Peace Corps Director - my application

Aloha and yes I am applying for a Peace Corps Director position somewhere in the world. My lack of some languages limits me, I speak German and Fijian but do not speak Spanish, French, or Portuguese. I don't really care where I go but care that I contribute somewhere or somehow.

Send career leads my way for things like this and thanks.

David

Chinese Leaders Suddenly Realize They Are Livinging in the 50's!

With all the kerfluffle going on in Tibet - and by this I mean the continuing killing, jailing, assault of the Tibetans - I laughed out loud at come of the comments of the so called leader of the Autonomous Region of Tibet and by Premier Hu Jintao. They may be able to ship thousands of troops into Tibet and brutalize the so called 'splittist' but much of the world laughs at their crudity, dated language and apparent belief that the world believes their outright BS and lies.

What I would tell the Chinese leadership is this . . . look, you have the opportunity to NOT be like America in so many ways. The party tries desperately to not follow the Western economic model but in reality is engaged in a headlong rush to massive oil consumption, overall consumption and pollution with little to no regard for the long term impact on the planet.

Instead of cracking down on Tibet - Leave! Get the hell out, prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that China will be an example of a moral or ethical leadership. Yeah, I know, I can hear the screams of laughter now.

I am ashamed enough of my own government and our embarrassing "President" that I can barely stand anyone who thinks the Dalai Lama supports violence and is behind the events in Tibet. If I was Tibetan I would be angry at the Han Chinese also and the government that is bringing millions of them to my country. If that happened here I would not like my culture threatened - the cultural genocide the Dalai Lama speaks of so eloquently.

The leaders of China are almost a bigger joke than George Bush except they are all responsible for so many deaths.

Jackie Ryan - Jazz

Aloha - I caught an unbelievably great show the other night at Sonoma State University. Jackie Ryan was the singer and I must admit my great ignorance (and some sadness) at not having known about her before. She put on a very professional, fun, personable and a definite jazz lovers show. She picked great tunes, has wonderful and engaging presence and for gods sake get yourself an opportunity to see her. I especially loved her crew this night (and apologies for not having all their names here). The drummer was excellent, they all were, but his facial expressions as he became lost in the music (in the finest sense of the word) or rather as he BECAME the music, was a beautiful thing.

http://www.jackieryanmusic.com/

After doing just a bit of web research the depths of my ignorance is always amazing. Do check her out gang.

I used to complain it was difficult to find Jazz around Sonoma County and in some ways, depending on where you live, it is. However, I need to work harder because after this I know there is some world class jazz - right here.

On a last closing note - she's got some aloha spirit too after a couple of years on Maui.

Aloha . . . .

David

World Health Organization

I put in over six applications to the World Health Organization tonight. All over the world really, Cairo, Phillipines, Africa and more. Late night but worth it, heard from my former professor at the University of Hawaii who is now in Sydney at a conference.
Lots of thoughts, thinking about the nature of work, what gives and provides meaning to one's life. Guess that is what we are all looking for.

Want to mention a great web site, www.lifehacker.com

Thanks for reading.

David

Sunset

Love the Feds for thinking they can mess with time! Beauty amid the
madness.

Brief Update

Looking for not just work but meaning in and from the work. Not wanting 'just' a job but a chance to make a difference in the world. Not so interested in just going to work, not thinking, just to make money to buy my 'things'. More interested in not so many 'things' but in the quality and amount of interactions with my community, those people around and of my community. Wanting and willing to work hard but not wanting the work to be the 'be all, end all' of my life. Valuing the sense of community and neighborhood. Not wanting to rush, rush, rush as the culture seems to engaged in that headlong rush to nowhere.

Goal is one of living here and outside of here, somewhere 'over there', mainly the South Pacific but even in Europe where home also was . . . having lived in Germany back in 'the day'. Working toward that requires some sort of patience that evidently I must work at gaining (he says with a dry grin interlaced with frustration.)

So that is a brief update, wordy but brief enough I reckon. Come on people, where are the leads when I need and want?

David

Medicine, the book Overtreated, the path forward with an eye on the past . . . .

I just finished reading, Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer. Shannon Brownlee is the author.

