Study Abroad: Day Three

After a wonderful dinner with fellow classmates and professors at our hotel last night, as well as presentations by Trinity College students, we took a jaunt back to Trinity College, to see how many students spend their evenings. 

Beyond studying, and athletics, Trinity College has quite a robust social scene right on campus. 

I was able to spend some time with my roommate, getting to know each other better, and discuss what we have learned thus far.  We didn’t stay out too late as we were exhausted, and we ended up taking quite interesting walk back to out hotel.  This is so we could get some good rest for today’s activities.

My "safety whistle" that Brian bought me if needed...like on long walks at night with alleys

(Inside joke with Whitney).

Today started off with me thinking about world views, and how my world view has already changed with this trip, and made me very thankful for the life I share with my family and friends. Nonetheless, we went to the Trinity Center for Global Health today and listened to presentations by Health Service Executives on the rise of obesity in Ireland, and their strategic plans to counteract and reduce this growing trend.  It was very fascinating to hear about how they are changing their food pyramid (unveiling by the Minister of Health on June 12, 2012) so that the very top of their pyramid has a section that basically says “do not eat this.”  Part of that pyramid section included things like soda and fast food.  I was sort of surprised to see so many fast food options in Dublin, like McDonalds and Burger King.  When we were in London, we also saw KFC a lot.

No Taco Bells you all, and definitely no Bojangles.

The presenter, Dr. Nazih Eldin discussed that while we many not see many “fat” people over in Ireland as compared to the United States, the number of children, adolescents, and adults who are overweight (the category before obesity)has significantly risen.  It made me think about how Americans view overweight and obesity.  Americans may have become accustomed to seeing obesity so much, that when an American sees another individual who is overweight, they may think that individual is not overweight and at a healthy weight range.  Basically, people in Ireland may be more perceptive in seeing people who are overweight, and of course obese, whereas Americans may not be as perceptive in seeing people who are just overweight.   In addition, the terms “overweight” and “obese” are sometimes interchangeable in America.  For instance, if an American sees an individual who is categorized as “morbidly obese,” the American might just say the individual is just “overweight.”

The presentation really enabled us to think outside the box, and view different perceptions within another country.

Our classroom for presentations.

Master of Science in Global Health at Trinity College.

After lunch, we listened to presentations with a focus on the Master of Science Program in Global Health, and the Center for Global Health (in Dublin, Ireland), which was created in 2004.  The associate director of the program provided us great insight into the concepts of delivery of care through systems.  Doctoral students and researchers discussed their studies and programs.  For example, a doctoral student from Canada is studying the utilization of mobile technology in Sierra Leone for volunteer community workers.  These community workers are not paid, but are trained to complete certain tasks, such as visiting pregnant women at least 10 times to share educational messages and awareness that may help reduce infant mortality rates.  The mobile technology use enables program planners to ensure that the community workers are provided the appropriate information to distribute, as well as an accountability tool in the event a community worker misses a scheduled visit.

Such intriguing stories you all.

This evening, Whitney and I toured the area need the Spire in Dublin and The Temple Bar area to scope out where we want to go the next two nights before we head to Cork, then Killarney, and Bunratty.

Heineken near the "Spire" or "Spike" (above) and me and Whitney on the river front (below).

Temple Bar area, scoping out places to go tomorrow:)

Tomorrow we visit the Irish Heart Foundation and Irish Cancer Society.  I will type briefly on them and then discuss the recent referendum on May 31, 2012 in regards to austerity. We are *hoping* to go to the Jameson Distillery tomorrow and then maybe to the oldest pub/bar in Dublin--Brazen Head.

More to come tomorrow!

Cheers!

Kara