We went to San Jose village today. Our medical director at Hillside was unable to go with us as his back has been giving him grief. We were gearing up for a day off, when word came that government doctor at San Antonio had few patients and would come with us, Thus, we headed off to the village once again on bumpy dirt roads. Belize like much of Central and South America has quite a few Cuban doctors. I was interested in seeing how they function, having been told that medicine is quite good in Cuba and that their training was supposedly comparable to ours.
Clinic turned out to be quite frustrating. Some of it was probably due to a language barrier, The Cuban doctor's English was not perfect, but it also had to do with philosophy. We are so use to asking complete histories, doing full exams and then presenting them to our preceptor (the doctor overseeing us). We set about to do this but quickly found that the doctor only wanted cheif complaints and then s brief physical finding. He had no time it seemed for more. A patient would complain of headache/backache and they would get Tylenol. They would complain of cough and have some coarse upper respiratory sounds and they would get amoxicillin. I felt that we were giving drugs out like candy. He seemed to want to give everyone Tylenol and/or Benadryl. It was crazy. It reminded me of my experience of being a patient in India back in college when complaints were given and then drugs were doled out. It was crazy to be a part of and definitely made me appreciate the American, British, and Australian doctors that come here and provide an alternative to this type of care. It was also shocking because it was not what I had expected coming into the experience. Maybe Michael Moore wasn't completely right about medical care in Cuba in "Sicko."
Finally made some real coffee, but the beans were a little bitter. I will have to see if Jeff's one of the administrators here at Hillside who also happened to be roommates will Will Shortz of crossword fame, home roasted coffee is better. Hope all is well at home and that the cold weather soon ends for you.
2.12.2008
2.11.2008
snake scare
Today was another clinic which I spent seeing scabies and trying to erase viruses on the volunteer laptop (which we were unsuccessful at). After clinic, I heard screaming from the Admin building. Turns out there was a snake hiding in the rafters. We rushed to see the neck that turned out to be quite small and not nearly as exciting as we hoped it to be. It looked like a Belizean version of the garter snake. We headed into town today and found this fabulous coffee shop run by an American. I am so excited to finally have real coffee after days of instant Nescafe. We ate dinner in town and it was fabulous (and cheap). It is a little strange as it seems that often eating out ends up being cheaper than making food. Probably because everything we know how to make is imported from the US and elsewhere. Hence food is more expensive here than home. Except for fruits and vegetables.
Tomorrow we head to a large village of 1000 to 2000 people. It suppose to be busy. I am interested to see what life in a larger village. I hoped you all enjoyed the pictures I posted yesterday. I will try to post some more later.
Tomorrow we head to a large village of 1000 to 2000 people. It suppose to be busy. I am interested to see what life in a larger village. I hoped you all enjoyed the pictures I posted yesterday. I will try to post some more later.
2.10.2008
tobacco caye
We had a short clinic on Friday, where I got to see my first kid since I have been here. Exciting stuff for this future pediatrician. We headed off on the local bus to Dangringa where then we planned to take a boat to Tobacco Caye. The trip there went off without a hitch and was as comfortable as it could be in a old beat-up school bus. We were talking amongst ourselves (Matt, Tim, Kara, and Emily - the other students here with me) that Belize is a school bus graveyard or at least retirement community. You see buses everywhere and I even saw one from Hennepin County, Minnesota in Independence. Crazy. The boat ride to the Caye was bumpy but definitely worth it. Gorgeous postcard Caribbean sea water and scattered Mangrove covered islands. Tobacco Caye itself is this tiny little island that you can walk around in 10 minutes tops. It is covered in beach houses and palm trees. I think it use to be a mangrove island that they settled and then dredged up sand to make it inhabitable. This is happening all over Belize. Kind of sad really as tourism is encouraging the development of islands on the reef at the expense of the native habitats. Mangroves are important hurricane barriers from what I recall so it shall be interesting to see what happens as development continues.
