The end of the Jamaican experience

For real I haven't blogged in the last 10 days?!! If its that hard now that I'm in Jamaica, how much harder is it gonna be when I get back home.

So yesterday was suppose to be my last day in Jamaica but for whatever reason it wasn't. My flight got cancelled and I got 1 more day here. One more day to go sailing, get a massage and visit the steam room, all things I hadn't done at all for the month I was here. In fact, yesterday was the first time I even knew that the parrots were kept in a cage (didn't even know it was more than 1 parrot) or that there was another area with a tranquility pool and Jacuzzis.

During this month, especially with my co-worker's/house mate's fervor for God I've learned so much more and have strengthen my relationship with God. But also this month taught me something else from the Jamaicans......what is all the hustle and bustle in our lives for? They are so laid back and relaxed, you don't here people complain about being stressed out all the time. They take life as it comes and enjoy it. When I think about the fact that our only purpose on this earth is to magnify God and do his will I wonder, is all that hustle and bustle really necessary??!!

I mean, have we gotten so busy with the ways of the world and pre-occupying our minds with all these things we do day in and day out that we have totally obliterated our purpose??!!! I mean, yesterday as I thought about getting back home I thought about the schedules left to do, the tasks I need to complete for our youth conference, graduating, paying bills, studying and I start to get a little antsy. WHY?????

Radical talks about how the 'America Dream' is for us to rely on ourselves for everything.....when if you are at all a Christian, THEE only thing you need to rely on is OUR FATHER!!! Now as I sit here and rumenate (sp?) over the last month I wonder if I cant take all this information I've learned and translate it to my life at home. To live a simple life not filled with 'stuff' to do and fulfill god's purpose for me??? I mean I know that some of the gifts he has blessed me with uses my job, and my participation in church ministry to advance his kingdom but there is likely so much more than isnt necessary even in doing those very simple things.

Is there 'stuff' that you also do daily that isnt really necessary? Can we be a God-loving, simple people and have all the joy and fun in the world? Of course, with God ANYTHING is possibl, I just have to continually learn how to push myself out of his way.... MOVE, GIRL GET OUT his way, get out his way girl, get out his way (My version of the song lol)

Annoyed

Today I've developed an annoyed spirit and I know that isnt of God....pray for me.

I was at work today in the A&E (ED) department. There werent many spaces available so I end up taking a doctor's area and saw 2 kids. After that I stopped. There was another physician who called me to him to ask who I am covered by?! I said well I am working with a foundation and I have worked in the A&E before and the head physician already knows I am there. He continues to ask who is responsible if something happens to a patient etc. He stated he 'already spoke to my coworker' so he knows he is ok (my coworker later says to me he has never asked him anything about who covers him or is responsible). I said well my coworker and I are with the same foundation and covered. He continues to grill me and ask who is responsible.....so I said if a problem ever arose to get in contact with the 2 pediatricians who are working closely with the foundation and they will know who to contact.

So he asks again WHICH one should he contact. After that grilling I got a little pissed and didnt even care to see anymore patients, not to mention the physicians seemed to be annoyed by us taking up their work areas (with good reason I guess). Am I wrong to be annoyed or am I developing a superiority complex??!!

After that we had to wait for our transportation, which many times we do not know who or when they are coming.

My spirit is struggling today.....maybe its getting to that time when I need to leave

19/4/11

Have I so neglected this blog....its so easy to not sit and write on this...just like as an unworthy human its so easy to not go and read the word and give God such little time even AFTER he has given a SON for me!

It is getting close to the ending of my Jamaica journey. I went to Dunn's River Falls last week and it was fun. The tour guids kept asking me and my coworker to kiss while they were shooting the video. After a while I just had to tell them...look! we arent together!!!!

I got home a little earlier today...seems like there were less kids at the clinic.

Doing much better with eating i.e.NOT eating everything available to sample.

Still havent lost any weight though but oh well...there are worse things happening. I'm still exercising daily so at least my heart health is improving.

I met a couple that was here in November when one of my coworkers was here. The lady is so funny because she keeps asking me if I'm still getting along with my current coworker! If I'm not tired of him yet!! And I keep saying no, its been ok....