I read most of this while I was in Fiji. The reading of this book and my experience in my last position has convinced me that I need to do primary care, have a long-term relationship with my patients (if at all possible), practice in a community setting with an organization that has ties to the community and is part of that community and not solely there to extract money for services without adequate follow up. Shannon Brownlee has written an eminently readable book and I highly recommend it.

So I am out looking for this kind of organization, one where I can use my medical background but also my Masters in Psychology. I have a lot to contribute but want to use ALL of my talents and education and especially to be appreciated. I also want to be in a learning organization (however small). Maybe I will just have to end up in a Doctor's Office, who knows.

Yet at the same time I am looking to get back overseas with the Loloma Foundation (a link is to the right under medical work in Fiji) doing medical projects and other health related / learning development projects.

Thanks for reading. Leads and thoughts appreciated.

David

Future of power

Every little bit makes sense, no? This is a wind farm on Highway 12 in Northern California. Admittedly not a great shot (my Iphone at about 60 miles per hour!) but they are many stories tall. I would love to be able to have one of these or its smaller cousin on my family ranch on Seaview Ridge. Someday perhaps we will.

David

RN's at Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, Fiji

 

These folks were kind enough to show us around and let us take some photographs. Love the uniforms!

United States Department of State

Aloha . . . a long time ago, at least for me, I graduated UCLA in Political Science and took as many classes as possible in International Relations. After graduating the Peace Corps gave me more experience on a very basic level. While I plan on staying in medicine I am going to take the State Department examination this March.

I have friends with State, currently in Reykjavik. There are a lot of great people in State - I have met many of them over the years and it would be a difficult job especially in todays climate. Nonetheless, it might be a way to make a difference in some way. I'll do my best to pass the test although I know most people do not! International Service calls to me though.

At times I almost feel desperate to make a contribution, a lasting contribution to make things better. I am working on it.

David

A fine day

A fine day to ride at Annandale State Park. I know you can't see a lot
here but at least there is some light and clean blue sky. On this day,
life continues, world orbits, people love, we learn, babies are born.
Life is exactly what it is in each moment. I'm not too profound today
but while we strive to change it, it is busy changing us. Wisdom is
learning that, and just maybe each day I get closer to it? At the very
least, I make the attempt.

Moves, Movies, Movies

Aloha. Last night I saw Atonement and this evening, There Will be Blood. Two very different movies but both thought provoking. One wistful, memories tinged with sadness, shame, guilt. The other full of mystery, questions of birth, death, endless anger. I enjoyed both of them but there was such sadness in each and perhaps in only one, redemption.

See them.

David

Robin Taylor, Academic, Entrepeneur, intellectual and great friend

 

Taken February 4, 2008 in Suva, Fiji at Robin's wifes shop. They also own a Hair Salon directly across the courtyard from this. Robin recently started a new Primary School in Fiji - once I get the web address I will be sure to post it! I am very happy to be in touch with Robin and his great family. More of the wonderful crowd I know in the South Pacific.

Thanks for reading,

David

Friends in Germany

Aloha and Guten Tag . . . just spoke with my friend Benno in Germany. I grew up there as a kid for three years. I met Benno at the University of Hawai`i over 17 years ago now and we have remained close. We just spoke and I am reminded of the meaning of true friendship and love that we have with our friends.

In addition, I had a friend from Hamburg recently get in touch with me also after some 20 odd years. She flies for Lufthansa and lives in Hamburg. I am getting them both in touch with each other.

Someday, and I hope not at my death, I hope to have a meeting of all my friends at once from all around the world. How many languages would be at the table? How many cultures and customs would we add up? Damn that would be fun!

I miss all of my friends right now, where ever they may be in this world.

Tschuss, moce, malama pono,

David

Sometimes Change is a Forceful Gift.

Sometimes change is forced upon you. At times, if you are lucky or as you get more experienced, you begin to recognize that the change being 'forced' upon you is actually the best and most correct thing. You may not like it, I know that I don't, but lessons are learned, sometimes in the most difficult ways.

Needless to say I am at that point now. It is even more difficult for me right now because of my recent return from such a fantastic trip to Fiji, filled with kind and giving people, welcoming in the extreme and coworkers that nurture and teach, instead of searching for fault, micro examining and laying blame. I take this lesson upon myself, no one else but damn, it sure is a rough go.

