1st week in the Solomons

Hello!

Well Alex and I both made it here alive! The Solomon airlines flight from Brisbane was surprisingly safe! We had a lovely Solomon Islander gentleman sat next to us who wanted to tell us all about the Solomons, and his life story...shame I was so jet lagged i could hardly keep my eyes open! His friendliness seems to be universal among the people here, theyre all so lovely!

I'm staying in 'Kiwi House', which is a very basic but perfectly liveable little...shack, within a big hospital compound which is kind of jungly in nature! There were 3 other students there when we arrived, but 2 of them have moved onto Gizo already. They were all British from UEA and Imperial College med schools.
The first day we arrived we spent wondering around Honiara, which isn't exactly a postcard picture destination, but it's loveable in other ways - the local bakery being one. I actually had scones and jam yesterday, in the solomon islands!! ha!
My first day of work was Friday, I sat in on a teaching done by a visiting Australian ENT surgical team which was interesting, then went onto labour ward which is where I'm planning on spending the next week. I happened to go at a very busy time, but even so, the conditions of the ward were very basic and not always hygienic. If Western people could see the things women put up with here, no one would ever complain about the NHS! The staff are brilliant and do their best with very limited equipment and supplies, they definitely know their stuff. There was women delivering on the floor, as a result of all the delivery rooms being full. Post natal women were also having to be laid down on the floor, again because there were no beds available. Because there are few hospitals in a large area, women come from all over to give birth here and as a reuslt theres not always enough room. Seeing the way death is dealt with was difficult and also very different to the UK, definitely had to pinch myself a few times to hold back tears. Alex had to deal with them later! (sorry Alex). Another difference is that THERE'S NO PAIN RELIEF FOR DELIVERY! and yet the mothers dont make a sound! crazy!
This morning the ward was much quieter with only 3 ladies in labour, which was nice because there was much more time to talk to them and reassure them etc etc, then be involved with their care. I got a lot more teaching and hands on experience; baby injections and examinations, abdo exams, vaginal exams, assissting with delivery. It is definitely going to be a steep learning curve.
My plan for the 3 weeks we're spending in Honiara is to do one week obstetrics, one week surgery and one week A&E, then we're going to head over to Gizo and see what we can get up to over there!

We had our first weekend off, the first day of which we spent at Honiara Hotel Pool (i LOVE this pool!), then Sunday we went snorkelling at a nearby beach around a WWII wreck which was amazing! Managed to avoid any crocodiles that were lurking and saw loads of fish! including one like Nemo which was my favourite : ) We joined in on a BBQ that was going on too (my first encounter with Sol Island meat.....) with some Australian guys that are working over here setting up a phone company (MUCH needed).

All in all we've had a great first few days, I have been reunited with bucket showering (always a joy) and a largely carbohydrate fuelled diet akin to last summer! In fact the Solomons are a lot like Tanzania except for the fact that its a lot greener and MUCH hotter. The internet connection isn't great here and the phone system even worse so blog entries are likely to be long and infrequent!

xxx

Pre-travel flapping

I have decided that instead of sending mass emails while I'm away this summer, a blog is the way forward.
The general plan is;

19/07 - fly to Brisbane.
20/07 - Night in Brisbane
21/07 - Fly to Honiara, Solomon Islands (if you're trying to find them on a map, they are Australia and up and right a bit.) This is where we are doing 3 weeks of placement and then moving to Gizo, a much more rural community on another island to do another 3 weeks.
03/09 - Fly back to Brisbane to spend just under 3 weeks travelling by bus around the Gold Coast of Australia.
21/09 - Fly to Singapore to spend 4 days stocking up on fake designer brands - requests for handbags via email!
25/09 - arrive back in sunny London to be greeted by beautiful weather, people with worse tans than me( hopefully) and the promise of never being fed fish and fruit ever again!

I'm doing all of this with the wonderful Alex Bodley Scott - and we are not going to fall out, or fight, or stress, or disagree ever (hopefully). Especially not while we are in Honiara, as our accommodation looks a bit cramped...

I will update this blog as often as I can get a chance. Electricity in the Solomons is mostly diesel generator powered, and internet is very expensive. But if I don't write, assume I'm having a great time diving, delivering babies, dodging crocodiles and mosquitos and getting a tan!

Love Rachel xxx