Day 32: The Final Push

The irreverent look of "Are we done yet?"

So long for now LSHTM, but I'll be back  for sure!

Our presentation went well, at least we thought so. Dressed on stage as Afghans for a skit we had written, we hoped to entertain, as well as enlighten our audience on the importance of cutaneous leishmaniasis. 

As a neglected communicable disease in Afghanistan, we aimed to bring much needed attention, and donor funding, to our proposal.  Modeling a radio program spot we hoped to develop as part of our project in Northern Afghanistan, we reenacted our best rendition of a typical day in an Afghan province. Our presentation met with applause, and then instant silence. We couldn’t decide if it was because we were that good, or that bad. And yet, we didn’t have time to ponder this befuddlement for too long. We still had our paper to finish.

Getting ready for our skit

The surge of laughter and hilarity coming off of our presentation didn’t last very long. We immediately started working, for what seemed days, desperately trying to finish off our final proposal. There was a strict deadline of 11:30 AM the following morning and if we didn’t make it, our mark would pay the price. With that as incentive enough, we pushed on.

One EXHAUSTED team. But we're done!

We holed ourselves up in a basement classroom and prepared for the long day of work ahead. Books, papers, laptops, candy wrappers, coffee cups, soda cans, all were strewn across the tables and floors looking like an explosion between a library and a convenience store. Half dazed and part giddy, we shifted from intense seriousness, to extreme silliness the longer we worked. Yet, despite our unpredictable behavior and questionable insight as the hours went on, we were deep in it now and there was no getting out until we were done.  Our final proposal, PLUS final exam were less than 24 hours away.

As we tediously combed line by line of our log frame analysis, line item budget and time scale, the hours on the clock ticked away.  

Found on study break."Ginger Beer. Absolutely No Nasties"

Fatigue turned to panic as we considered the possibility we may not get it done in time.  Study breaks consisted of 5 minute eat-and-runs of something found in the refectory. Some worked through the night, camping out on campus sofas, while others left late and returned early the next morning. Tirelessly we struggled to beat the clock. And we did. With less than a minute left to go! Hitting “send” on the email that submitted 5 weeks of hard work and rework, in one second, never felt so good, but we still had the exam to take and we were already late. Running as fast as we could up the stairs we made it just in time. Talk about cutting it close!

The final exam!

Tiredly, but triumphantly, we left the classroom and met again outside. We had done it. Six strangers, from six different parts of the globe, came together five weeks ago to produce one single proposal that, if ever actualized in the real world, had the potential to benefit the lives of thousands of Afghans suffering from cutaneous leishmaniasis. Regardless of what our grade would turn out to be, that was a huge achievement in itself.

I'll miss you Team C1!

 We took a final picture outside the department library and then headed our separate ways, most headed straight for bed. We would meet again later in the week for a final good bye drink, but for now, we had accomplished what we set out to do. I was already missing my group as I walked away from the final day at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Looking back at the campus from the corner of Keppel and Gower Street, I couldn’t believe how quickly the time had gone by. It seemed only yesterday I was struggling to find this building, lost on its adjacent streets, completely turned around. And now, five weeks later, I would forever be able to find this place because of all the memories that would lead me back here. And I was sure, one day soon, I would definitely be back here.

So long for now London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I’ll be back. You can count on it.