But then I must think of the positives, clean water, hot water, too much food, shelter, peace and no one threatening to kill me. I keep those in mind and it helps a great deal to retain perspective. My heart still aches but good to be humbled and forced to accept that give of learning. ACCCKKKKK! I still want to scream though!

I am sorry I cannot lay this out in detail. Perhaps someday? Thanks for reading and as ever, I remain grateful.

David

Final Approach

Design

The ceiling of a bure (house) at Navutu Stars Resort. Note the
symmetry & beauty.

Return

Bula & yes I have returned. Got into Los Angeles an hour ago. I'm
waiting for my Horizon Air flight now. Tired, sad, but happy too that
I am back to change course and carpe diem.
Thanks for reading.
David

Morning Reflections on Tropical Sunday Morning

February 3, 2008 @ 1115
South Pacific Dispatch / Suva Motor Inn, Suva, Fiji

Yes, I do love being able to write from a faraway place that I am not from. I am having coffee (from Papua New Guinea) and watching the BBC World News that absolutely puts CNN to shame most of the time. I do like CNN International and the special reports.

Things look on track for my departure. Weather is good and no cyclones on the horizon at this point in time. I’ll confirm with Air Pacific today or tomorrow and set up the transport to Nadi which is about a 3 hour drive. I have seen the bus and it is a huge and comfortable bus . . . a far cry from ‘back in the day’ (1985 – 1987) when it took 4- 5 hours in a cramped open air bus. The old buses are still around and I love the fact there are no windows. If it rains you simply roll down a vinyl tarp and everyone helps hold it inside.

That cooperation, at least for the most part is much of what typifies Fiji to the outsider. Some of this is of absolute necessity, i.e., it is a must to cooperate when unloading a container in the rain and mud and you do not have a forklift and a paved road to use it on. So when we unloaded the container of medical supplies in Nausori, we had to use the ‘human forklift’ and lift the pallets with people.

Some may find it interesting (others terribly boring!) or surprising that I am tired and yes, am actually looking forward to going home. I do have a deep love for Fiji but it is not my home and my mission here this time is complete for all intents and purposes. I have a life that needs tending to back in America, people that I love, mail being saved and my love for and addiction to the New York Times and other news. I can easily envision a life where I can live in America yet spend months at a time overseas doing medical work in different places. I could work at a hospital while in America and then work overseas too.

I just heard the BBC news call Indonesia’s ex-president a great leader. What a joke. The CIA and other various U.S. government agencies were completely complicit in assisting Suharto in a reign of terror. He was a joke to many Indonesians that I have spoken to. He personally enriched himself, his family and many of his cronies from the brutal repression of his people in the name of anticommunism. I don’t think he was an American puppet but probably very good at survival and manipulating the Americans into giving what he wanted. Much of my knowledge is based on a recently published history of the CIA. I would like to read a more specific history so eventually will have to look one up.

Thanks for reading.

David

Postscript: I remember sitting with the Fijian guys from Lalati and hearing them sing around the tanoa (the kava bowl). There was a song just about their island of Beqa and each village was mentioned in the song. Fijian songs are usually about connections, to their village, to each other, to the land. It is not usually songs about anger, or alienation. There may be sadness but it is about a broken heart from love, separation from a loved one, departure from home, an island that you have come to love. Other songs are simply about fun.

Back in Suva Second Go Around

February 2, 2008 @ 2350
South Pacific Dispatches / Suva Motor Inn, Suva, Fiji
I just returned from dinner at Fong’s Chinese which is a great place to eat. Still have to disconfirm the use of MSG or not at this point as I did not think to ask at the time. I was too hungry as all I had today was tea in Suvavou with biscuits or as the Fijian say, bisketi. I much prefer the sound of bisketi! I took some of my ex-in-laws to dinner with me and afterwards went to see No Country for Old Men. I loved the movie, especially the soundscape which was very distinct, spare and beautiful. A bit of a confusing movie at times and I shall have to see it again to deepen my pea brain analysis of a very complex bit of filmmaking. Overall however, I loved it despite the violence.

How normal it seems does it not? Dinner and a movie? Yet I treasured the normalcy of that for myself this evening. I am sleeping where and when I want, eating what I wish, I am very clean after a long hot shower and have been quite happy in my nest of a hotel room. Lonely a bit but great for introspection, reflection, review and analysis and most of all the silence, the space to do nothing, think nothing.

