the first weekend

So yesterday was kinda fun. We had spent Friday evening hanging out and making signs for the race on Saturday. (This is a race organised by a couple of the volunteers here to raise awareness of health issues in Haiti.) I really enjoy these times where we are just chilling together, it reminds a little of being on the ship. Although I am definitely still the newbie here, erin, jeanie and Sam to some extent obviously have a close relationship. I can imagine this is the kind of place that forges quite strong bonds. But me and Sindhu (the other newbie) are slipping into the way of life here and have felt nothing but welcomed.

Anyway Saturday was race day! So up at 5:45am (mum would be so proud of me!) to set up as people started arriving as early as 5:30! Ok so a word about Haitian time, everything starts as soon as the sun comes up about 5:30 and I am in bed by 9:30.

Right back to the race. There was a massive turn out and although it didn’t go completely to plan ie a lot of ppl cheated and cut corners, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Especially the kids! I think next time they will plan to have a kids race and an adult race. We also took ppls bps as they registered as a matter of screening and to raise awareness. HTN is a real problem here, people are having strokes at an early age and there is just not the rehab facilities to accommodate them. Plus so much of the Haitian life is based around needing balance and core stability. Imagine trying to ride a moto or tap tap with no balance, or crouching down to do laundry with no core strength. As the PT/OTs keep saying ADLs are very different here.

The rest of yesterday afternoon was spent at the pool. A small slither of paradise in this distructed country. After being promised that there was usually no one at the pool we walk in to find a group of about 25 americans who are over here on a mission trip. But the pool was lovely, a couple of prestiges (the beer here in Haiti), good food and good company. We spent the rest of the day there and by the time we got home I was very sunburnt (my legs are so painful) and very tired. That good tired where you have achieved something with your day, had a full day and spent lots of it in the sun

Day 3 already

I have spent the last couple of days in the clinic. There was a bit of a mix up when I first arrived of them thinking I was actually qualified - a mix up between the british and american medical system I think. Anyway once that was cleared up, I started to work with a lovely haitian Dr, Dr Debbie. We really see a mix of things in clinic from acute malaria to high blood pressure, from invasive bone tumours to tonsilitis.

Clinic starts at 7:30am(!) and goes til about 3pm depending on how many and complex the pts are. It is exhausting but good fun at the same time. Language is proving to be a bit of an obstacle and I think I am going to have to learn creole fast.

The afternoon/evenings are spent hanging out with the rest of the volunteers on the complex. There is an OT, physio, physio student and Dr here all from america so I feel I have to educate them about british ways - although it is a bit hot for tea drinking.

So some observations about Haitians, there really is a lot of poverty! No one that I saw today had properly fitting clothes, and I know that sounds a little shallow but when the kids are wearing shoes 2 sizes too big or small for them it really says something. We saw a lot of children in clinic today some were just like normal kids with coughs and colds but there were a few who were undernourished and who just stare at you with a vacant expression. It makes you wonder whether they ever laugh or smile and the hardships in life that they are going to have to overcome.

However the work this clinic is doing is amazing. People are receiving the basic care that they need free of charge. There are some cases that we have to refer out, like a lady today who needed a specialist in neurology or a lady who had an abdo mass and urgently needed an USS. But generally speaking we can do something to help.

Haiti - 1st impressions

Day 1 Tuesday 28^th Feb

So after 24hrs of travelling, a rather uncomfortable night at the mercy of Miami airport air conditioning I made it to Haiti.

CULTURE SHOCK! The airport was not too bad as this is was the part I was dreading. I’ve had experience of being hassled cos I’m white before so a nice smile and a firm no thank you usually does the trick. Although here I said no thank you and the guy preceeded to tell me he was deaf! I do feel very white though and a little out of my depth knowing that no one really speaks English. Anyway I was met by the driver and off we go. So now think Bangkok meets Cambodia on roads that would make Percy cry and think he was being tortured. Unmade roads like the one outside kenthouse station but 10 times worse, with pot holes that stretch into potholes and deep ravines on either side. Also along the side of the road you might meet a goat or two or perhaps a donkey or cow. Pedestrians everywhere setting up little shops and stalls outside shacks hoping to make the most of the passing trade. Vehicles are all 4 wheel drives but they vary from tap taps (think mini philipino jeepney) crammed full of people to official UN vehicles with very official American men behind the wheel. Along the side of the road there are piles of rubble, cars and vans that have been abandoned. The most shocking site was that of the remains of a clinic de urgency built behind massive iron gates. Remnants of large concrete walls jutting out from the pile of rubble that it has been reduced too.