Anyway, the reef is very accessible from the beach at Tobacco Caye and we spent the weekend snorkeling, spotting all sorts of sea life. The reef was awesome, although you could definitely see evidence of coral die-off and I couldn't help but wonder what it had been 10-15 years ago. Thanks to Jimmy for telling me to bring my mask and snorkel - it definitely got good use although I think I actually ended up taking his... oops. When we weren't snorkeling we were relaxing in hammocks and on the docks. We met the locals which turned out to be interesting characters as well. We were going to stay longer today, but it stormed all night long last night and it looked like it was continue to storm today. We didn't want to get stuck on a tropical paradise - work duties to do - so we caught the morning taxi back to Dangriga and the caught another school bus back to Hillside. A great weekend and I am glad I had the chance to see Tobacco Caye. Although, the first day I was a little sad and I sat and pondered how much Jimmy would have loved the place and how we were not getting to share in the moment.
Below is a map of my trip so far. Enjoy.
View Larger Map
Anyway, the reef is very accessible from the beach at Tobacco Caye and we spent the weekend snorkeling, spotting all sorts of sea life. The reef was awesome, although you could definitely see evidence of coral die-off and I couldn't help but wonder what it had been 10-15 years ago. Thanks to Jimmy for telling me to bring my mask and snorkel - it definitely got good use although I think I actually ended up taking his... oops. When we weren't snorkeling we were relaxing in hammocks and on the docks. We met the locals which turned out to be interesting characters as well. We were going to stay longer today, but it stormed all night long last night and it looked like it was continue to storm today. We didn't want to get stuck on a tropical paradise - work duties to do - so we caught the morning taxi back to Dangriga and the caught another school bus back to Hillside. A great weekend and I am glad I had the chance to see Tobacco Caye. Although, the first day I was a little sad and I sat and pondered how much Jimmy would have loved the place and how we were not getting to share in the moment.
Below is a map of my trip so far. Enjoy.
View Larger Map
2.07.2008
election day
It's election day in Belize, which meant no mobile clinic for us. Instead we headed off to Blue Creek and its cave. The cave was enormous and the creek runs all the through it. Thus in order to explore you have to be willing to swim, in the dark. It was quite fabulous. We went without any guides and swam around until we decided head back to the entrance. The outside of the cave was covered with boulders, not quite big enough to boulder. I wish they had been. I really miss climbing and there is not much of it to be had here.
It was cool to see the voters today with their fingers covered with ink, proud to show off their participation in democracy. Tomorrow a morning of clinic and then we are heading to Tobacco Caye for a weekend of snorkeling and relaxation on the beach.
It was cool to see the voters today with their fingers covered with ink, proud to show off their participation in democracy. Tomorrow a morning of clinic and then we are heading to Tobacco Caye for a weekend of snorkeling and relaxation on the beach.
2.06.2008
market day
I went crazy at the market today. I bought papaya, pineapple, bananas, eggs, some strange fruit or vegetable that they said was good, and this corn mush thing or some sort that was wonderful. Oh, and I even willing bought green beans. Today was a slow-ish day in clinic. I realized I am quite rusty in my medicine skills right now. I hate feeling that way.
I cut up my papaya this evening. YUMMY! I love fresh fruit. The pineapple is ripening on the counter. I should have picked a riper one. We are cooking fresh fish for dinner. Awaiting the results. Tomorrow we have the day off as it is the elections here. The elections are a little crazy, with rallies all the time where the parties pay people to be bussed into town. They also pay people to wear their shirts with party slogans. Crazy but not as crazy as election time in India. This is supposedly a big election. The current PM is supposedly corrupt and has been giving away land, right, whatever to his friends and supporters. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Hope all is well at home.
