Samoa's private hospital

In Apia, the capital of Samoa, there are two hospitals - the public and the private. When you are a tourist, or one of the few wealthy Samoan, you definitely want to use the private hospital. It seems the private hospital, Medcen, is having a little difficulty right now.

Samoan government plans to use the private hospital to avoid overseas treatment
Private hospital collapsed due to patient debts

Sunshine makes everything better

Another glorious day of sunshine here.  I think I have survived another icy winter.  My mood and energy levels are improving exponentially.

I spent the day doing housework and gardening.  I'm now at work waiting for the day shift to return - they wont be long - in order to take over their (better) ambulance rather than take home the "spare".  Of course I was also suppose to write my assignment today but with the weather and the number of chores that needed doing, I couldn't resist getting out there in the garden.  I'm quite pleased with how things are coming along (slowly, slowly).  I feel even better to have done something physical to counter-balance that terribly boring day I had yesterday in the lectures.

I'm still waiting for my grades from last term.  Samoa time yet again is dragging on.  I paid on Thursday.  I allowed a lag of 24 hours, that's fine, for that information to get to all the right people.  Then there was the weekend.  Then Samoa is a day behind.  But today is Monday there.  Oh, I know, I bet it's a public holiday there today.  They seem to have a lot there compared to here, however their culture is a lot more focused on lifestyle than getting ahead.  I think that's why I love it there so much.

Happy anniversary

As I was sitting here trying to do the maths and find enough money to pay my tuition fees this month, I was wondering how much longer I could go on like this, that is, without much room in the budget to breathe.  And then I realised it's nearly my one year anniversary from starting studying med!

In March last year I went to Samoa for 8 weeks to do my Introduction to Medicine module.  I went so fast, I couldn't believe it.  It's so beautiful there, I could easily go back, and I hope to do so.  I estimate I have another 2.5 years of preclinical and just under 4 years in total left.  Wow.  To think I've already done a year, or 20%...

Here's an excerpt from my first entry into my journal I wrote while in Samoa (please understand I was at this point culture-shocked, jet lagged, home-sick, over-whelmed, and in an extremely hot and humid environment);

22nd March 2010 - Day 2
Dear Diary,
I'm finding it increasingly frustrating to try and study by any other means than via self-study of my Biochem text I brought with me.  I'm starting to believe I was learning more studying on my own at work, where I at least had reliable access to the internet and adequate lighting....
..... I am rather disappointed I came all this way only to be studying less effectively and more remotely. 
Trying to keep a positive attitude.  Now determined to study the text on my own....
.....I am enjoying the different experience in a friendly country and looking forward to returning home to my house and pets.
CJ

Ha!  I forgot how frustrated I was with the lack of aircon, good lighting, and very unreliable internet!  By the end of the 8 weeks I had totally adjusted to:
a)  Getting up early to study in the (only) cool part of the day (and by the end of the 8 weeks had acclimatised so much I wished I was in the non-aircon rooms with the ceiling fan only)
b)  Rearranged my room to try and squeeze the lamp onto my desk
c)  Gave up on using the internet as my source of information and replaced it with these things called "textbooks" in the uni library
d)  Found an internet cafe in town with a way better connection and speed than at the hotel or uni, and much cheaper.  Used it only for FB, emailing, and internet banking anyway!
I had also learnt to pre-study the day's material before I went to class, which I still try and do now and is such a life-saver.

Can't wait to look back at this time now and laugh...  so far away.....