11. My March in Tanzania

Hello my dears, I hope you’re all doing well. There was so much going on that I didn’t get round to writing the report. But now!

March went by incredibly fast. I can’t believe it’s already April.

The month got off to a great start, as I started working at the hospital. 

Work at the hospital

At the beginning, I have to admit, I felt quite overwhelmed. So many new routines, countless impressions, new names and technical terms. Interestingly, Kiswahili wasn’t the big problem, it was all the medical terminology in English that is used in everyday work here. Google and my translator quickly became my best friends.😅

After just the first day, I realized how much I truly enjoy this work. Within only a few weeks, I was able to do quite a lot. I joined ward rounds in the inpatient department, measured vital signs, followed diagnoses in the outpatient clinic and got to know the emergency room. I assisted with infusions and accompanied patients to ultrasound and X-ray. I also transported patients from the outpatient department to the wards, brining medications and helped move laboratory samples. In this way, I was involved in the daily hospital routine from the very beginning and was able to really understand how everything works.

The surgeries were especially impactful. I was able to observe different procedures, such as cesarean sections, evaluations and fractures. I also took part in dressing changes, suture removal and wound care. Every experience deeply impressed me, even though it was quite challenging at the beginning.

In a very short time, I was exposed to an incredibly wide range of medical conditions. It ranged from infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis or HIV, to flu and common colds, and even to severe emergencies like motorcycle accidents, sepsis, abortion or injuries caused by physical violence. I also encountered chronic and rarer conditions such as gout, sickle cell disease or neurological disorders, for example dementia or the disintegrative developmental disorder of a six-year-old child. This was complemented by everyday but equally important cases like pregnancies, pneumonia or parasitic infections.

All of these experiences not only showed me how diverse diseases can be, but also truly sparked my passion for medicine.

What has moved me most is the way people work here. Many processes differ from what I am used to in Germany, mainly because diagnostic options, materials and infrastructure are more limited. Decisions are therefore shaped by what is actually available, and care is adapted with a great deal of flexibility.

At the same time, the hospital in Rulenge is surprisingly well equipped for the region here, with operating rooms, X-ray, ultrasound, wards, an emergency department and a well-stocked pharmacy. What stands out even more is how much it has developed over the past year. Where there were once hardly any rooms, crowded corridors and very limited access to medication, there is now a much more organized and functioning system.

What I find especially impressive is the level of experience, attentiveness and responsibility with which people work under these circumstances.

And this is where I may have learned the most important lesson. Medicine is not only about technology, equipment and perfect conditions. It is about working with what is available. It is about observing carefully, listening closely and taking responsibility.

The doctors and nurses here do an incredible job every single day. With impressive expertise, creativity and above all, deep humanity. I have huge respect for their work. The way they interact with patients is incredibly compassionate and respectful. I have learned to see the person behind the illness, to listen, to create a sense of calm and to build trust.

What I also really appreciate is the teamwork. There is no “above” or “below,” no strict hierarchy between doctors and nurses. People work together, support each other and stand up for one another. The overall atmosphere in the hospital is truly special. It is shaped by warmth, humor and mutual respect. Despite all challenges, there is laughter, and people go through the demanding daily routine together.

For me personally, this is a very special experience. Not just learning procedures, but truly understanding what matters in medicine. Of course the knowledge is the most important, but so are empathy, teamwork, flexibility and the ability to stay calm and find solutions in difficult situations.

From the very beginning, I was allowed to take on tasks, actively participate and ask questions at any time. No matter when or where. In just a few weeks, I have learned so much: medical knowledge, new Kiswahili terms and, most importantly, how to interact with different people and understand how the healthcare system works here. The longer I stay, the more I am allowed to try out myself.

Already now, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the entire team for welcoming me so openly, teaching me so much every day and always making me laugh.

A very special thank you goes to the doctor on site, who makes this experience truly unique for me. He takes so much time every day, explains everything patiently and answers all my questions, and there are a lot of them, usually starting with “why?”, “ehm” or “but how?” 😅 At the same time, he constantly challenges me to think for myself, understand connections and take responsibility. From the very beginning, he trusted me and even allowed me to try out my first practical skills, like giving infusions, which I am incredibly grateful for.

