Roatan - Day 25

My morning was a bit crazy bouncing between J and ER #2 to translate for each of them.  I only saw one patient completely on my own, but still had some other good cases.  ER #2 and I literally had a crazy lady come in… I asked at least 3 times why she was at the clinic, but she kept going off about her daughter and what had happened earlier that day.  Then I asked if she had high blood pressure… her response, “Yes, no I don’t.”  And diabetes, “Yes, no I don’t.”  Talk about confusing.  ER #2 and I had to wonder if she literally was crazy or was delirious due to an ulcer she had on her leg.  She finally said she needed some medication refills and when I asked for the names of the medications, she told me her name.  Then she said her daughter was with her at the clinic, but she couldn’t tell us her name.  So I went outside with her to look for her daughter and she couldn’t find her.  I was starting to wonder if she was even there, but some other patients waiting pointed her out.  Thank goodness.  We finally sorted everything out and got her taken care of, but it was a struggle!

[Side note: Peggy brought in a GIANT bag of licorice (red, black is disgusting) and totally made my day.  Hoping there’s some left over tomorrow…]

After our shift, we headed down to West End for lunch at The Lighthouse, recommended by a nurse at the clinic.  J got fresh lobster and I got a huge plate full of a whole fish (literally), fried plantains, rice, beans, and a salad.  Oh, and don’t forget the fresh mango juice w/ a chunk of mango on the side.  My new favorite restaurant!  The couple I met in church on Sunday showed up halfway through our meal so we had a nice chat with them.

Oh, and I ran into the dude from Infinity Bay who offered to take me out parasailing for $65.  Our conversation abruptly ended after my counter offer of $15.  Hey, that’s what I paid in Mexico a few years back so why should I pay more?  When I reminded him who I was he gave a boisterous laugh and a big hug.  I love making the local people laugh.  Like the guy we bought makings for guacamole from… his prices were atrociously high, yet his red onion was less than acceptable.  I was hoping for a discount after he laughed at my remark of the onion having an ulcer… I guess a 20 cent discount will have to do.

After tanning on our favorite dock for a few hours, we started to head back for a taxi.  Turns out my new taxi friend from Sunday isn’t my new friend after all.  After asking if he could take us home (he’s always sitting in the same spot) and how much, his enthusiastically replied, “However much you want!”  Then he immediately said no to 20 lempiras each ($1) AND then to 25 lempiras each.  That’s it, I’m done with him.  Either we’re friends, or we’re not… there’s no middle ground here.  It was easy enough to find another taxi for 25 lemps each.  J thinks he just doesn’t want to work, which I’m sure is accurate.  After all, we are in Honduras.