VT College of Science Quarterly August 2014 Vol. 2 No. 1 | Seite 15

see people who are overweight in Ghana, diabetes and hypertension is common because of the sugary fruits and salt which is served with every meal. There are far more serious shortcomings in the community besides hypertension, diabetes, and malaria, however. We made house visits for those who could not come to the clinic because of problems such as elephantitis, strokes, and an inability to get out of bed. Even with Ghana’s national health care, it costs 6 Ghanaian dollars for transportation to get to a hospital. We asked people if they had the money to save their own life, and the response was almost always no. Sometimes they had the money, but getting to a hospital wasn’t a priority. It doesn’t make sense to cure a disease if there is no money to buy food or water. What is more confusing is that I’m interacting with at least one person each day who is more than 100 years old. How is it my own mother wasn’t able to make it to 53 with all resources available to her, yet women in Nanaben who are constantly worried about having clean water live to 100 or more? How can life be so unfair, so misconstrued, so equal, but yet so unequal? These must be the questions my mother faced as a teacher of less privileged children; using her talents on children who may not even remember her relentless will to better the world. I came to the same realization that she must have come to a long time ago -- I mustn’t take myself too seriously in my attempts to change the world. I must be content with the way the world is and let it be. Despite this, I don’t think of my efforts as wasteful and my attitude is not of one giving up. Most of the students who have come to Ghana are pre-med and the trip provides a lot of insight to the lifestyle of a doctor and gives great opportunities for shadowing along with community service. I’m always asked what my most memorable experience was. There are many that stand out such as meeting the centenarians; receiving gifts from people who have nothing; touching Oben’s life; and making life-long friends with everyone on the trip. However, one moment possible to his home and maybe it will provide stands alone. During a home visit, three of him easier days from here on out. us spoke with a man in his dirt floor hut and My short and very condensed story ends asked him about his life and how he survives here with much joy and pleasure to meet each day. At the end of a translator-delayed conversation we asked him if he had any ques- such great people and make some of the best memories that I will hold close to my heart tions for us and suddenly he started to speak for as long as I live. I plan to go on at least one English. He asked three questions. The first, “Why are more trip before I graduate and build on my experiences and life skills. Thanks for reading! you here in Ghana?” I respond, “We are here to help.” Next he states it’s not cheap to travel Madasi pa! to Ghana and asks, “Who pays for your plane ticket?” I tell him we each do.” Finally he asks, “Who pays for all this medicine you bring?” Again, I respond, “We do.” After this, tears stream down his face as he thanks us for helping his country because he is so aware and knowledgeable to know that the people of Ghana are in serious need. It was overwhelmingly to run into someone who understood the situation and knew exactly where we were coming from. After more than 500 patients, as our service days ended in Ghana, we closed our clinic and participated in a closing ceremony along the lines of the one th at welcomed us. Saying goodbye to my dear friend Oben was very difficult. I gave Oben my favorite hat so he could be cool on hot days. I hugged him goodbye and returned to my bus to leave him forever. Sometimes I like to think The author, Kody Cobb, and Oben showing his Hokie spirit. he took his new hat and ran as fast as FEBRUARY 2014 1 5