the USNS Comfort. They were prepped here, put in traction to prevent any movement and then driven down slowly.” We also continue to have a steady flow of supplies and volunteers.  Nine anesthesia machines arrived in Port-au-Prince this morning, and a donated dialysis machine is being shipped from Dallas via Miami.
  • Dr. Mark Hyman, a volunteer surgeon who connected with PIH in the hours following the earthquake and has been working out of the University Hospital (HUEH) with Dr. Evan Lyon and others, was interviewed this morning on CNN’s American Morning.  You can watch the video here: American Morning CNN

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