It's so cold down here!!

I arrived safely in Auckland and was met by 3 screaming girls who proceeded to shake me within an inch of life in the middle of the airport. I had just been travelling for 24hrs but the adrenaline kicked in and I forgot about the jetlag. We had an amazing night catching up and celebrating crystals birthday! The following day I woke up sharp at 7am! Now for those of you who know me that is very out of character, but the jetlag had finally kicked in. The next day it was 4am sharp! But after working a couple of days on the late shift I was dead on my feet and finally got my sleeping patterns back.

I arrived on the Wednesday and was scheduled for work Thursday afternoon. It was great to go back to the bookshop. So many familiar faces but also quite a few unfamiliar ones. People wise the ship has changed quite abit. There are lots of people I don’t know and quite a few people that have left. But to be honest my main friends are still here and it feels like I have never been away.

Will try to update more later.

ok so ive been ordered by a british midget who shall remain nameless but she knows who she is to revive my blog........so here goes.
i have spent the last 4 months at uni studying my first semester of medicine. it has been a really challenging time and has provided me with a huge culture shock after living on the ship for the last year. At times this has been really hard to deal with but i have to remember that i am where God wants me to be.
The course itself is fascinating. There is lots of content which i didnt realise until i had to memorise it all for my first round of exams. these came straight after the christmas break and provided me with about 2 weeks of living in the library! I wil find out the results in about 3 weeks and i just pray that i pass. This week i hae started in the dissection room which is a little freaky but insanely interesting at the same time. it does mean alot more work though as vast amounts of prep is needed and work afterwards.
Christmas was spent at home withmy family. It was amazing and i reverted back to being a five year old and reminding people every five mins that it either was christmas or was nearly christmas. I was just so happy t be spending it with family as last year was such a struggle for me last year. However the tables were turned this year as i found myself missing the people on the ship like crazy.
I have found a house to live in next year which is really exciting! i will be living with nine people and we are renting a georgian mansion! it is huge and has so much character. just think of the parties i keep telling myself. it is three stories high. my room is the attic room on the third floor and the only bathrooms are on the groundfloor so by the time i have had a shower and made my way back up the stairs i am going to need another one! hehe!
Um what else has happened? oh yeah i am going to be a CU rep in halls next year. this means i wil lead a small Bible study each week and arrange evangelistic events in halls. Also it means just being a presence around to act as a support for those moving into halls.
ok i think that is enough for now
luv you all

home sweet home

ok i was just reminded by some nice person on the ship that i really should update this.
i have now been home for 6 and a half weeks and the time has sped by.
i spent a week away in wales relaxing with my family and the sheep. it was really nice to spend some quality time with my family after not really seeing them for a year. it also gave me a chance to adjust back to english culture after my year away. although i had been warned about culture shock it was the small things that took me by surprise. i was waiting outside heathrow airport when the pedestrain crossing went off and it sounded so weird. a sound that had been perfectly normal to my ears a year before now sounded so completely alien.
i then had a month at home. this was a great time to catch up with old friends and more family. I spent time with school friends and was able to catch up on their lives and eperiences over the lst year, as well as being able to tell them about the amazing year i had just had.
Church was an amazing environment to go back into. i felt so welcomed back and people were genuinely interested in my year, i had the oppurtunity to do a service along with my dad about the year. this was an amzing oppurtunity to really share alot of what happened to me personally and to say thank you to the people in the church who supported me so faithfully.
I am now at uni and have been here for a week and a half. it is so different to everything i knew on the ship. although i am living in halls and there fore living in community it is almost the exact opposite to that of the ship. this has provided me with my biggest re entry struggles. freshers week tends to consist of drink, drink and more drink. it is so hard to stand up for what i believe sometimes without being judged. but i have managed to find a good group of friends within my halls and within my medic course.
please pray that i cn be a good witness and just accepted for all my what may appear radical beliefs.

I leave tomorrow

The day is drawing ever nearer. It is bnow tomorrow that I will disembark from my amazing adventure onboard the Worlds oldest ocean going passenger liner! It has been an amzing year in which i have grown and learnt so much. It is now time to say goodbye to many,many dear friends and to move on to the next step of my life.