Frustrated but Figuring it Out- Blog Post 5 (EA)

When I was first placed at SANI, I was honestly a little disappointed. I had really wanted another organization and thought I would have been able to do great work there. I also had heard, to some extent, about the issues that previous Cornell students faced while working at SANI and was confused as to why we still partnered with them. However, I was intrigued by the topic of people with intellectual disabilities and their access to employment because it was not something I was very familiar with. I was excited to look at how the barriers that people with ID faced affected their access to health care. Furthermore, with my partner Alex being in ILR, I knew we would work well together to bring to light our research findings using different perspectives.

Unfortunately, working with SANI has proved to be difficult. Our boss was very clear that she did not want us to bring in a health aspect. She did not appreciate us using our time to interview stake holders in the health field and so, out of respect, we stopped. I did not expect this to be a challenge and being in a health focused major I was obviously disappointed. Overall, I have adapted pretty well in trying to give our boss the result she wants. Alex has been a great resource and support system in navigating this situation. We often have very long discussions after our interviews discussing the implications of unemployment—many of which are health oriented.

My working style has also changed since being here. As we approach the end to our time here, I know I would be able to bang out this paper and presentation in one sitting in the stacks at Olin Library. However, I often have to work in internet cafes and because it is so busy and loud, I am not as productive. Furthermore, sometimes the internet will go out or be extremely slow and so I am unable to work. My patience has definitely gone up since learning how to work here and I am able to plan well enough to account for interruptions.

With all my frustrations, my goal remains the same—to produce a great final product. My issues with SANI do not begin to define my experience here in Zambia this summer. I have learned so much and have experienced such amazing things that it would be unfair and incomplete to summarize my whole experience just based on these frustrations. I am excited to present early in order to truly enjoy my last moments in Lusaka with my cohort, host family, and new friends.