We returned to the same clinic in rural Seibo to finish the work we’d started. I got to follow/help one of the Dominican doctors that I’d requested the day before because she was fluent in both Spanish and English and I’d seen her taking the time to explain the situations and cases to my friend the day before. Our [entire] team managed to see and treat 157 patients this time, and didn’t have to turn anyone away.
I worked with a friend and got a ton more experience with listening to hearts and lungs, examining ears, mouths, and noses, as well as with reading urine tests (I know that’s not hard, but weirdly enough, I really never actually did one til I came here) and taking more blood pressures. It was a lot hotter and more humid, possibly because it didn’t start raining on the second day. Our coordinator would stop us periodically to remind us to take mandatory water breaks so we wouldn’t get dehydrated. We’re actually working at a clinic in the middle of the sugarcane fields, so some of the patients brought in some for us. :D! I haven’t had any since I last went to HK, so that (among other things) pretty much made my day. :]
Again, the likenesses to clinic were kinda awesome. (I’ve really missed being able to go there and still feel that there is no better reminder of why I decided that I wanted to go into medicine than being able to help my patients.) I think a lot of people end up assuming that I don’t like babies/kids because I have absolutely no desire to give birth to any. This is a fairly incorrect assumption. I think the ones that are raised well (aka have manners and all that good stuff, which is tragically uncommon these days) are awesome.
The ones I got a chance to work with were pretty darn adorable. One little girl (her name’s Carolina) was talking to me and gesturing to my earrings. Since my Spanish knowledge is fairly nonexistent, I kinda figured she was just telling me that she liked them, so I smiled and nodded. She looked so incredulous and happy when I nodded that I realized I’d agreed to give them to her. I cleaned em’ off with an alcohol wipe and her little brother ran with her to the bathroom to put them on. When she came back out, she ran over and hugged me. You cannot put a price tag on happiness. The smile on her face warmed my heart. <3
Random discoveries today include the fact that there are apparently ostrich eggs incubating in the living room (top right in the picture below). I may have failed to mention that there are actually two ostriches living on the property where we’re staying. I’m not really a fan of them because one tried to bite my fingers when I was at a zoo as a child, so I’ve been slightly traumatized by the incident.
Top Left: WV vs. CSA in pool
Bottom: We had lots of company all over the hotel. <3
I did a core/yoga workout outside after we got back from clinic, jumped in the pool for about half an hour and went off to dinner. I’ve been having a lot of trouble carrying bags/boxes from one place to another because some guy will always come along and take it from me. When I voiced this concern to Mike (it’s not that I mind, but they’re kinda ruining my workouts of the day, because there’s nothing else to lift other than my own body weight):
M: I know, Farrah, it’s because you’re tiny and they want to help you. Little do they know, you’re actually stronger than most, if not all of them. (takes box from me and carries it to the van)
Top Left: Chucha! <3 My loyal breakfast-lunch-and-dinner-company! He’d just sit in my lap for pats. <3
Top Right: 3/4 the gang. Sean decided to stay at home to study (and as we found out later, basement-dwelling [playing Halo with Tanner], cleaning fish tanks, and witnessing some really awkward gay fish porn in said fish tank; I shit you not).
Bottom Left: Also from aforementioned bonfire! Mike decided to recruit me to be his partner in crime in carrying two beach chairs to the bonfire. It was a good idea. People were pretty jealous, so we shared.
Bottom Right: Lunch break! (We’re probably vulturing for food again.)
When I was giving Isaac some crap about not helping out with carrying things (one of my roommates ended up having to drag the suitcase that he wouldn’t carry up to our room), Mike teamed up with him to carry me up the hill whilst sitting on a “chair” made out of their arms. It was slightly frightening since the road was super bumpy and Isaac was slightly shorter/not really trying, so I eventually convinced them to let me down.
