The Public Health Community

I'm coming down off 4 inspiring days at the Australian Population Health Congress in Adelaide. I was able to get a scholarship by volunteering with other students.
Only downside, I had to wear an ugly orange golf shirt.

As you can see I am one of the 'senior' members. We were publicly thanked by the Conference Chair as the 'energetic and young volunteers' to a round of applause. Ha!

Well Canada may have inspired the world with the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and what followed in the subsequent two decades but Australia's health promotion community remains strong and active. The language of equity, inclusion, social justice, advocacy and the social determinants of health was overt in ALL presentations.   There were many people of Aboriginal descent present and presenting their work.  They walk the talk.

And they dance!  The first evening we were entertained by a group of Indigenous dancers and didgereedoo musicians.  Two nights later the delegates dined and danced the night away.  Fran Baum, who was one of the first on the dance floor, told me it is a custom at this conference.

In fact it was such a wonderful event that the participants asked that the organizers - 4 public health associations - not wait another 4 years for the next one.

Maybe I can come back!? 

Road Warriors

So winter in Australia is officially over. It was wet, windy and cool in South Australia, but nothing compared to Canada.  Yet people were surprised that I rode my bicycle every day.

Ok the hills are steep but it was nothing compared to some of the road warriors in Edmonton who ride through rain, sun, sleet and snow…storm!  People like Val, who cycle daily to work and then look great to boot!

I salute you, Val, you inspire me.  

A couple who are riding from Greece to India

Polar opposites

Apparently it has been the wettest winter in 7 years and coldest in 22 years. And, yes I have been blamed!

But as Canada cools down and moves into Autumn, spring came roaring into Adelaide blowing hot winds and bringing cloudless, sunny skies. 

I’ve been on the beach twice in as many days, more than I have in months (not including the beaches on our vacation).

Here are some photos of Henley Beach where Deb and I walked then stopped for a coffee this morning. 

 

 

Glorious!

A babe in the house

Deb's first grandchild was born in May. Her son and daugter-in-law live a few hours from Adelaide. They came for a visit with adoreable Ivie Mae.  Here's Aunty Cynthia with her.

A taste of Bangladesh

I met Sarah on my first student outing in March. She was alone and we ended up in a tandem kayak together. We went to Victor Harbour in May.   She comes from Bangladesh and is in public health as well, doing her Master’s degree.

She moved to a new flat and invited me to her place for a party to celebrate her new digs and Eid.  Many students are Muslim. 

 

 

Sarah, with some help from her roommate Nai, made a spread of two kinds of fish, chicken wings, bean thread noodles, vegetable rice, and spicy cooked, spinach, pumpkin and tomatoes. For dessert she bought Ladoo, corn flour like balls,  and made a sweet, milky noodle soup - not unlike we get in Indian shops at home.  There is a Bangladeshi supermarket here which has products to help them feel at home. 

Some students arrived late as they had to work cleaning offices or picking vegetables or other menial jobs, so Sarah and Nai insisted we go ahead and poured us a lovely lime drink. It was not until we finished, raving about the delicious meal, that they sat down to eat. In their country it is impolite to eat with guests. 

They gave us a tour of their place. They are very proud of the small garden with herbs and vegetables.They modelled and had me try on  some of their traditional clothes.

They were thrilled that we liked the food. Sarah insisted on sending some home with me which I shared with Deb, who enjoyed it. It was the first time either of us had Bangladeshi food.

But I also experienced the hospitality and the generosity of students who have little but give a lot.

Canuck through and through

While Keith and I were wine tasting last month, behind the counter a woman appeared and took over from our server. She asked if we were Canadian. She had moved here from BC three years ago and married an Aussie and has a child. She said how much she missed Canada and Canadians.  We chatted for a while and met her need. 

As you can imagine it was difficult to get Olympic coverage on anyone but the Australians. Even the locals were complaining. When I heard of the Canadian Women’s Soccer team’s silver medal win I started following on-line.  I listen to CBC Radio 2 and CKUA while at school; I read Elizabeth May’s blog and follow the NDP.

I was out last night with a Canadian friend, at an American movie, 'Hope Springs'.  There are four  Canucks at school. We talk about what we miss all the time. 

You can take the girl out of Canada but you can’t take Canada out of the girl.