I bought a few groceries this evening for tomorrow so I could enjoy a nice breakfast and coffee for tomorrow. I shopped at MH’s which stands for Morris Hedstrom. The old store burned down over 10 years ago and it just reopened about one month ago. Fiji time anyone?

I attempted to get online at the Tanoa hotel but the internet there is down, both the wired and wireless. I tried Skynet Internet Café, logged in through my U3 Sancruiser Titanium USB drive. It runs a shell on the machine and protects the key data behind a virus and malware shield (Avast). It worked as advertised, warning me of a trojan horse, probably a key logger program so I terminated the session immediately. I don’t have a lot of valuable data but I protect it. The USB drive was an excellent purchase. The frustrating thing is that I have a lot of blog entries written and pictures to be posted yet finding reliable access is a great annoyance. I caught a whiff of a network in Suvavou Village on my Iphone last time I was there about two weeks ago so if I visit tomorrow will try to hop on the network – I was shocked to find it there. Isa Fiji, how it has changed! Even this morning, waiting for my commuter boat for the one hour crossing to the mainland I saw children and adults go to the seawall to text and / or call people. People text a lot! Saves money over a phone call. You can add minutes at almost any store – I bought additional minutes with my groceries this evening.

Another big change is the level of supposed sophistication in the way people are talking, dressing and acting in the city. More nightclubs and I was even blatantly propositioned by at least 3-4 prostitutes on the walk home even though it was obvious I was trying to avoid them like the proverbial plague.

Less than two days left in Fiji. I will spend Sunday and most of Monday here. I want to get another Bula or Aloha Shirt, maybe another sulu, Fijian Music CD’s and so on and so forth. I bought some nice curry supplies today so I am looking forward to making curry next week.

It just turned February 3 so I will sign off here. Thank you for reading.
David

The classic Kava Photo

 

Drinking Kava at Rukua Village two days ago. Drank till 12, up at 5 a.m. to catch the commuter boat to the mainland. Good fun!

Back in Suva

February 2, 2008 @ 1340
South Pacific Dispatch / Suva Motor Inn, Suva, Fiji

So roundabout I have come once again to the Suva Motor Inn. It is funny to me, perhaps to be expected however, that this is the loneliest part of my trip. Neither coming nor quite yet going I feel I am just at that in between place, hovering, waiting and suspended. My short term course is set and clear yet the long-term is uncertain, full of longing, excitement, sadness, doubt, and unknowingness. Being comfortable with that part of it is what is hard for me at times. I wonder about others.
The rest of the Loloma Foundation ‘gang’ are all home in America, save our stalwart leader, Linda Kwasny. They have all been a joy to work with and to spend luxurious time with them after our work day is complete.

I left Lalati Resort on Beqa Island yesterday and spent the night in Rukua Village on the other side of Beqa. My friend in Santa Rosa, Sailasa Rogogo is from that village. Interestingly enough, my fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, Chris Schorn (now in Seattle) lived in Rukua and as I was drinking kava with the boys last night it was a full on reminiscing of Chris and Sai stories over the years. I even saw an old foto of Chris and that brought back many memories.

It seems that everywhere I have gone brings back a rush of memories. I drank kava till 1200 pm last night, got up at 0500 and left on the boat at 0645 for an hour’s boat ride to Navua. From there I caught an ‘Express’ bus (read slow and maddening into that but some things never change!) and got off in Suvavou Village just past Lami. Suvavou is where my ex-in laws live so it was good to see them again. Now I am so tired and lonely that I am just going to take a shower and a long nap. I am so exhausted from working, the constant travel, and the emotional demands from memory and by just being alone in what is still to me, in the end, a foreign culture. I slept on the floor last night with a bit of foam pad but out of deference to me the boys lit mosquito coils but I was eaten up anyway. I usually travel with my mosquito net but had left it behind in Suva because I have not needed it. They also closed up the windows so I was dead of the heat and sweated all night.

So why write this? This is what it is like when you have to travel so much here. You lack control over your immediate environment to a large extent and are subject to the whims and vicissitudes’ of those around you and the travel gods. I could have stayed at Lalati Resort which is unbelievably comfortable and beautiful but I had to spend at least one night in the village. I did this not only for myself but for my friend Sai. Resorts insulate you so much from the people and this was my first time to experience resort life. I loved spending time with the staff, drinking kava and so on and so forth but also enjoyed the great food, service and other benefits of resort stays.

