Roatan - Day 14

BEACH HEAVEN.  I could leave the post at that and call it good.  I’ve been to quite a few beaches in my time, pretty frequently – California, Oregon, Hawaii, Mexico, Spain, Greece, and several islands in the Caribbean.  I’m a bit of a beach bum, it’s true (but I also love the mountains).  That’s what happens when you spend a week at the beach each year as a kid/teenager and then living a 7 minute walk away from the beach for a whole year (teaching English in Spain).  The point is that today we went to one of my most FAVORITE beach spots – Frenchy’s 44.  We spent a good 6 hours there.  Roatan is a pretty small island, but it has “keys” as well, which are smaller (very tiny) islands just off the coast.

Well, someone got ahold of this little French key and made a tropical paradise out of it.  Words don’t really do it justice (you’ll just have to see my photos, better yet, GO there), but I’ll give it a try.  So you take a boat over to the key and immediately when you dock you see several tiny spots of beach connected by a dock.  There are huts, cushy places to recline, umbrellas, tables in the water, chairs in the water, chilled drinks, and pumpin’ music, all surrounded by crystal clear turquoise water.  Magical.  On the rest of Frenchy’s Key there are inlets with white sand beaches, sun chairs, hammocks, a volleyball net, monkeys and macaws, kayaks, and a 12 foot platform to jump into the water.

Started the day with some daring jumps, then shared a delicious plate filled with lobster, shrimp, chicken, beef, coconut rice & beans, pico de gallo, coleslaw, grilled tomatoes, and fried plantains.  It was my first time eating lobster… very tasty!  I much prefer it over crab.  Went out snorkeling for a while (not much to see…) and then kicked it in the sun for a while.  There were 10 of us from the clinic so we all had a jolly time together.  J and I DEFINITELY want to go back, maybe our last weekend here.

J and I sadly said goodbye to our English friend (who is the cutest) since she flies out tomorrow, then ventured out later for a GIANT bacon cheeseburger for dinner in West End, at a cute little joint down on the beach.  I need all the red meat I can get!

Roatan - Day 13

This morning was FABULOUS!  J and I went out snorkeling with D, an older gentleman (late 50’s to early 60’s) just kickin’ it on the island and helping out with the clinic.  He knew all the great places to look and where the reefs were.  We saw lots of tropical fish, plenty of lobsters (D even tried to catch a few), sea shells, an eel, and all kinds of ocean “plants.”  We spent a good 2 hours out snorkeling and it was great to finally get in the water!  I wasn’t a fan of the bay we snorkeled in since the bottom is all silt and very murky water until you get out further.  We had to hunt for at least 15 minutes to find J’s snorkel that D accidentally dropped while helping her de-fog.  Can’t wait for more snorkeling this weekend!

After dropping my laundry off at Ed’s Lavandería, I was walking back to the apt. along the road and then a car honked at me from behind.  I just thought it was a taxi (taxis honk at you to see if you need a ride), but then I hear a man’s voice say, “Where are you headed?”  Turns out it was one of our patients at the clinic and he told me to hop in the truck and he’d take us to work.  J was pleasantly surprised to see who I had “flagged down” as our ride to the clinic.

At the clinic this afternoon, there was no one to man triage or pharmacy, so I ended up doing both instead of seeing patients.  I crazily ran back and forth between the two for a good solid 2 hours and then all of a sudden the clinic died.  No more patients.  We sat around for an hour watching the hondureño doc control his heart rate (he could literally make it go faster or slower, depending) before J suggested we get some baleadas at the bottom of the hill.  So down the hill I went to place a carry out order for the both of us and the ER residents. 

Baleadas are typical hondureño food – thick tortillas filled with refried beans, scrambled eggs, and fresh avocado.  Sounds like a strange combination, but they are delicious!  I cannot speak for J, but I will be eating a lot more of them instead of PB & J for lunch.

The clinic closes at 6:00 pm (also when the sun sets, SUPER early…) but we called it a night at 5:15 and all went home except for the hondureño doc to man the last 45 minutes.

Since we went out the last two nights and my nose has become a snot factory, we’ll stay in tonight, catch up on some internet time and study (I guess I better do SOME of that while I am here…).

More scoop on Ed’s Apartment: just found out the freezer doesn’t actually freeze.  So much for our chicken that’s been “freezing” for the last 2 weeks…

Roatan - Day 12

Yet another repeat of beach morning, except this time we had a fisherman casting his pole out into the ocean near us, but apparently not near enough.  He scared all the tropical fish our direction.  We were running extremely low on water (the water I purchased the night before seemed a little sketchy and didn’t actually say “purified” on the label, not to be trusted).  Not wise to be out in the sun in such a condition.  On the way back, I ran to a nearby restaurant (ahem, hut) and bought us a few saving bottles.

