Durban, South Africa week 1: 21/07-28/07/08

Hi everyone,
I am really sorry I have not started writing this blog earlier, I have had a few initial problems with internet etc but it should be ok from now on!
It is incredible out here, I can't begin to explain how friendly and welcoming everyone is. They have all made me feel so at home by inviting me out and treating me like they have known me for ages.
The weather is lovely - pretty much like a very good english summer - with clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid 20's. It does get dark and cooler at about 5.30 though. All the south africans complain that it's too cold and can't believe it that we are lucky in england if the weather even gets this good! It is the end of winter here.
I have been quite surprised by the extremes of wealth out here - people living in mansions driving fast cars compared with people living in the townships. I have also been surprised by the segregation that still seems to exist between blacks and whites. Although it's obviously not as bad as it used to be there is still a lot of racism and there are separate schools. Also, after talking to people I am working with, all the labouring jobs are done by black people.
My first week has been mostly introductions, getting to know everyone, staff and street kids, and the area.
At the weekend I was invited by locals I work with to a traditional zulu funeral in a township outside Durban. This was an incredible experience which I felt so privileged to be included in. Then yesterday I went to the opposite extreme and went to a gig in Durban's botanic gardens. It was a beautiful day and everyone had their picnics and wine and beer. The band were a mixture of funky jazz and soul type stuff (like a jazzy Morcheeba)!
Anyway, I am going to spend most of my blog talking about the work I am doing. I am working on a mobile health clinic for street kids. We basically spend the days driving around the city stopping off and talking to the kids on the street and treating them for all kinds of problems. If it needs urgent treatment we take them to the hospital. In one day, considered a quiet day, I saw and tried to treat many stab wounds (face, neck, hands) and queried pneumonia (possibly TB) as well as many other minor ailments. Last week there was a girl who had been raped by 18 boys. It is so shocking the things these children go through and still keep smiling. Today I learnt that about 7 in 10 of the kids on the street have HIV, however none of them can access anti-retrovirals (ARVs) or have CD4 counts or viral load tests as they do not have ID books or birth certificates. These are necessary documents in South Africa in order to access anything from basic medical care to education. People talk about universal access to ARVs by 2010 but these children will never have access unless this situation with documents is resolved.
Anyway, I am sorry to ramble on, I realise it can be quite boring to hear about people's travels. I will try to keep my blogs relatively short and sweet from now on!
Laura xxx

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