Programme Coursework

(I changed the spell check on my computer to the U.K. version.  Get used to it.)

Now that I've written a little about my life in Leeds, you may be interested in the actual Master of Public Health (MPH) coursework that I'm doing.  The first module that I'm taking is Foundations of Public Health.  It's a two-month course that covers a variety of topics:

• Determinants of health
• Gender and health
• Health systems
• Health policy
• Resource management (time, policy processes, information, medicine, human resources, etc.)
• Financing for health
• Hospitals in health systems
• Project planning

This may seem incredibly boring to you, but I like it.  My two favorite topics so far have been International Trends in Health Policy and Planning for Health.  It was interesting to learn about public health policies from around the world [which was a particularly interesting discussion during the U.S. government shutdown over the Affordable Care Act] and also learning how to prioritise health programmes.  How do you make budget decisions that will help one group of people (e.g. HIV/AIDS patients) but will take away from another (e.g. mental health patients)?  *Discussions are always in the context of developing countries' health systems.  I finally understand the process of lobbying to stakeholders and why the U.S. government takes forever to pass legislation.  And incredibly, I still want to work in the government - because I feel that I can work with the system and create policy changes that will make a difference in healthcare (internationally and in the U.S.).

The next module is Principles of Public Health, which starts mid-November.  This course will cover:

• Epidemiology
• Health promotion
• Health statistics
• Non-communicable diseases
• Water and sanitation
• Communicable diseases
• Service delivery systems

The two modules, Foundations and Principles, provide the basic knowledge of the health topics.  In January, we begin the optional modules which go more in depth about the issues.  Right now, I'm leaning towards choosing Communicable Diseases, Monitoring and Evaluating Health Programmes, Health Management Information Systems, and International Health Policy.  Health Systems Research Methods is another compulsory class that starts in January.  And of course, there's the dissertation research paper that's due in August.

I think it's safe to say that my blog posts are going to become very sporadic soon.  We've already finished one paper (a short 6-pager) but tomorrow we're getting assigned a major project (worth 70% of our grade).  After researching and writing all day, I don't really feel like blogging.  Plus, my blog posts topics are running a little thin.  Anyway, I'll definitely write if something exciting happens, i.e. social gatherings (not snakes).

Went out to eat for Chinese food after submitting our first assignment.  Good times.  :)

Culture Shock . . . Again

I spent seven weeks in the US before I came to Leeds - I figured that was enough time to adjust back to modern society.  And I knew there would be some cultural differences between the US and the UK, but not as much as living in Uganda.  I was unprepared for the level of culture shock that I am experiencing here.

Part of it may be the transition between (non)work in the Peace Corps and becoming a full-time student; part of it may be that many of my classmates are from Africa and I'm falling back into my Uganda tendencies (e.g. speaking broken English); part of it is definitely the fact that I don't have any American friends here.  (At least in Peace Corps, I frequently got together with other people experiencing the same level of culture shock as me.)

This chart explains the emotional ups & downs of culture shock.

*Weird observation: #1 starts relatively high and after the whole experience, #9 is much lower.  So you'll never be as happy as before you left your country. (???)

Specific instances of culture shock:

• Getting laughed at by British classmates for my American accent and the mispronunciation of words like Yorkshire.  They pronounce it York-shir, as in 'Yeah sure' - not 'shire', like hobbits are from the Shire.  Edinburgh is pronounced Edin-bra, not Edin-boro or Edin-bura.  Shopping carts are 'trolleys' and paper towels are 'kitchen rolls.'
• Getting used to British money.  They have a ton of coins - this picture is still missing the big £2 coin piece.  I hate holding up the line at checkout when I'm trying to figure out the difference between a 10 pence and a 20 pence.

 

• Almost getting hit several times by oncoming traffic.  I learned the hard way whether pedestrians or cars have the right of way.  I know that cars drive on the left side of the street, but crosswalks and traffic lights are very confusing.  Maybe I should just sit at an intersection one day and figure out the order of light changes and turn arrows. 
• Getting back into school mode.  I'm having a hard time getting motivated to study and write papers.  I have a paper due Monday and I haven't even read the article yet.
• Getting used to flatmates.  I've been living on my own for over 10 years, and my living space is always neat and orderly.  My tolerance is being tested by the sharing a kitchen with 4 other people.

Dirty and clean dishes are piling up because no one will put them away.  

(We each have separate cabinets for our own dishes.)

  

Five people, five shelves in the refrigerator.  No room for leftovers.

Even though I struggle with the culture sometimes, I'm not hiding out in my room (which is a common habit of people living in a new environment).  The university always has events going on, so I've been going out a lot ( . . . maybe that's why I'm procrastinating on my homework).  In the past 3 weeks, I've been to:

• Tour of Leeds city center
• Kirkstall Abbey outdoor market
• Afternoon tea at Grayson Heights
• Grayson Heights residents' dinner at Trio
• International Students Welcome Dinner
• Leeds Lights Night
• Hike at Golden Acre Park

Another positive note: 

The other day I saw a big black fly in the vestibule near the elevators.  It occurred to me that that was the first insect I've seen since arriving in the UK.  Crazy!!  Also, it's been amazing weather so far.  There have been a few days of rain, but for the most part it's sunny and upper 50's.  My flatmate (from the UK) says it's never like this in October (or September!).  I am extremely grateful for a proper autumn.  I'm also grateful that even on rainy days, there's no lightning here.  Uganda had extreme lightning during each storm - so much so, that I was scared of leaving the house if I saw dark clouds coming.  My nerves were completely shot (from lightning, critters, strange noises, etc.)  I am far less stressed here.  ;)