Mhirt Meetup

Oí! It is week four in Brazil and it has been an absolute blast! It is only fair to give some updates on these past weeks.

About a week in I tried CrossFit for the first time! It was definitely an experience!  As a division 1 volleyball player I thought I was going to be able to handle it just fine but man was I mistaken! Needless to say I was extremely sore for 5 days straight! A soreness so strong I had never felt it that intense before, but regardless of that I got the membership. Wish me better luck the second time around!

In the lab we have officially began the experiment! It’s an exciting time because I have learned a lot about the study as well as how to work with the rats. At first it was scary because I was afraid of getting bitten but the rats are extremely docile so, I’m a pro at this point. This week approaching the lab is expecting a student from Slovenia!! So this will add another great dynamic to the lab!

This past weekend was a huge one. All of the MHIRT students in Brazil took a trip to Foz do Iguaçu. It was so exciting to be able to see everyone at once and share such great memories. The three daredevils of the group Theresa, Laura, and myself only thought it was fitting to Skydive over the border of Uruguay and Brazil. If you haven’t gone skydiving we all highly recommend it. It was an amazing experience and such an adrenaline rush! The following day all of us visited the national park on the Argentinian side of the waterfall. Seeing the falls was absolutely breathtaking! Words cannot do it justice! The best part had to be the boat ride to “devil’s throat”.

This weekend has showed me just how great brasileiros are. We met a man by the name of Tiago who decided to show us around Argentina and suggested many things to do in the area. He alone made this weekend so much more fun because of his knowledge of the area and his willingness to help us with any and everything. This has been something I have seen in many people I've met in Brazil. So from all of us thank you Tiago!!!

I had such a great time this weekend and I can’t wait for everyone to meet up again. Stay tuned for more adventures! Tchau tchau !

Learning about Floripa

Last Saturday, we had the chance to visit the historic Palácio do Cruz e Sousa. It is located in the center of Floripa in the main square. It was built in the middle of the eighteenth century as the house of government. It is now preserved as a historic building.

Along with visiting the Palácio de Cruz e Sousa, we walked through the public market. There were tons of people there to watch the World Cup and enjoy the sunny day. Restaurants, shops, and their famous fish market are located in this beautiful yellow building.

While visiting Foz do Iguazu with the rest of the MHIRT students, we had the opportunity to skydive. We were able to see the intersection between Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina!

In Foz do Iguazu, we were also able to visit the bird park. It is a national park that works to protect and preserve endangered species.

The past weeks have been amazing! I have enjoyed getting to learn not just about Floripa and Foz but also about the people!

Surprise ending

FUTBOL!!!! Vai Brasil :) Futbol is a very big deal here and I love watching the games with my lab friends... especially because Brasilians skip work on game day! Priorities. 

After work we like to hit up our favorite restaurant/bar Caju Verde. Love bonding with them and teaching them English slang. 

Bonding with roomies is just as important! They came with me to watch the Colombia match against Poland... we won 3-0!!! We had to celebrate by going to a super hip place called Coffee Lab. We needed a small break from our lab’s “Black coffee”

As much as we love food, we also love nature!! Parque Ibirapuera— chillin and reading. Perfect roomies. 

TOLD YOU WE LOVE ~NATURE~ I mean look at this!!! We met up with the 5 other Brazilian MHIRT students at Foz do Iguazu!!! (I’m actually writing this post in Argentina side of the park as we speak!!) It was such an amazing and beautiful, PERFECT day!! I even got stung by a bee on my big toe and I bareeeeeely complained. Life is good. 

Oh yeah, I also skydived yesterday... I’m alive and well and enjoying the free fall that is my life in Brasil 

For the past few weeks, the Uganda Rhodes MHIRT team has worked tirelessly to develop a manual and training workshop curriculum to share with healthcare providers in the Bushenyi district. Our work this year, is a continuation of the HPV/Cervical Cancer study that was done last year. This past Tuesday we implemented our first workshop on sociocultural influences on health, with doctors nurses, and medical students  from Kamapala International University Teaching Hospital. The workshops consisted of lively discussion about patient-provider interactions amongst individuals affected by HPV/Cervical cancer.  I thoroughly enjoyed presenting, strategically thinking, and working through the materials with my group. The information was well received and the participants were extremely interactive.  If I must say so, the first workshop was a success! Our weeks of planning and preparation definitely have payed off. We have four more workshops to go. I believe that as time goes on, each workshop will improve. 

