Time is flying by!

Wednesday:

Today started with some pancakes and eggs which were delicious! And then it was off to the clinic. Nothing too exciting happened at the clinic today. I met a girl from traverse city who has been living here for 3 years now; she knew I was from michigan because of my keens haha!! Medically there was not much going on at the clinic, just a few little sicknesses.

Something else that was pretty cool happened. Yesterday Dr. Mesa showed me a picture of him and Joe Mayo who is part of the Mayo family that started the Mayo clinic in minnesota. Today, Joe Mayo came into the clinic!! He is longest living case of diabetes that the clinic has ever had. He has had it since he was about 3 and is now 77 I believe. They get their insulin from the U.S. And it is a type that does not need to be refrigerated. Joe Mayo was also telling the doctor about his friend Mr. Walton...turns out it is the founder of walmart that he was talking about so that was pretty cool. His daughter wrote a book about the clinic and their family so I might look into that when I get back home.

Once again it started raining right at 3 o'clock when I was supposed to walk home. It is now the joke at the clinic around 2:30 for all the staff to point out the black clouds coming. I told them they really need to stop because the are jinxing me....i dont think they really know what that means though! So now they think it is just hilarious when I have to leave in the pouring rain. The doctor offered to leave the clinic to give me a ride home, but I told him I could probably make it and that I will not melt in the rain!

I forgot to mention yesterday about my conversation with Dr. Mesa about his pay. I had asked him if he gets paid on the basis of how many patients he sees or if it is a flat rate. That is all I really wanted to know, but he gave me much for information! He told me he make 6500 BZ$ per month and then 35$ BZ per patient with a few other add-ons for surgery and minor procedures. But, I started thinking and that is really not much for a doctor at all. In US money he is only making 3250 per month and if you do the math that is roughly 40,000 a year give or take some for the added amount per patient. He also does some teaching in another city to educate what I would call pharmaceutical sales reps to make extra money. I was really amazed at how little he was making and curious if he would be qualified in the US. There's some random information for you that I was interested in!

After work I met up with 2 of the other volunteers to go for a little hike to get farther up in the hills. It was pretty good and a good workout; I am missing the gym right now. After the hike we stopped at the market to buy some things; I have been wanting to try plantain chips. They are really good!! I think it is funny though because they come with a packet of heinz ketchup. They are similar to potato chips but much better. Gosh I am going to miss all of this food when I leave.

I might go out with the other volunteers tonight after they get done at their clinics, but we will see. I have been pretty tired and we have big plans for the next couple of days. Tomorrow we are doing the public health so that will be a good change of pace. Then it is karaoke at the casino tomorrow night! Friday one of the host families invited us over for pina coladas and then saturday and sunday we are doing an excursions. So for now I am going to relax before diner, Happy reading hope you enjoy it!