He has also shared many of his study materials and books with me, so I now spend a lot of time studying during work and preparing for medical school. With his support, things don’t just stay theoretical, they actually start to make sense. Sometimes it feels like my brain is overheating 😅 but in the best way, because I am not just memorizing, I am slowly beginning to understand how everything is connected. And I truly enjoy every single second of it. I am very very thankful for him and this wonderful opportunity!

Life besides hospital

But of course, the month was not only about work. It was also filled with many more beautiful moments, especially a lot of time with my friends. It is truly nice to spend time together, talk, laugh and just be silly. These moments mean a lot to me.

For one long weekend, I traveled to Kigali. The difference to Tanzania was immediately noticeable. Clean streets, well-developed infrastructure, helmets required for motorcycle rides, public buses, speed cameras and right-hand traffic again. The city itself impressed me, and the trip was really enjoyable, even if the timing was not perfect. The hospitality was just as warm as in Tanzania.

Outside of the hospital, there were many other special moments. I visited a sister in her new home in Karagwe and spent a lot of time with the sisters in Rulenge. The afternoons and weekends with the children from Angels Home are also very important to me. I experienced a beautiful and energetic Palm Sunday, visited the mother of general several times, continued experimenting in the kitchen (tanzanian food) and enjoyed many small everyday moments. Whether at Barikiwa, with the seminarians, at friends’ homes, friends at my house or during conversations on the street, all of these moments made this month incredibly valuable.

Farewell

I also had to say goodbye to my fellow volunteer in mid-March. She had not been feeling well for some time and had to return to Germany. Before that, we took one last trip together to Bukoba, which became a truly special memory. We explored the beautiful city, had a picnic at the beach and spent hours talking about everything we had experienced together.

Saying goodbye at the airport was really hard. Letting go of someone you have lived so closely with for months and shared everything with is not easy. Before coming here, we didn’t know each other, but in Tanzania we truly grew together. We experienced so much, had countless conversations, laughed endlessly and supported each other. Of course, there were also difficult moments and disagreements, but that is part of it too.

After saying goodbye, I was a bit nervous about living alone in this big house. But in everyday life, this “being alone” is not as present as I had imagined. Between the hospital, time with friends and daily tasks, I am always busy. I have visitors often, visit others myself and am not truly alone.

And still, there are moments when someone is missing. Someone who understands what’s going on here, without needing many explanations. Someone you can speak German with.

Future

During my time at Angels Home, I had already noticed how my interest in medicine kept growing. I often provided first aid and truly felt how much I „enjoy“ this kind of work.

The turning point came through a simple question from my friend: “Why don’t you study medicine?”

My answer was clear: “I can’t, because of my high school graduation grade.”

And he just said: “There must be other ways. Think about it. You would be a good doctor.”

That thought stayed with me. I started to really think about it, explore possibilities and take it seriously. Latest through my time in the hospital here, it became absolutely clear to me: this is it. I want to study medicine.

Sometimes plans change faster than expected. I had originally already submitted an application for an extension of my volunteering service until January 2027.

But now my path has changed. I will return to Germany at the end of July, start my internship on August 1st and begin medical school abroad.

On one hand, I am incredibly excited for this path. To finally start, to truly understand things, to dive deeper into what fascinates me and to answer every single question.

On the other hand, I only have three and a half months left here in Tanzania. And that feels incredibly short. Far too short.

I realise that I am not ready to leave yet. And honestly, I am a bit afraid of going back. Of returning to a life that might not feel the same anymore, while also starting something completely new. Since my flight is booked and everything is becoming more real, this thought has been on my mind more and more.

But at the same time, I know this: no one can take this year away from me. It was the best decision I could have made. The best year of my life.

I never thought I could immerse myself so deeply in a completely different culture and feel so at home. I never thought I could fall in love so much with a country and especially with the people here.

Even though more than half of my time here has already passed, one thing is very clear to me: I will live the coming months just like the past ones.

With so much of energy, filled with joy, fully present in every moment, taking in as much as possible, exploring, learning and experiencing.

Because this time is limited. And that is exactly what makes it so incredibly valuable. And that is what I hold on to.

With love from Tanzania,

Joana❤️