Thursday May 31 - Getting to work in Indonesia

Talked to home today. Got 10 min with Colette and 5 each with Mont, Madeleine and Danielle.

Tried to straighten my hair but just a bit of humidity.

Went out on deck and saw the island and the city on shore. They said it is about a 1/2 hours trip from ship to shore. Today was the first day of patients and people coming on board. The first group we x-rayed was group of nursing and medical students that will serve as our interpreters for the patients. They all speak English very well. The second group was Indonesian military. They had no English. We then got a student to interpret and had her for 2 hours before they decided they wanted her in nursing. It was nice to have her for a short time.  She could clarify the Indonesian phases we had typed up and help us shorten the commands so they will understand us better. Will have to send a newer list of the phrases and the phonetic pronunciation.

Worked from 7 am till 7:30 pm. I am feeling better with the equipment and was able to do one view chest by myself by the end of the day. Very long day and very tired with "brain fuzzy". I had one of the MH1 ask me to help him write up the step of how we're have tried to evaluate and resolve the island x-ray darkroom and equipment. I guess he is doing a problem solving /communication evaluations for a class and a promotion. It's fun to have them want me to help them, as I do the basic outline and they finalize the work. I am doing half the work, but it is in my head or I have developed it so they can understand the basic process. Don't feel like they are using me, I'm just helping them succeed. You should see all the studying they have to do to pass things off for rank promotions.

The Indonesian people are nice, quiet and seem very happy to see us. We did have to send one guy away because the doctors could not tell if the spots on his lungs was old or new TB so he was sent off the boat and will not get his surgery. They did have 10 cases on shore with TB, so they did not get on the shuttle boat to the ship. Our total patients to day about 70 with one CT, so we are busy but not swamped.  We get 20 or so at a time then have about 1 1/2 hour break till the next boat arrives.

Going to bed tired but happy.

Caroline