Roatan - Day 7

What a GREAT day!  Loved seeing more of the island today!  J and I slept in – that girl can sleep way longer than I can, which is really saying something.  We went out exploring to find beach access close to our apartment so we won’t always have to take the taxi all the time.  So I pushed her up the steep hill to the main road, then walked a treacherous 100 yards to the next side road (continue reading for my explanation of treacherous…), which turned out to be paved all the way to the beach.  Not very far, and we found ourselves a nice little dock to camp out on – to study and/or soak up the sun.  Next time we will for sure be in our swimsuits.  There are even some steps down to the water from the dock to take a little dip and cool off.  Unfortunately the water is too shallow and the coral too high for any sort of snorkeling or swimming.  Good to know it’s so close though, mission accomplished.

Then J and I met up with 3 other girls that are also volunteering at the clinic and we drove out to a tiny native town in Flowers Bay for a health fair.  We spent three hours inside a church passing out medical supplies, checking blood pressures, checking glucose levels (the infamous finger stick – you know you’re scared too…), and handing out reading glasses.  It was really very rewarding.  A young group of kids took to J and so she tested all their sugar levels.  I always love meeting and talking with new people.  We got to see much of the island on the drive there and back, and even though I’ve seen a few third world countries and the different circumstances people live in (Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, even parts of China and the Caribbean), it STILL amazes me how people can live like this and how lucky I truly am in the United States.  I will always need that reminder.  I love to travel, but there is just something so rewarding and humbling about dedicating your time and working on behalf of others that even makes your travel experience that much better.

[Side note to Elise: Apparently there is a house in Flowers Bay (pretty fancy) that was featured on House Hunters International.]

I love driving on the main road that circles the west side of the island.  It’s twisty and turn-y, parallels the beach (saw a basketball court built OVER the ocean!!!), is lined with palm trees and people’s less than ideal living situations, and the tires screech around every corner.  It truly makes you feel like you are on some wild exotic racetrack, except for the people walking along the non-existent shoulder which you have to steer clear of to keep from hitting.  It’s a wild ride.

After volunteering at the health fair, we did some grocery shopping in Coxen Hole (found ourselves each a Snicker’s bar!) and then had some dinner at a 3 P’s restaurant – Pizza, Pollo, Pasta.  Since they were out of pizza, pollo, and lasagna, that didn’t leave very many options.  So I had an Italian version (margherita) of the pastelito described in my previous post.  I MUCH prefer the hondureño version.  As we were eating dinner, I looked out the window and to my utter amazement saw 4 missionaries walking up the hill.  I had given up on General Conference this weekend since I didn’t even know 1) where the church building was, 2) if they would even be broadcasting Conference, and 3) if they would be broadcasting it at the same times.  I thought about just showing up tomorrow and trying to figure it out, but all the volunteers were planning a big outing to the beach and fancy resort (Infinity Bay – we get in free every Sunday for working at the clinic).  Such a tender mercy to see them, talk to them, and ask them about Conference tomorrow.  It couldn’t have been more perfect.  I feel bad leaving J to her own devices tomorrow, but am SO GLAD I get to listen to Conference for at least one day.  Ha, I forgot to explain myself to the missionaries… I just walked around the corner to confront them and shouted, “Missionaries!”  They probably wondered where the heck I came from.  Ya, I’ll make sure to do that tomorrow.

Roatan - Day 6

I hate feeling so disconnected from the world.  There are surprisingly quite a few white people living here that have been here for years.  Even with a nicer apartment, I don’t know if I could permanently be an island bum.  It’d be nice to just pick up the phone and talk to family.  It’s fine at the clinic because we have wireless internet we can stay and use after our shift, but then when we get back home, there’s not much too do.  Except type up this blog post and do some studying, but who wants to do that?  I guess I could read the book I brought, 1776, but way too detailed for my new island mentality.