Between all of our hard work, we’ve also made time for some relaxation and self care. We were able to visit Kabale and spend time at the beautiful Lake Bunyoni as well as go for a swim and get an amazing view of Queen Elizabeth Park at King Fisher Resort. 

As I reflect on my time here thus far, I’ve learned  to prepare for the expected and unexpected. Patience is a virtue and definitely a key to success. Its super important to ask for what you need because people are generally more than willing to help you. I can’t wait to see what the next 4 or so weeks hold! 

Rabbits and the Retina

Here in Sao Paulo, I have been learning about and working with ERG. This stands for electroretinogram and is a method of evaluating the functionality of the retina. The first week in the lab was spent getting to know the environment, and the flow of things. Once settled in, my supervisor Gabriela began to teach me how to conduct an ERG on an animal; particularly rabbits! Because my first encounter with a rodent such as this, watching the procedure was pretty exciting! As week 1 came to a close, I was given my first big task: give a 20-minute, 20 slide presentation on ERG. Who knew that those simple instructions would be such a challenge! Over the weekend and up until Wednesday of week 2 I researched and practiced my presentation. Before I presentation date came, I was also able to conduct a few ERGs of my own, under the supervision of Gabriela and Andre, a post doc student, of course. With all of the research I could find and the little experience I gained that week, I presented a PowerPoint slide on the subject in front of the entire lab! The most important thing to know about electroretinograms, is what they record. Yes, the function of the retina is analyzed in the recordings, but which parts of the retina?! In the ERG recording below, from an actual experiment of mine, 2 waves can be seen. An a wave, and a b wave. Each wave, combined, makes up the complete function of an ERG recording. Each wave reflects the response from different portions of the retina! For example, the response of the photoreceptors, rods and cones, make up the a wave. Although I would like to go into more detail about how ERG works, why we use it, how to measure the amplitudes of the waves, and other important features of this experiment I want to save a little surprise for the next update! This past week, I've upgraded a bit. I am now able to conduct an ERG on my own, as well as analyze the data on my own. Next week I am presenting again, thankfully, only in front of my supervisor. My knowledge of ERG is increasing, my understanding of the subject is also increasing. I become more and more interested in the subject daily. Who knows what's in store for me next!

From left to right: baseline, (negative) a wave, (positive) b wave.

We're going to Lima? Alpaca my bags!

¡Hola, amigos! 

Well, let's start from the beginning. I started this summer prepared for mosquitos, outdoor latrines, and the hot, humid, forests of Nicaragua. However, due to safety concerns, our program there was cancelled. That's when the lovely ladies of MHIRT sprang to action and found me a new research position in less than 48 hours <3 They're incredible. I am so thankful for the supportive community that MHIRT has created, not just within our program at Rhodes but nationally as well. 

Anyways, I am writing today from Lima, Peru!

It is currently winter time here which means humid-chilliness and constant overcast skies. I have been told the sun won't be coming back until October so this hasn't been the best summer to work on my tan. Oh well! 

I am staying in the neighborhood of Barranco which has been lovingly referred to as "Lima's Portland." There's street art everywhere and cuisine from all over the world. Speaking of cuisine, THE FOOD HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. When people say that Lima is one of the best cities for food in the world, they're not exaggerating. 

This is (from left to right) Ted, Josh, and Ana! We all work in the same office together. They are all public health students from Tulane (Ted's working on his PhD!) and they all love talking about food as much as I do. Ted, Josh, and I are working on a project together. We're doing a qualitative study on the perceptions of parents on adolescent sexual abuse, especially in the context of gender and media exposure. 

This is Andrea and Ted in the office where we conducted focus groups earlier this week! Andrea is a psychologist and has been leading the focus groups. It's so cool seeing her engage people in conversation and guide discussions to the heart of an issue. I have never done qualitative research before and these two people in particular have really been guiding me through the process. It's been a really enjoyable learning experience!

I'll leave you all with this picture of causa langostina (a Peruvian mashed potato/avocado/mayo dish with shrimp 😍) and fresh watermelon-passion fruit juice aka lunch yesterday. This summer is just flying by.

--Radha

Celebration and Appreciation

This is a photo from Louis' Festa Junina. As you can see, the food was great and it complemented the atmosphere of friendship and celebration. During the party, we participated in a traditional Festa Junina dance that proved to be quite the workout, but also gave us an excuse to eat more food (wink wink).

