Thursday 21 June - On the Pier

I had the opportunity to go to the pier today for patient chest screening. We did about 50 people. The place is very nice as we have a "conex" box which is similar to the semi storage ones they send on ships, and we have two air conditioners so we have the best working conditions on the pier. It was a steady pace till noon and then we did about 6 people from then till 3 when we left.

I tired a local drink called halo halo. Which means mix mix. This has shaved ice (which melts into a giant ice cube), I think coconut milk, some jelly hard chunks, a purple yam pieces (like taro root), some fruit chunks, and black and pintos beans (which sink to the bottom of the cup. It is very sweet tasting. I skipped eating the beans. A guy comes to the pier each day and asked if anyone wanted food for lunch since we cannot go past the security gate. We really are locked down on the pier . I also got to have an MRE (military rations). They have pretty good taste and we just open and pick thru and make what you want for lunch.

I got see the patients as they were going on the ship for surgeries . There was one cute little girl about 6 that had a large hair lip. She was so shy and would not talk. Most of the time we mime what we need them to do. We have the words printed out right in front of the chest unit. Often they still have a hard time even when we demonstrate.

I did see a small jelly fish and vat fish just off the causeway. Colette the other day I met the girls at the university studying to become teachers. They have to wear a uniform pant suit. Be glad you had some choice in your outfits.

I was standing under our canopy when some of the patients returned from the ship post surgery. One older man came over to me and kept saying thank you, thank you. I just had to say you're welcome and that's about all I could say. He wanted a picture with me. Not that I did anything for him but these people are so grateful. Tomorrow I was supposed to go out to the pier. But, they have changed the schedule as I get to do something fun tomorrow. Will tell you in the next email.

My other fiend Jenni H was let out of the isolation ward and she was there the 48 hours and not sick any more. She said she did sleep but she didn't have anything to do and the language was so bad it was hard to be there. She did comment she saw one of the ladies going by and seeing her shining happy face made her feel so much better. She is going to get to go off on a medcaps tomorrow so she is thrilled to be out and about again. I think the pier schedule is the same as I emailed. It will check it tomorrow.

The Dutch lady in our department is going to try and get her daughter's email for her iPad so we can try and FaceTime her on the 26. Any info on how to connect her please let me know. I gave her the gmail account  that is what is listed when I  FaceTime. If I am wrong please let me know ASAP. I am doing much better and I think part of it is because I got to FaceTime Dad, Madeleine, Danielle and Cameron. It was so fun to see and laugh with you half way around the world. Just think, how in the last few years how much things have changed in communication around the world. Dad did try to take it across to the church but I told him it would cut off  from the house network. By the way you had better get Chad or Rex to secure our network. Thanks for your love and support and emails. It really makes my day when I hear stuff that is going on at home. Love you all, Mom/Caroline