The last four days we just worked in the clinic. I drained an abscess on an eight year old that had been ‘drained’ in December. It was still very infected and very painful. One of the primary challenges here is keeping things clean so it is very possible that they let it get dirty and it healed over without sufficiently draining and the infection being stopped. Sterility is a joke in the tropics, in the bush with insufficient control over the environment. We called a Doctor in San Diego (or emailed him) about what antibiotics might be best for this foot abscess.

Plan for today and tomorrow is to simply rest. I have a few small things to do, recharge my phone with more minutes (I simply love the pay as you go plan they have with Vodaphone Fiji). I might buy a few more shirts since the three I brought got trashed since they were so old. On Monday I catch the 1630 bus to Nadi and my flight leaves at 1030 that night. I arrive into Los Angeles, wait for a bit and transfer to Horizon Air (Alaska Air) for my flight to Santa Rosa.

Although I have loved my trip I am so very tired and look forward to seeing those I love once again and fold them into my arms. Sometimes not knowing what to do is a blessing. I have a day to recover, unpack, clean and then off to work at MS II if I still have a job, if the Hospital is still open and on and on, ad nauseum (sp?).
Thanks for reading this far. Will try to get to a computer and post this with a few fotos later or tomorrow.

David

Work

Now this is what I call going to work in style! Need more of this and
not less. Taken in the Yasawa Islands last week. I'll be seeing most
of you soon!

Ratu Tevita, na Vu ni Wai!

South Pacific Dispatch / Cyclone Gene

January 28, 2008 @ 2112
South Pacific Dispatch in the middle of Cyclone Gene
Lalati Resort, Beqa Island, Fiji

Aloha and Bula Vinaka. . . . I just made an entry into my Iphone about the cyclone; of necessity a short one since typing on it is still not as easy as a full keyboard. I am listening to Radio FM 96 to an absolute idiotic airhead of an announcer with her full on Western bullshit pitter-patter (just as bad as or worse than in the West). Since we are in the middle of Cyclone Gene (and I hate that stupid name too come to think of it!) it is always good to hear what is going on. Contrast my position to the gang on the mainland, flooding, out of power and so on and so forth. I am on the ‘island of the firewalkers’ at an incredible resort (in trade I pay for basics, spruce up the clinic and see patients) where I have generator power (twin diesels, one as backup), ate an incredible meal and am in the middle of cyclonic winds. . . . all of this incredible comfort (apologies for using incredible so much in this dispatch but there it is alright!?).

Last time was in 1986, I forget the Cyclone’s name but I was on the Provincial (much like the American County’s) Emergency Response Team. Then, like now, it was mainly a matter of waiting the storm out, damage assessment and the inevitable piecemeal response all depending on the level of damage to homes, roads, power and other infrastructure. I got a lot wetter in that one. Of course the night is still young but I am beat. Tired from the crossing (more on that below) and put a couple of hours in on cleaning the clinic and sorting through meds and tossing expired ones. For example, nitro expired by two years – never used of course since no qualified personnel are here to dispense it. We have lots of Levaquin PO, a heavy hitter out here. Have not seen Hansen’s Disease yet but there was a case in the Yasawa’s that I would have loved to see. Someone mentioned Levaquin so hope I remember to check PubMed for that one. I heard some Elephantiasis is around so really am excited about observing that and checking out what the process is and proscribed treatment. I hope to get Rick Flinders and his ‘gang’ interested in working with the Loloma Foundation at some point. They would love it and the experience is incredible.

Winds and rain are heavy and the roof resonates beautifully with the sound of the rain and occasional “WHAM” from a branch or even a coconut. I still reflexively remember to watch my head in the wind under a coconut tree . . . I was quite proud some of those reflexes are still with me! Of course my sea legs long disappeared. The at least one hour crossing was one of the roughest I have ever been on! Even Linda rated it an 8 out of 10 (0 being like glass and a 10 either drowning like a rat, yeah baby or not even making the attempt?) and she lived here for 10 years and crossed all the bloody time! Better to have been the captain on a larger sailing boat but our trip was relatively safe, an aluminum catamaran dive boat powered by Twin 150 horsepower outboards. This was all in 15-20 foot swells, all white capped and incredible amounts of drift and spray over the entire vessel. The bow was covered now and then with waves and then we would surf off the crest and “WHAM” down into the trough and repeat, repeat, repeat. One more hour and the fun would have ceased for me. As it was we were all completely soaked through and through, as it is an open cabin except for the wheelhouse and covered a bit by plastic curtains from the wheelhouse back. Photos later I hope! I could not safely get my camera out for it this time.