Today I feel like I went back in time to my former life.  I worked in the pharmacy for my shift today (I was a pharmacy tech for over 3 years prior to teaching high school).  I got a 60 second introduction and was set free to work on my own.  What?!  No pharmacist to check to make sure I filled the prescription right?!  Nope.  I WAS the pharmacist.  I actually enjoyed it.  I wonder how many patients can actually read their medication instructions…

J and I discovered a lady outside the clinic today selling pastelitos – fried dough filled with chicken or fish.  Wow, the spices in those things are AMAZING.  For only 75 cents each, I just had to go back and get another.  Heck with the PB & J.  I’d rather gain 5 lbs of fried pastelitos each week than spread two sides of bread each morning.  Plus, the humidity should offset that 5 lb weight gain.  Golden!

We paid our rent to Mr. Ed today, so there’s no turning back.  I’m sorry if I keep mentioning the apartment in each post, but we really cannot stand it.  In all my living situations and travels, this is definitely one of the worst.  $325 each for 6 weeks should be an indication of that.  And I thought we were getting a bargain!  Joke’s on me.

J and I were going to see if we could find beach access close to our apartment (we have been taking a taxi to West End – the main thoroughfare of all things touristy), but ended up taking a nap instead.  Just more hanging out in the apt. tonight.  Excited for the weekend and EXTREMELY sad I’m going to miss General Conference.  I COULD just show up at the church, but 1) I forgot to look up the address and 2) who knows if they’d even be broadcasting it at the correct times.  I’d just have to catch up via text, hopefully SOON.

Oh, and the Spanish grammar on this island is TERRIBLE.  The pharmacy instructions have incorrect grammar and spelling.  Even when I speak to people, they say things incorrectly.  Maybe instead of helping students with their English (we start tutoring next week), I should teach a Spanish class.  Ha.

Roatan - Day 5

Today I was assigned to triage and it was J’s turn to see patients.  Another nurse and I pumped those patients in and out in a good solid 3 hours and then I was left with nothing to do.  So I was roped into seeing patients again since there were at least 15 waiting.  It’s crazy here.  These people leave their mountain villages at 4 am to get here early to be one of the first people seen.  There are so many people they can end up waiting until after noon to even be seen by the doctor.  Then they might have blood work to do in the lab.  Then they have to wait for pharmacy to fill their prescriptions.  Just plan on spending the whole day at the clinic.  I guess that’s why there’s always a lady out front selling fresh fruit and pastelitos (fried goodness filled with chicken).  And then if you’re a gringo (I’m so surprised just how many there are on the island) you can pay a “rapid care” fee of $25 and skip to the front, don’t mind the little old lady with stomach pain and diarrhea that has been waiting for 3 hours.  It’s a crazy system.  At least their healthcare is very affordable - $3.50 for their whole office visit AND medications.

I double teamed with J during the afternoon to translate until a patient paid the rapid care fee just 15 minutes before our shift was supposed to end.  Chest pain x 3 days.  Previous history of a MI (heart attack).  We definitely want to see this.  Almost 2 hours later, we ruled out any cardiac etiology and sent her on her way.  At least we got an offer for free zip lining out of it.  No, but really, always happy to see patients, whether it’s in ghetto paradise or not.

Turns out it’s always a good idea to name drop Nurse Peggy.  She is the one that set up the clinic here so many years ago and everyone on the island seems to know her and appreciate the service she provides.  Our taxi cab driver to the beach wouldn’t take ANY money from us after he found out we were volunteers at the clinic.  The taxi cab driver on the way home seemed a little put out that he agreed to half the price he originally stated, then completely changed his disposition when he found out what we were doing on the island.

After I accidentally dumped J out of her wheelchair after running into a speed bump due to rubbernecking (thankful for the 5 local men who ran to the rescue), we found a prime spot to relax – beach chairs bolted down to a dock extending out into the bay.  Our new favorite tanning and snorkeling spot.

Dinner at Rotisserie Chicken proved delightful, filling my tummy with ¼ perfectly roasted chicken, coconut rice & beans, and fried plantains.  Reminds me of the Chicken Hut in Rocky Point.  We were heartily enjoying our meal until a dog came bounding by us to the kitchen and the cook rubbed her hands all over it.  Always a good time in Latin America.