Interesting day at the clinic today.  I performed my first ultrasound – transabdominal 6 month pregnancy check, the lady’s first one for this pregnancy.  So amazing to see those tiny little arms and legs move and the tiny little heart beating away.  Life is truly a miracle. 

We also had a guy come in with a pretty serious infection on his foot after getting scratched by something on his sailboat 2 weeks earlier.  I really wish I had a picture of this guy to show you… just perfect really.  A true islander.  Picture this: a 30 year old tall gangly German fellow with long sloppy sandy-colored hair and a full unkempt beard wearing black plastic framed glasses sporting a striped polo shirt and pale blue shorts, cut off at the knee and held up with a piece of rope through the belt loops.  No shoes in sight and braided loops around his wrist and ankle.  His clothes probably hadn’t been washed in at least a month.  He had a fabulous accent as well.  Basically he had to choose between securing his sailboat (currently just sitting on the beach and not docked) or going to the hospital to get IV antibiotics.  In one case he might lose his boat and the other, potentially his foot.  Either way, couldn’t believe he actually chose to walk barefoot everywhere. 

We had dinner out with a few of the other ladies volunteering at the clinic, Thai food in West End.  We sat chatting for a good while and enjoying the evening outside (good thing I doused myself in mosquito repellant before we left).  One of the girls is from England so we were all having fun comparing the U.S. with England in so many different ways.  One of her favorite states is Utah and she was absolutely thrilled (!!!) to find out I was Mormon.  “You’re my new favorite person!” she said with enough enthusiasm to turn heads as we were walking down the street.  She is the cutest, a ball of energy and a lovely accent to boot.

While I was locking the door after getting home, J pointed out that there was a gecko above me on the wall.  This little dude has been wandering around our apartment all week and J is terrified of it.  I didn’t think I was either until it ran out onto the ceiling (upside down?!) while I was trying to catch it.  After a little bit of a wild chase and laughing our heads off, I finally caught it in a glass, ran it outside and threw it back into the jungle where it rightfully belongs.  Let’s just hope it doesn’t come back to seek revenge on J…

Ending note: All I want to do right now is blow my nose (stuffed up).  This cold is making it difficult to enjoy island life.

Roatan - Day 11

This morning was basically a repeat of yesterday morning – lounging about on the dock.  The only difference was J forgot her beach towel and I picked up a huge conch shell (about the size of your foot) from the bottom of the ocean floor (shallower than it sounds) that J pointed out with her keen eye.  We brought it back with us to spiff up our apartment décor.

I worked with ER #2 again today and he is definitely emergency oriented.  When talking about my differential diagnoses, he ALWAYS mentioned the most serious option FIRST.  These guys just aren’t focused on primary care.  They do a good job anyway.  I know ER #1 was impressed with J’s family medicine approach.  The day seemed to be filled with ordering labs and patients with gastrointestinal worms (maybe I should stop brushing my teeth with the water here…).

We made it out of the clinic exactly on time so J, L , and I took a taxi to West End for some real food.  Not being able to cook in our apartment really limits our options.  Plus, we forgot to sign up for the weekly hydroponic (look it up) lettuce handout.  It was SO great to be out enjoying each other’s company over a delicious meal instead of kicking it, back at Ed’s.

Getting home was entertaining.  Felt bad for J who was out of the loop since she doesn’t speak Spanish, but I was having a good time.  So we only paid $1 each to get to West End from Sandy Bay (where the clinic is and where we live) so naturally you would expect to pay the same price on the way back.  Apparently the taxis charge more during the night so all the taxis I was hailing wanted to charge $1.50 each.  Heck with that (or so I thought at the time).  It was dark on the way there so why should it cost more when it’s STILL dark?  Well, after talking with at least 5 different taxis, no one was budging.  The first cab driver I spoke with was just sitting across the street pointing out the next taxi, watching me flag it down, failing to agree on the $1 return fair, thus proving his point and enjoying every minute of it.  Finally, I grudgingly said he could take us for the $1.50 each.  After the 3 of us piled in the back and another passenger got in the front, our cab driver asked the passenger to scoot his seat up so I’d have more room in the back (yes, I am a tall lady).  After he scooted forward, the cab driver asked if that was better and I replied it would be better if he only charged us $1 each.  He gave a good chuckle in response.  I decided to have some fun with the situation.  And THAT’S why I love traveling.  I love to joke around with the locals – taxi drivers, waiters, and people selling their souvenirs made in China (ok, Guatemala maybe).  That way, they laugh, have fun and cut me a deal.  It’s a brilliant strategy.  Works every time!  But not this time…