I cut up my papaya this evening. YUMMY! I love fresh fruit. The pineapple is ripening on the counter. I should have picked a riper one. We are cooking fresh fish for dinner. Awaiting the results. Tomorrow we have the day off as it is the elections here. The elections are a little crazy, with rallies all the time where the parties pay people to be bussed into town. They also pay people to wear their shirts with party slogans. Crazy but not as crazy as election time in India. This is supposedly a big election. The current PM is supposedly corrupt and has been giving away land, right, whatever to his friends and supporters. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Hope all is well at home.
2.05.2008
super tuesday
It's Super Tuesday and I am wondering what our country will decide while I am away. I have the New York Times up to watch the results role in as we are tv-less at Hillside. We talked a lot today as a group about who might get the nomination during our long ride back and forth to the village where our clinic was held today.
Clinic was slow as they had just been their a few weeks ago and usually the villages only get a doctor every 4-6 weeks. There was a lot of scabies which I have been told will be a common issues amongst the villagers. I only saw one patient, a women who had a non-reducible hernia and who needs to have surgery sometime soon. The only issue is that there the closest surgeon is in Dangria which is several hours away. (I am not sure of mileage as I not sure exactly how far the village was from Punta Gorda and I don't believe will recognize the name of some small village in Belize). I hope she is able to get to the surgery and hopefully nothing happens before she can get to Dangria. The village was beautiful set in the jungle mountains of Belize. It was interesting to drive and see crops scattered among the rain forest vegetation. Corn interspersed with grass, trees, and vines. No bare soil to be found.
We road into town this afternoon on one-speed beach cruisers. I always wonder if the locals find it odd to see "rich" foreigners huffing and puffing it around town. I am sure they must thing that we must have enough money to buy a car or at least pay for a taxi. It was a pleasant ride, but definitely more work than riding my bike at home. Oh, I love the coke down here - so much better than coke back home made with sugar, not corn syrup. I think I am going to have to frequent the Latin American markets when I get back to the states to get some of the imported Mexican coca-cola.
I was excited to see my first toucans this morning - a pair in the trees behind our treehouse. Tomorrow we get to go to the market and get fresh fruit, vegetables, and supposedly fish. Should be great. I love wandering through the markets of the world and I am excited to finally get fresh tropical fruit. The "supermarkets" don't sell fresh fruit really and it has been disappointing not to sample the produce of this country.
Enough for now. I hope all is well back home.
Clinic was slow as they had just been their a few weeks ago and usually the villages only get a doctor every 4-6 weeks. There was a lot of scabies which I have been told will be a common issues amongst the villagers. I only saw one patient, a women who had a non-reducible hernia and who needs to have surgery sometime soon. The only issue is that there the closest surgeon is in Dangria which is several hours away. (I am not sure of mileage as I not sure exactly how far the village was from Punta Gorda and I don't believe will recognize the name of some small village in Belize). I hope she is able to get to the surgery and hopefully nothing happens before she can get to Dangria. The village was beautiful set in the jungle mountains of Belize. It was interesting to drive and see crops scattered among the rain forest vegetation. Corn interspersed with grass, trees, and vines. No bare soil to be found.
We road into town this afternoon on one-speed beach cruisers. I always wonder if the locals find it odd to see "rich" foreigners huffing and puffing it around town. I am sure they must thing that we must have enough money to buy a car or at least pay for a taxi. It was a pleasant ride, but definitely more work than riding my bike at home. Oh, I love the coke down here - so much better than coke back home made with sugar, not corn syrup. I think I am going to have to frequent the Latin American markets when I get back to the states to get some of the imported Mexican coca-cola.
I was excited to see my first toucans this morning - a pair in the trees behind our treehouse. Tomorrow we get to go to the market and get fresh fruit, vegetables, and supposedly fish. Should be great. I love wandering through the markets of the world and I am excited to finally get fresh tropical fruit. The "supermarkets" don't sell fresh fruit really and it has been disappointing not to sample the produce of this country.
Enough for now. I hope all is well back home.
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