Meet Intern and 2012 Scholarship Winner Abe Moland!

By Katie Arango

Wrapping up the last few weeks at work in preparation for my Cape Town departure has been a bittersweet experience. Having worked at a physical therapy clinic for the past year and a half, I’ve learned that one of the greatest strengths, and downfalls, of the healthcare system is the personal connection (or lack thereof) between a healthcare provider and the patient. I’m eager to implement and experiment with the tools I’ve learned in the dynamics of a new culture. I’ll fondly remember the relationships built with both patients and my coworkers, however, their constant chanting of “Bless the rains down in Africa” was getting old.

Making a final selection between the Connect-123 internship locations was extremely difficult, since each site had so much to offer. However, after several rounds of evaluation, it became clear that Cape Town was the best-fit choice for me for several reasons. South Africa as a whole is facing a triple burden of disease between the AIDS pandemic, high rates of infectious disease, and now the rising tide of chronic disease brought about by unhealthy living such as poor diet and lack of exercise. This unique climate of healthcare challenges is most present in areas of the country that have become more urbanized, such as Johannesburg, Soweto, and Cape Town. In the future I hope to work towards finding interventions to prevent diseases related to sedentary lifestyles in urbanizing areas around the globe, making Cape Town an excellent location to gain experience.

After conversations with my internship advisor at Victoria Hospital, I am excited at the wide range of projects I will be able to join forces with to combat this problem. The possibilities range from assisting in EKG stress testing to keep supply in check with demand, working on development of more extensive cardiovascular rehabilitation offerings, and even pioneering my own wellness program targeting parents to work towards healthier family habits and lifestyles.

Beyond the suitability of the internship possibilities, Cape Town offers opportunities abound to quell my need for adrenaline and adventure. The proximity of Lion’s Head to the city means I’ll be enjoying frequent hikes. Cape Town also is within a few hours of the Rocklands, an area world-famous as a Mecca of highball sport bouldering. This dream climbing spot has motivated the past several months of my climbing and I am more than excited to get out and grab some rock. Finally, Cape Town is home of the Two Oceans Marathon, also known as the “World’s Most Beautiful Marathon”. In a somewhat rash, probably regrettable, but ultimately to-tempting-too-pass-up decision I signed up for the grueling 54km race, and am looking forward to getting intimate with Cape Town through many hours of training runs.

With so many experiences to have, people to meet, and adventures to dig into, I only have one hurdle left to impatiently clear before stepping onto the plane: packing. Cramming four months of gear into two bags may be a little challenging, but hopefully years of Tetris has amply prepared me.

Stay tuned for more updates from Abe throughout his stay in Cape Town. You can read his winning Scholarship entry here.

Katie Arango

Program Director, Argentina:Katie, a US native, had traveled to Buenos Aires on several extended trips before the city’s lure became too strong and she decided to call it home. Long fascinated by the global scene, Katie earned a degree in International Studies from Miami University and spent time studying and living in Madrid, Spain. She then worked in marketing for an international board game company followed by a brief foray as an online community editor for several websites before joining the Connect-123 team. Still a tourist at heart herself, Katie loves watching newcomers discover the charm of Buenos Aires and takes great pleasure in helping them make the most out of their work and volunteer opportunities while experiencing everything this dynamic city has to offer.


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