High tide tonight around 12 so flooding on the main Island of Viti Levu will hit then. The center of the cyclone crosses the island tonight, guess it is a good thing I am out here. Radio Fiji has people calling in having Cyclone parties – like I said (and I remember this) there is not a lot more to do if you are already prepared. Although we have power I have the clinic set up for emergencies (injuries and so forth mainly for tomorrow) and a quick trauma pack in my backpack, headlight, two radios, four flashlights, Leatherman, got to have camera and so on and so forth. A quick note on mobile phones here, they are very common, cheap to buy (bought one for $80 Fijian, about $50 US or so) and you prepay. They are very dependable, way better than landlines. Fiji is typical in this development and is much the same as many other developing nations. Mobile networks are used to send money, text, photos and more.

Dinner was outrageous. Some type of very tender steak with mushroom sauce, steamed broccoli, a twice baked potato and the finale – incredibly moist, delicious banana-chocolate cake with shredded coconut baked into it. Please, hurt me like this all the time. I managed not to eat it all believe it or not. Hmmm, think it will be easy to recruit people to work on these trips with descriptions like that?

There is a very nice Yacht tied up in the Bay in front of the resort but I am betting it will be aground by the morning. They have a good sea anchor and a hurricane anchor out but in sustained winds of now 65-85 kph (work the equivalent out yourself people!) and gust up to 140 kph I am fairly sure it will drag. Too bad, it is a beautiful double masted yacht and brand new from what I hear (friends of the Lalati Resort owners).

Linda Kwasny (former owner of Lalati Resort that built this place from the ground up) is one of the board members of the Loloma Foundation. She told me about a seamount about one and a half hour boat rides straight out into the ocean. One of the better dive spots in Fiji it is about 200 meters across and at low tide you can almost stand on it. It is like a large mushroom and hit about 600 feet deep over the edge. Someday I am going to snorkel and dive it.

Overall I am exhausted. This is in part physical and is due to the constant travel and lots of work. The climate is hot and humid (great!) but wears you down when you don’t pace yourself like the locals! The mental part is exhausting too. I had the most cultural experience of everyone in the group and I felt like for the first time I was really recognized for that because I was so useful. My language skills were of great assistance also. That takes of a lot of concentration and mental energy – we all commented upon that. Since somehow I am going to come back more often I hope that it will become easier.

Coming back more often. . . . to Fiji and other parts of the Pacific. I’ll take some help on this one people. How to live in California part of the time, work there and make the time to be able to work in the South Pacific. I mean just look at the time I am having here. I have lived more in three weeks with what is happening then I feel like I have in a few years! It is just so weird at times.

I know this entry is a long one. If you have read this far than I’m doubly grateful and thank you. I think when I go on like this it is because I have done so much, or so much is going on that there is a lot to process mentally. Putting hand to keyboard helps my reflection and search for meaning amidst the elemental struggle taking place outside this cabin. It is such a beautiful thing to behold this life of ours. Despite whatever pain of our own individual lives where ever they may be on this planet there is also that essential wonder, even in the most infinitesimal of moments. We are doubly lucky to even be able to conceive of such things when there are those whose every thought is directed toward not getting hacked to death (Kenya), or the search for clean or water of any sort and food.

Loloma Foundation may have a shot at a mission in Malawi. I am on that list. Thanks for reading and best regards to whoever reads this. . . . I wish you happiness.

David

Postscript: I am not bothering to edit that much at this point in time lest it destroy the immediacy of my thoughts. When time permits I may go back. For now I am looking after the spelling and basic sentence construction.

South Pacific Dispatches. . . . Beqa Island, Fiji

Bula Vinaka and aloha from the island of Beqa. Linda Kwasny is the former owner of Lalati Resort and one of the board members of the Loloma Foundation. Lalati still maintains a small clinic here (with Air Conditioning no less!) and we are cleaning that up and checking medication expiry dates. Later today we'll start seeing some of the staff and then full on tomorrow with the surrounding villages.

