Roatan - Day 31

Today was pretty slow at the clinic.  J and I ended up only seeing one women’s health patient and just a few patients on our own, but we saw some interesting things.  Like a snake in the treetops right outside of M’s office window.  Or a nasty large growth on this kid’s nose that the hondureño doc burned with silver nitrate sticks.  Or the 20 year old lady with a gaping open wound on her leg.  It’s interesting because the hospital here really is not that functional.  This lady spent 10 days in the hospital and only got IV fluids and came to our clinic the day after she got out.  If that doesn’t say a lot about the capabilities of the local hospital, I don’t know what does.  It’s a big concern that many people have here, especially with so many tourists coming to the island on big cruise ships.  If someone were to get really sick or have a really bad accident, I’m not sure if they’d survive here.  They would for sure have to be flown back to the mainland, or the U.S.

J, B, M and I went to the local bilingual school to tutor this afternoon.  We gave B the low down on LM, a trouble maker to the max.  She put a lid on him quick and kept him in pretty good control.  I’m establishing a better relationship with a few of the kids there, so it’s getting a little easier.  Those kids will do anything to get out of doing their homework.

On the bus ride back to the clinic we always take the kids with us and drop them off at their house along the way.  I was joking around with them and having a good time.  I miss being around kids every day… that’s the only thing I miss about teaching.  Then for some reason I mentioned the fact that I wanted to rent a scooter and M immediately piped up, saying there’s no way as my knees would get caught in the steering and I’d most likely crash.  I appreciate that he has my best interest at heart, but really M?  Are my legs REALLY that long?  Get caught in the steering?!  Haha!

M is hilarious.  We’ve been hanging with him a lot more since ER #1 and #2 left.  He always says “My goodness…” or “How could you?” at the perfect time and it always makes me laugh.  Or when he says, “What?!” in that high pitched drawn out voice that only my brother would know to what I was referring (old Sprite commercial).

After tutoring, M drove us to Flowers Bay specifically to buy some coconut puffs (pastries filled with caramelized coconut) and coconut bread from an Islander selling goodies on the side of the road.  HEAVEN.  Those coconut puffs are DANG GOOD.  Wish I could bring some back with me for you to try.  It was actually my second one for the day.  Earlier, a lady was sitting outside the clinic selling them, but they don’t even compare… more bread-like than pastry-like.

M then drove us to the grocery store for our LAST TRIP.  Cannot believe we only have about one week left.  I made sure to stock up on plantain chips and mangos.  M stocked up on Pringles.  M’s remark, “You’ll stock up on my stuff and I’ll stock up on your stuff.”  Dang right!  I cannot even believe I forgot to buy more mango packets to flavor my water at work… that stuff is delicious.