January 25, 2008
Navutu Stars Resort, Yaqueta Island, Yasawa Island Group, Fiji
We have been here since Monday and this is really the first opportunity to write more extensively about the last few days. This is largely due to being so busy with a heavy schedule of going all over the place. We rise relatively late for US time, about 7:30 or 8 a.m. and leave around 9 or 9:30 a.m. via boat, usually about a half hour to 45 minute ride. We return late, around 5:30 – 6:30 but sometimes earlier. We have our presentation of yaqona (or kava) to the village, about 45 minutes and then set up shop for primary health care. We see about 100 people a day with two people on intake (weight, height, waist, blood pressure, chief complaint) and 3 doctors and me doing the diagnosis and treatment. I am very familiar with much of what we see, i.e., a lot of dermatological issues, hypertension, diabetes and so forth. I’ll kick a few issue up the line and we all get together to consult and learn – that is what I enjoy the most. I got to treat a few great wounds, boils, cuts and so forth. It is amazing what pain level the Fijian will accept with VERY little complaint or hint that it is so bad.
Another factor in living here is just the climate. Beautiful yes but the heat and humidity force you to slow down somewhat and that is just part of living here. Hard to get used to when you are used to a higher level of productivity and have to put out so much on a daily basis. Fiji time is real . . . with all the good and frustrations associated with it.
The last two days a few of us have been sick (flulike, vomiting, diarrhea, fever of up to 101F, chills, shaking). One of the owners of the resort was sick with the same thing the day we came in but there is no clear link. Today the group went off to another village for just three hours. I am staying here to treat two patients from Yaqueta Village. One had a boil on his Left little toe that became infected. He has had it for almost two months and by the time we saw it we all agree there is a strong chance of bone involvement. I irrigated the hell out of it, washed/soaked it with Hibiclens (a surgical scrub), did some minor debridement, packed it with some antibiotic ointment and wrapped it up. The Docs brought some Septra so we gave him a 14 day course of that. He is supposed to return today so here I wait.
I’ll get to see the operations of the resort today and by the way I most highly recommend the Navutu Stars Resort! They are great owners, very plush accommodations, great staff and very wonderful food. The owners are an Italian couple, Frederick and Magdalena and they have twins who are named Isabella and Giovanni. He is originally from Rome and she from Florence. He worked as a stockbroker in London for 10 years and her as an art dealer. They have owned this place for about four years but since they now have new twins, about 1 year old they are starting to think about their education and may move on at some point when the children are older. I plan on asking her advice on how to help my good friend Bill Cutler on promoting and getting wider exposure for his incredible art and talent.
I know that living here is a challenge but that eventually it becomes home. I don’t think I would want to live here full time but part of me does. The other part loves California, the coast, the Ridge Ranch, the town where I live, the people. I have always been restless and I guess, in my heart of hearts a wanderer of some sort. Maybe this is due to growing up as an Air Force brat, living around the world, an endless whirlwind of new places, Air Force Bases. Yet that being said it was not like that for a long time, till about 10 years old I think. But it always felt like I should be ready to leave, to pack up, and get excited about what new thing was around the corner. This is a very personal, deep down, gut level analysis and I have no ‘hard’ data. I have read some books about military children and my experience runs true across the board for many of them. I don’t think that my desire to see the world is a reflection of an inability to settle in a community and contribute – I try to do that no matter where I am. It is just that for me the wider world always beckons. I see global issues and while I may rage at my inability to affect some of the larger issues I will attempt to do what little I can . . . that is my ideal.
So before I go off and get all idealistic and ranting (or am I too late?!) I had better sign off here for the moment. Thanks for reading; I always appreciate it if anyone reads this!
David
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