Most people on the island know Nurse Peggy so I even told our driver that she had told us not to pay more than $1 each.  “Well she doesn’t know the prices then.”  Of course she does.  On the way back to Sandy Bay, the cab driver and I got into a discussion about the usual prices - $1 during the day and $1.50 at night.  So then I asked why we only paid $1 at night to GET to West End?  “Because some cab drivers don’t know the prices.”  I asked how could that be?  “Because they are ‘new’ on the island.”  Ha, yeah right.  Good one sir.  I had to laugh at that.  So then I told him I’d just have to seek out the “new” drivers then.  L had a good laugh at that.  Poor J, had no idea what was going on.  I was done by that point.  This guy was no fun, way too serious.  And what a waste, half my post ended up about him…

Cab Driver 2 points, Kristina 0 points.

Roatan - Day 10

J and I FINALLY made it to the beach this morning!  And when I say beach, I mean a dock extending 50 yards or so out into the ocean.  A perfect respite from the sand fleas and mosquitos.  There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  Just the way I like it.  While J studiously read about obstetrics, I gluttoned (yes, I made up that word) myself on the sun rays, enjoying the warmth and cool gentle breeze.  After 2 hours of dedicated sunscreen application, we headed back to the apt. to get ready for work.  I thought I had it bad by not having showered in over 48 hours, but J wins!  AT LEAST 60 hours since she last showered.  No wonder there weren’t any fish in the water around us.  Ha, I kid.  We’ll do anything to avoid taking a cold shower.  I will anyway.  But after pushing J up a steep hill and making sure she didn’t go too fast down another steep hill, I welcomed the freezing downpour in the shower with open arms.

Our 5 hour shift at the clinic today turned into 6.5 hours.  I know, we have it rough.  It IS rough when you make dinner plans with L after her invitation and you have to turn them down because you are behind schedule.  By the way, can I just say I love L?  She is the greatest and super sweet.  She’s a Canadian, probably in her early 40’s who took all of her vacation time for the next 2 years to come down here to work in the laboratory at the clinic.  We’ll just have to do dinner with her tomorrow.

J and I worked with 2 third year ER residents today (their first day at the clinic).  She worked with one and I worked with the other (we’ll call them ER #1 and ER #2).  By default, ER #1 becomes #1 since I met him first.  Because ER #1 speaks Spanish and J doesn’t, they worked together.  I worked with ER #2 because he didn’t speak Spanish (very little).  It was a great set up – I got to see my own patients and present to ER #2 AND translate for him while he saw his patients.  I really like those guys.  They are great teachers and they actually have a personality – fun to work with.  J and I are really looking forward to tomorrow. 

My highlight of the day was translating for ER #2 (who speaks very little Spanish) who was seeing a 9 month old and his mom.  He correctly asked her twice in a row (in Spanish) if her 9 month old had any allergies to any medications.  After she stared blankly at him, I stepped in and we solved the issue.  Then she started laughing uncontrollably… then it was our turn (for ER #2 and me) to both look at each other with blank stares.  We had no idea why she was laughing… she told me that she would have no idea what ER #2 was saying if I wasn’t there to help.  It made ER #2 feel quite sheepish about his Spanish, especially since he was conversing with her earlier without me in the room.  On the other hand, it was my moment of triumph :)  I even helped ER #1 (who does speak Spanish) a time or too.  Booyah!

The lowlight of the day (I guess you could call it that, due to the probable outcome) was a patient I saw presenting with 4 day vaginal bleeding (11 years post-menopausal), 40 pound weight loss over the last 8 months, and lower back pain.  It could be something benign, but it could also be a cancer.  As far as what we are able to do on the island to manage her care isn’t much.  The resources just aren’t there.  She’ll come back in a few days to follow up with the OB/GYN doc, but will most likely need to go to the mainland for imaging and a biopsy.  She was the cutest and sweetest little lady, but spoke faster than Speedy Gonzalez himself.  I had to ask my questions at least 2 or 3 times to clarify.  She gave me a hug at the end and said she was very glad to meet me.  I can only hope for the best for her…

Perfect ending to the day: surprise knock on the front door from our upstairs neighbor (she works at the clinic) with a plateful of grilled meat, corn tortillas, and pico de gallo.  Buen provecho!