FSB Cadet and future Army Nurse, Alex Tatone, takes a study abroad to Africa.

Since I have talked to you last I finished up my mental and Psychiatric health clinicals in the public outpatient clinics of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It was an eye opener to see some of the conditions that patients as well as nurses must cope with in this country. Finals week went very fast but well. I wrote my political science final paper on South Africa's violent car jackings.  

After classes five other classmates and I joined an overland tour company to camp from Cape Town, SA through Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe to end in Victoria Falls. This was an experience of a lifetime. I was able to view a sun rise from the top of Dune 45 in the Namib Dessert, pole through the Okavango Delta on mocoro's in Botswana, as well as tumble out of a raft into grade 5 rapids while rafting down the Zambezi river. On the way I also observed the beautiful countryside and wildlife that Southern Africa has to offer. One of the game watching highlights came while sitting at a water hole at night time in Etosha National Park to watch an elephant, two rhino's, several zebra, and giraffs drink by moonlight. What a sight! It is nothing short of amazing to observe animals that I have only seen on television or in the zoo in their natural environment. From the challenges of the heat and the rapids to TB and HIV patients, I have been pushed out of my comfort zone and gained valuable experiences that I will draw on for the rest of my life. I truly value every moment that I was able to spend on the beautiful landscape and in the challenged social systems of Southern Africa.

CDT Tatone