Cyclone Gene is thankfully on the way out! I have a few blog entries and photos waiting on my computer (I am using Lalati's Mac right now with a Satellite uplink) and will post those when I can. All flights in and out of Fiji are canceled at this writing and getting over here yesterday was an exercise in carefully controlled violence and great seamanship on the part of our crew. I have been in some rough seas before in Fiji but as Linda said to me, on a scale of 0 - 10 with 10 the worst and unpassable, this was an 8! Yes sireee baby, it was an E-ticket ride. At the end, near shore I just jumped and swam in since I was completely soaked anyway.

The resort is on twin diesel generators anyway so we have power and all of that. The mainland is flooded with no power so there you have it. Roads are flooded and not much is moving. Lots of cyclone parties over there I bet?

I am not even sure at this point if I will be able to visit my friend Sai's (living in Santa Rosa) village Rukua here on Beqa. The trail over may be impassable and the sea is a joke - just too dangerous.

That is about it for now kids. Special bula and aloha to my family, hugs to all.
Thanks for reading the continuing adventures of yours truly.

David

Cyclone Gene

January 28, 2008
Beqa Island, Fiji

Hell of a rough crossing today from the mainland. Not sick but 15-20
ft swells so completely soaked by docking time so I jumped & swam in!
Good fun. Sustained winds up to 90 kph with gust to 140 kph. Not sure
when this email will get out as I am on my iPhone. Can't leave island
for at least three days now anyway but Lalati resort has satellite so
may be able to update via that link. My Fiji Vodaphone mobile has no
signal right here but maybe on the beach or hills later.

Incredible resort once again have to see to believe. Spent a few hours
cleaning and restocking meds in the very nice clinic!

Cyclone Gene won't make a direct hit on us at least but close. Lalati
Resort is built to a level of Category Eight cyclone. Been through
this before and usually don't worry till the roof starts to peel off
or it floods (but a reef here as in much of Fiji stops most of the
surge).

Nothing to do but read, listen, watch a movie, wait and enjoy till the
coconuts start pummeling the roof. Will attempt fotos tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

D.

www.davidmichaelmccullough.net
davidmccullough@gmail.com
+1 707 758 3358

South Pacific Dispatch / Navutu Stars Resort, Yaqueta Island, Fiji

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

Navutu Stars Resort, Yasawa Islands, Fiji

Here are a few photos from our stay here. Dinner is soon, Lobster Curry with coconut milk sauce so I hope you are now hungry and jealous. A hell of a lot of hard work but this is a very rewarding trip.

We leave tomorrow for Nadi and the group leaves for LAX. Linda and I then leave for Beqa Island, Island of the Fire Walkers (really) where I will stay at her former resort and do medical work for three days and also spend a night at Rukua Village where my good friend Sai in Santa Rosa is from.

After that, on to Suva for a few days to visit with friend and then a long flight to the United States to LAX and a short hop to Santa Rosa, California. Thanks for reading.

David

PS: I have few entries done in Word 2007 that I cannot upload so I will post them later after I convert them. So much for new software from Microsoft. The copy of Word on this machine is in Italian since the owners are Italian. Love it.

Navutu Stars Resort, Yaqueta Island, Yasawa Islands , Fiji

Bula, my first access for awhile and unfortunately not very long as I (and others) are sick with some kind of stomach flu. Better now but still very weak. I was up all night and most of today but I hope on the road to recovery. Just absolutely exhausted. Of course, once you see photos of this place any sympathy you may feel will disappear quickly.

We have done some village primary care the last few days and our last is tomorrow (if I can stop being so damn sick!) Food and accommodations are fantastic and the beauty is unmatched.

I have satellite access via the resort and if I get online again tonight will upload some photos. Won't write much more as being sick colors too much. I am just so glad I came and took this opportunity to do something important.

Thanks for reading,

David

Isa lei na Kaivulag . . .

. . . gang member Linda, just before she was forcibly ejected from the
aircraft - for acting out! We let Matt stay on board the flight to
Nadi. Last we saw, Linda was sprawled on the runway, Fiji Bitter Beer
in hand, crying out, Fiji I love you Full Speed no Brakes!