Laura is helping develop the aspects of a new color vision test. In this photo, she is testing out fonts for the opening screen. I have also learned some new things about color vision mostly because I ask Laura a lot of questions while I'm waiting for my PCRs to finish.

This room in the lab is what I consider my second home. It has the thermocycler, as well as, the gel electrophoresis machine. Over the past few weeks, I have been running PCRs on the cDNA of five different frog species which means a lot of waiting and praying for good results.

Just an appreciation post to Laura and Jamila!! Throughout the past few weeks together, we have brought each other to new levels of adventure, organization, and stepping out of our food comfort zone. I'm so thankful to have these ladies with me on this journey.

A Brazilian winter

A banana stand on the side of the highway with bananas still attached to the branch

The beach of Caiobá, which is about an hour and a half from Curitiba

A popular weekend trip from Curitiba, the town of Morretes tends to be warmer than the city, and you can get there via a train which winds through the mountains on its way down to the beach.

A wheelbarrow full of pinhão. This classic winter treat is the seed of a pine tree that is native to the southern part of Brazil. The seeds are boiled to get them out of the shell and are typically enjoyed with a glass of hot wine, known as quentão.

During the Catholic festival of Corpus Christi, various churches around the country gather in Curitiba. They each create part of a large piece of artwork in the street, which stretches on for miles. The designs are made of sand, cloth, small rocks, and various other materials. After they have mass together in the square, the church members have a parade, during which they walk directly on top of this temporary "carpet" that they created.

Agandi

It’s been about three weeks or so since I’ve left America, and I never imagined I could feel so welcome so quickly in a completely different place and culture—one I’ve never experienced before.  Before arriving, I figured it would take a while for me to warm up to people and for people to warm up to me.  After arriving, I realized how wrong I was.

Agandi—a greeting in Ishaka’s local language (Runyankole)—is what starts my day, every single day.  Every morning, I sit here, on our porch, have my morning tea, and read.  Every morning, I am greeted by passersby with “Agandi, how are you?”  Every morning, these kind faces brighten my day.

The people of Ishaka are some of the kindest and most genuine people I have had the absolute pleasure of being able to interact with.  I have never experienced the kind of welcoming acceptance as I have experienced here at our home in Ishaka.

The people here have such genuine interest in you and what you have to say; it is moving and has gotten me really excited about the rest of the summer here!  As we’ve begun inviting students and health workers to our workshops that will present barriers—researched by the MHIRT team of previous years—in cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination in the area and discuss how health workers can better communicate information to community members, we’ve been received with much enthusiastic interest.  Just last week, we approached some medical students working in the female ward of Ishaka Adventist Hospital about the workshop, and their animated interest in participating made me excited to begin these workshops!  Just as those students, most of the others that we’ve approached about the workshop have received us with much interest very quickly.  The dedication, drive, and passion that I’ve seen here is truly inspiring, and I hope to adopt some of this fervor by the end of the summer!

I am constantly in awe of this place because of the beauty of its nature and the beauty of its people.  I am eager to be able to know more of this throughout the next 6 weeks, hopefully adopting some of the kind-hearted friendliness I’ve received.  A summer in Uganda is not long enough!

Beleza!

I have only been in Curitiba for four days, but I am already falling in love with the city and feeling at home. There is such a vibrancy to Brazil, even in the rainy, cold weather that we have been experiencing over the past couple of days. I am really looking forward to exploring even more of the country. I will be working at the Pequeno Principe Institute and have spent my time so far meeting everyone and deciding what research project I will be working on. Here are some pictures from my time here so far: 

This is the living room of mine and Robert's apartment in Central Curitiba. I am trying to work on my Portuguese by watching some Brazilian shows because currently my most used phrase is Eu não falo português, desculpe (I do not speak Portugues, sorry). There have also been an abnormally large amount of movies starring Shia Labeouf on TV for some reason.

This is the view that we have outside of our apartment window, and the street that we walk down every day to get to the lab.

These are some of my fellow lab members, and one of the main labs in the building that they conduct their experiments in. Everyone has been so nice and they have had fun teaching me new words in Portuguese. I do not think I will be fluent by the end of the summer, but I will know science related Portuguese pretty well!

Today, Robert and I were invited to eat lunch with our lab director, Bonald, and his family. These four days have already been so wonderful and I am looking forward to what the rest of my time here holds!

