Roatan - Day 9

Not until this morning when I tromped through a whole field of grass at 7:30 am to drop off a load of laundry did I realize just how hostile of a climate it is here.  NO DEW ON THE GRASS?!  Maybe it wasn’t early enough, but the morning sure dawned way too early in my book.  J and I were up an hour prior to that so we’d be ready for pickup at 7:30 am.  We were to be judges at a science fair competition.  Little did I know I’d be riding 20-25 min in the back of a truck both ways (most likely getting fried by the sun), or eating less than satisfactory fast food pizza for lunch, or working the afternoon shift at the clinic as well.  A day full of surprises.  I like surprises, mostly, but today J and I got the life blood sucked out of us by those kids at the science fair, or something.  We just didn’t have the energy to keep us going at the clinic.  All I wanted was a big fat nap.  That, or a large Coca-Cola filled with sugar cane to pump through my veins.  At least I got to translate for J during one patient visit.  I LOVE IT.

The science fair was actually pretty fun.  About 10 of us from the clinic were paired up with other local Hondureños to judge projects, grades 3-10 at a bilingual school.  Everything was expected to be presented in English: poster, project, paper, AND presentation (love the alliteration).  I was assigned to the 3^rd and 4^th graders.  It was the first year their projects were being judged so they were a bit timid (and when I say a bit, I mean A LOT).  They were just the cutest things.  When I expressed to the lady I was working with that I hoped I wasn’t being too harsh, she assured me I wasn’t and that SHE is the one who usually grades hard.  Ha, little did she know I taught high school for 4.5 years.  After spending a good 20 minutes with each group (five total), we compared our scores to rank the winners.  Turns out I was much more harsh.  Oops.  Poor little things. 

One group made a model of the solar system (what would a science fair be without at least ten of these?!  You know you made when you were a young innocent kid…) and was explaining how Pluto is no longer a planet.  We asked what happened to it and one girl’s response, “It disappeared.”  Another girl’s response, “It exploded.”  Bahahaha, almost cracked up right then and there.  Dead giveaway on the amount of research they did.

I triaged a lady today who said she had been punched in the ear.  She was having pain, dizziness, and couldn’t hear.  Dr. Molina walked in an hour or so later asking me if I wanted to see something I probably wouldn’t normally get to see.  Jumped at the chance!  When I looked into her left ear, I was looking directly into her inner ear.  Found out later from J that her husband had slapped her and the air/pressure acted as a knife, rupturing her eardrum.  SO SAD.  I can’t believe so many people suffer from abuse, let alone other types of abuse.  I’m sure it’s fairly common on the island too…

After 9 days on the island, J and I YET to have a true beach day.  We are kind of dying inside.  Tomorrow morning we WILL be at the beach to actually start on our rockin’ tans we are about to get.  I think we’re the whitest ones on the whole island, cruise ship tourists included. 

Roatan - Day 8

Wasn’t Conference so good?!  Sad I missed yesterday, but I’ll just have to catch up soon.  I took a taxi to Coxen Hole to the church building, walked in the door and was walking into the chapel when one of the gringo missionaries said to me, “Oh, they’re showing it in English in that room down the hall.”  My first thought – What?!  I probably speak Spanish way better than you!  Ha, not really.  I was actually very grateful to watch in English to make sure I didn’t miss anything important.  I met a lovely family from Kentucky who are here for a few weeks, the husband on business.  Turns out we flew in on the same flight last Sunday.  They invited me over for dinner, but I already had dinner plans (keep reading to find out what, I know the suspense might kill you…).  Then they asked if I would like to come to the beach with them some time.  Definitely!  Then I met another lovely Hondureño family.  She was probably just a few years older than me, but said she wanted to get to know me and be friends.  Can’t wait!  I love going to church abroad.  It feels like I’m at home, every time.  So glad I ran into the missionaries yesterday.

Because Coxen Hole is a little ways from Sandy Bay (where we live), I just stayed at the church during the 2 hour break, bumming the internet and catching up on emails.  I was really hoping to post more photos to Instagram, but access was blocked.  Darn, you’ll just have to wait on photos for now.

This evening J and I went to another potluck with all the volunteers at the clinic at the lovely beach house that I wish we were staying in.  I was starving and somehow the combination of food just didn’t do it for me tonight.  I’m craving some more fresh coconut fish.  I could eat that every day and be completely happy.  Fighting a new onset sore throat tonight so I guess I should down the 5 liter jug of water we just stocked up on at the grocery store.  Somehow, I don’t think J would appreciate that.  Also, I’m jealous J still has half of her Snickers bar to enjoy later tonight… Eat it when she’s not looking?

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…)