Kicking off the ghU Winter Break Book Club!
by Jill Shah on December 17, 2011
You’ve voted, you’ve bought the book, and now globalhealthU’s Winter Break Book Club is here!
We will be reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down over the next five weeks. This is the story of a Hmong child, Lia, and the struggle to treat of her epilepsy. The divide between her Hmong culture and the treatment her American doctors recommend results in miscommunication and ultimately improper treatment of Lia.
In many ways, the book shows us an example of a failed partnership. Throughout Lia’s story, you see how impossible it is to place blame on either Lia’s parents or her doctors. Both had the best intentions in the treatment of Lia, and yet they could not reconcile their two beliefs into one course of action. As you read, it becomes evident that there is no simple answer to their miscommunication. Ultimately, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a story about the importance of empathy and communication across partnerships.
GlobeMed’s mission is centered around partnerships between students and grassroots organizations, thus we are constantly striving to best understand our partners and improve our relationships with them. When one story showcasing a partnership is examined, we can better understand the circumstances that lead to miscommunication. Through this we can learn how to connect with our partners and create a culture of empathy that will benefit the movement for global health equity.
There are many different ways to participate in Winter Break Book Club, whether you read on your own or in a small discussion group. There will be guest bloggers over the next five weeks who will share their thoughts on the book, and provide space for your thoughts and comments. There are also opportunities to discuss the book on GlobeMed’s facebook page with members from other Chapters. Every level of participation in Winter Break Book Club is completely optional!
As you begin reading, consider the explanation of epilepsy in Hmong culture and the confusion : Hmong people call epilepsy, “quag dab peg,” meaning, “the spirit catches you and you fall down.” This refers to a “soul-stealing” spirit literally trying to take your soul as it knocks you down.
Miscommunication occurs when two sides come from separate points of view, unwilling to compromise or unaware that a difference exists. In this case, sides are not “unwilling to compromise” or “unaware of a difference,” they are unable. American doctors treat epilepsy as a neurological disorder. The people of Hmong see it as a sign that spirits are drawn to their daughter. Both viewpoints are intrinsically rooted in who they are as people, American doctors or Hmong parents.
Given that neither perspective will change, could this disorder be treated while simultaneously honoring Hmong culture? Could communication reconcile a course of action that works for doctors and parents?
We can’t wait hear your thoughts!
The globalhealthU Team
We will be reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down over the next five weeks. This is the story of a Hmong child, Lia, and the struggle to treat of her epilepsy. The divide between her Hmong culture and the treatment her American doctors recommend results in miscommunication and ultimately improper treatment of Lia.
In many ways, the book shows us an example of a failed partnership. Throughout Lia’s story, you see how impossible it is to place blame on either Lia’s parents or her doctors. Both had the best intentions in the treatment of Lia, and yet they could not reconcile their two beliefs into one course of action. As you read, it becomes evident that there is no simple answer to their miscommunication. Ultimately, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a story about the importance of empathy and communication across partnerships.
GlobeMed’s mission is centered around partnerships between students and grassroots organizations, thus we are constantly striving to best understand our partners and improve our relationships with them. When one story showcasing a partnership is examined, we can better understand the circumstances that lead to miscommunication. Through this we can learn how to connect with our partners and create a culture of empathy that will benefit the movement for global health equity.
There are many different ways to participate in Winter Break Book Club, whether you read on your own or in a small discussion group. There will be guest bloggers over the next five weeks who will share their thoughts on the book, and provide space for your thoughts and comments. There are also opportunities to discuss the book on GlobeMed’s facebook page with members from other Chapters. Every level of participation in Winter Break Book Club is completely optional!
As you begin reading, consider the explanation of epilepsy in Hmong culture and the confusion : Hmong people call epilepsy, “quag dab peg,” meaning, “the spirit catches you and you fall down.” This refers to a “soul-stealing” spirit literally trying to take your soul as it knocks you down.
Miscommunication occurs when two sides come from separate points of view, unwilling to compromise or unaware that a difference exists. In this case, sides are not “unwilling to compromise” or “unaware of a difference,” they are unable. American doctors treat epilepsy as a neurological disorder. The people of Hmong see it as a sign that spirits are drawn to their daughter. Both viewpoints are intrinsically rooted in who they are as people, American doctors or Hmong parents.
Given that neither perspective will change, could this disorder be treated while simultaneously honoring Hmong culture? Could communication reconcile a course of action that works for doctors and parents?
We can’t wait hear your thoughts!
The globalhealthU Team
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