Floripa: Week 2- Fun at the Lake!

Oi! Meu nome e Courtney! I’m a rising senior biology/ pre-med major with a chemistry minor from the one and only Howard University, The Mecca! This is week two in Floripa and we are finally getting settled in at work and starting to venture out. This week was full of exciting moments such as the start of the first experiment and visiting one of the lakes on Floripa. These are some of the highlights of this week.

Carol (far right) and my mentor, Becha, (Bottom left) threw us a party in honor of Festa Junia and the start of our experiment. We tried a lot of candy and sweet typical to June fest. My favorite was Pingo de Leite, a heavenly doice de leite candy. I highly recommend. We were joined by undergraduate lab assistants Daniela (top left)  and Victor ( second from top left).

We are overlooking an amazing view of Logoa de Conceicao.

Brianne’s Mentor, Riso, took us to a market at Logoa de Conceicao. A place filled with chill and free-spirited vibes. Now that she taught us how to use the bus that’s going to be my go to place on the weekends. On the way back we stopped by a local outlook of the lake and took a picture in front of the “Sou Bem Floripa” sign meaning “We are for Floripa” according to Riso. In this picture is Brianne (Right), Theresa (middle), and myself (Left).

During Lunch at Logoa de Conceicao, Riso took us to grab coffee at this super hipster coffee shop called Cafe Cultura. We all got cappuccinos Brasilerio and some breakfast dishes. Starbucks has nothing on Brazilian cappuccinos. In this photo we have Riso (back left), Theresa (back right), Brianne (front left), and myself (front right).

Bem Vindo a Brazil!

I have been a happy inhabitant of this country for the past two weeks and I can’t say I have been to any other country like it.  I have been to the Caribbean and Europe and I have to say; my past experience does not compare to Floripa.  I arrived in Florianopolis last Tuesday in the beautiful state of Santa Catarina greeted and by our cheerful mentor Elizabeth.  It was a smooth transition getting settled into this new life, but I can’t stop swooning every time I see the mountains that separate the inland from the sea just outside my window. There are beautiful murals all around the city that brighten the place up.  My roommates and I have gone around and explored the city of Trindade as well as the university UFSC.  I am so happy that though my Portuguese is absolutely terrible, the locals are always kind and helpful; even without speaking the same language.  Though I did end up catching a fever that kept me stuck in bed for the 1^st weekend, once I got better, we explored the mall “Iguatemi,” and the famous “Lagoa de conceiҫão.”  We have tried as many Brazilian foods as we can get our hands on, including Coxinhas, Pao de Quiejo, Braziian Cappuccino, Tapioca, Brigadieros, and so much more.

                I have gotten to spend some time with my mentor and lab mates, I am excited to be a part of a brand-new project they are starting that looks at the biochemical effects of Chysene on the local species of oysters.  I will mostly be working with Camilla and Flavia, but getting to know the other lab members Laura, Luis, Thomas, Vera, Jacob, and company has been fun! And this is all in only 2 weeks!? I can’t wait to see what the rest of this summer has in store.

Aa (Hello!) from South Africa

My summer is going in a completely different way than I imagined it. Expectations of Nicaraguan rainforests, nearby lakes and volcanoes, and Spanish speaking people have been replaced by the arid heat of South Africa and speakers of Venda and English and Xhosa and half a dozen other languages. I have found myself at the vertex of a dozen different cultures merging, each unique and amazing in its own way. The cultural diversity and beauty is complimented by the rich natural landscape. Beautiful landscapes, secret waterfalls, and "potholes" abound, as well as the most incredible wildlife.

Crossing paths with an elephant in Kruger National Park. This guy cared very little about our presence and it was so fun to watch him go about his day around our car.

A herd of elephants in Kruger! I never had a thing for elephants before this trip but seeing these majestic giants roaming their nature habitat left me in awe.

These girraffes us just on our way out of Kruger. They stood in the road for a good few minutes while we freaked about them letting us pass before the gates closed. When they finally exited the road we couldn't miss the opportunity to snap a couple of photos.

Phiphidi Falls has to be one of the most incredible places I've ever seen. Its located in a huge pothole (like a basin) that dips low compared to the surrounding mountains. These smaller falls are a bit of a hike from the larger main set.

Taking a break from hiking at Phiphidi. I'm a reflective person, but its always worth reminding myself that the beauty surrounding me deserves time devoted to close observation as well as deep reflection.