Final mosquito & sand flea count = 71 bites (that spans 5 days… 5 more weeks sounds like el infierno…)

Roatan - Day 4

Today I had the most autonomy I’ve had in my whole clinical year thus far.  What a day!  Turns out it takes a lot longer to see a patient completely by myself than I anticipated.  And my sloppy rusty Spanish didn’t speed the process along either.  I averaged about an hour per patient, and they weren’t easy cases either.  Take for instance the 18 year old girl coming in complaining of stomach pain and diarrhea… turns out she’s been having chest pain and passing out pretty regularly for the last 2 years with a recent visit to the hospital for the same a few weeks ago.  Challenging, but glad for the challenge!  Anyway, I presented each of my patients to the doctor/PA after doing the whole history and physical myself and after solidifying a diagnosis and plan, I finished up with the patient alone.  What I’m used to on my previous rotations is my preceptor briefly seeing the patient him/herself just to verify my findings.  That isn’t the case here, but if I want him to double check something on my physical exam, the doctor is available and happy to do so.  It’s excellent practice for coming up on my graduation in just 4 short months.

The rest of the day wasn’t very exciting… J and I stuck around the clinic for a few extra hours to take advantage of the free WiFi and to complete some school assignments.  By the time we got home it was time for a tuna-topped salad accompanied by a cheese crisp and a whole plate of mangos for dessert.  We don’t dare cook in this apartment.  The million dollar question of the night for J was if she would use the lonely cheese grater sitting up on a high shelf.  She replied “no way” without hesitation.  Looking forward to more mangos tomorrow!

Roatan - Day 3

After getting oriented to the clinic yesterday, I was assigned to work with a PA today to see patients.  I was very excited to work with her since she has over 30 years of experience.  We teamed up – I did the history and physical while she typed the chart note.  Toward the end of the day, we realized it would be more efficient if we both saw our own patients and I presented my patient to her with my assessment and plan.  Excited to start out this way tomorrow.  J was in triage and during a break discovered a lady outside the clinic selling a whole bag of mangos for one dollar.  Yep, we will be buying mangos every day I think!

After putting in a full 5 hours of work (hey, I didn’t get a break or even lunch during this time) and an hour or so catching up on emails, we headed to the beach.  We took a taxi to West End which has all the shopping and restaurants, as well as a very nice white sand beach.  We walked up and down the road following the beach, then found a perfect spot to spend the rest of the afternoon.  Fortunately the water wasn’t very far from the road so it wasn’t a problem getting J down to the water.  I popped her up onto her back wheels and wheeled her down.  Getting her OUT of the water was the problem.  I tried to carry her – turns out she’s too heavy for me, not because she’s a big person, but because I don’t have the muscles I need (I haven’t worked out regularly since before Christmas, ay…).  So I wheelbarrowed her out of the water onto her towel, then pulled the towel up the beach, a pretty steep incline mind you.  Then I had to wheel her back to the road.  Turns out a wheelchair doesn’t move very well in the sand and turns out I’m not very strong.  I may throw my back out while I’m here, but at least it’s for a good cause!

Also, turns out the sand fleas everyone has talked about are indeed real.  I was hoping they wouldn’t dare ruin my ghetto paradise staycation, but it looks like they just might.  I am covered in bites, all over.  I thought they would just go for my legs, but turns out they seemed to have liked my back quite a bit.  Mosquitos and sand fleas are turning out to be my nemesis. 

We ate dinner at an outdoor joint called Monkey Island, right next to the beach with a perfect view of the setting sun.  J had heard good things about it from another nurse at the clinic.  I couldn’t decide between coconut fish and a burrito, but fortunately I went with the fish.  SUCH delicious fish!  Coconut crusted w/ a coconut dipping sauce accompanied by coconut rice & beans.  I will definitely be back!  By the way, just a warning… I may talk about food a lot on this blog.  Food is pretty big in our family.  My brother would remember our family vacations by where we ate lunch or by what he ate for dinner, anything that applies to the sense of taste :)

J was impressed with my taxi bartering skills.  I’ve been getting us good deals on our fares.  And after some chavo (what’s the Hondureño word for dude?) tried to charge us 6 bucks and I cut the fare in half, maybe I’ll shoot for a lower amount next time.  I LOVE bartering.  Why can we not do this in the States??

Oh, and by the way, I could really go for a bag of red vines right now…