I had a case yesterday of a 12 yr old girl with vaginal 'bumps' turn out to look like herpes. She had sex (well if you ask her he never went 'ALL' the way in!) with a 16 or 17 year old. Things dont change no matter where you go! The frustrating part about it though was that I had no clue what the protocol for reporting was and many of the people I asked didn't seem to either so it took me quite some time to find someone that was willing to help and direct me! Its sad because that 12 year old girl (and sadly her mom) could not comprehend what she had and the ramifications. :(

Also on one of the pediatric wards there are a set of siblings.....2 beautiful girls that I found out are wards of the state. They have been there for the past 2 weeks and they havent found a children's home or foster family for them yet....I wish I could adopt them.....I really do! :(

Lets see, Stella (me) has about 1 more week to get her groove back! lmbo (Im not so sure I ever had it). Gotto go round up the cute workers, maybe the male entertainment staff. (Wasnt Stella's man working at her resort?) Hah! The Gym Instructor and I were talking, after a while he asked me if I was married. When I said no, he put out his hand and said, Hi! Look no further, you just met your husband!! (paraphrasing)....I forgot the boldness of Caribbean men, makes me laugh. There are some cooley hair men though. Ok, now that I've just waisted some brain cells talking foolishness, what can I write about next??!!

I am sure at some point I experienced or thought about something worth adding to this blog and of course again I've waited too long and cant remember...oh well this is enough trivialities (is that a word???)

Ending of week 2 of my Jamaica experience

ummm.....nearly halfway through the trip and I have not been in the water, near or around the water or beach.

My coworkers did not believe I didnt need any swimwear. I will try to do something water themed something this weekend if the weather isnt bad and they cancel water sports.

Also since I've been here both my coworker and I have been working out 6-7 days a week. Why is it that he is down a belt size and I'm still struggling to get into my clothes???!!!! What is this all about? I guess for the rest of my life I'll have to accept being overweight.......well at least maybe the exercise can do something like keep my cholesterol down.

Had dinner tonight again at one of the restaurants. Its almost better to eat at the restaurants than the buffet b/c even though there are many courses (including the sorbet prior to your entree to 'clean' your palate) they have a little bit of food in each course. Still, I think I'm going to have to reduce my meals to fruit only or something :(

Yea my blogs are pretty much centered around food and exercise...que borrisimo!! Cant even find a little boyfriend or something, to spice things up since I'm at a COUPLES resort lol.

Off to Port Antonio (2hrs away) tomorrow. Hopefully I wouldnt see alot of referrals for things I cant help with like club feet and other orthopedic problems!

PS: Gonna miss my residency peeps this weekend....Clara's first visit to Memphis, Lynzie's new rock :'(

second week in Jamaica

Tonight is beach party dinner with entertainment such as dancers, fire throwers, a steel band and limbo dances as you can see above. Saw it last week but forgot my camera. Today we went to work and found out that the medical records folks were on strike!!! No one there seemed to have known it was coming. As a result we both worked in the clinic. There were about the same amount of patients as last week (14 vs 16) but with 2 of us the day was light. So while we waited for our transport to come early we went to the Peds ward and played with the kids that were up there. I have NO idea what they were admitted for and hope it wasnt something infectious!!!! Here on the wards, the kids wear there own clothing and just walk around and play like they are home. None of them seemed really sick to me but who knows.

I dont remember what I did yesterday except sleep, eat and worked out....kinda boring. I guess maybe I SHOULD take advantage of the area while I'm here. I dont take part in too many things here because after all it IS a couples resort and most things are geared towards just that....couples! I may go to Dunn River Falls this coming weekend and our driver said he would take me to this Genuine and well regarded Jerk place sometime.

I suck, dont I??!!! You would think I would be living it up and experiencing all sorts of things but I spend most of the time that I'm not working reading, working out and chilling in my room!

Snap out of it CHILD!!!!! Ok I will....maybe :)

Oh another thing. I gave one of the workers some of the toys I brought with me for her son. On my way to dinner another worker asked me to sign something. It was a note stating that I gave her the toys for her son. Apparently the workers get searched at security when they leave the compound. How awful! :( They arent working at the Federal Reserve!!!! But they have a good attitude about it.

4/9/11

What is today? Dont even know. So many things I see and hear and say I got to blog, then when I start blogging I cant remember half the things. Lets see...nostalgia When I saw a 'Tuck" shop at one of the hospitals it reminded me of our tuck shop in high school where you could buy drinks, pastries and little things. On the drive back from the site we went to on friday, after driving that road ALL week, I saw a house on one of the hills shaped like a boat!!! A big concrete boat!! I wonder how his neighbors felt about that? I wonder why I assumed it was a man that built it?? Talking about assumptions, as I watched the couples here I saw this wrinkled little ole man maybe in his 70's with this tall, younger wife no older than 30's and with my own prejudice automatically felt that she was a gold digger!! Why do I have that prejudice? Is it from media stories like Anna Nicole Smith? Can a younger woman not truly fall in love with a man capable of being her grandfather? I guess with love anything is possible when the ultimate example is God sending his son to shed his blood for the likes of us!! Personally it still gives me the hibby jibbies thinking about them kissing ewwww..... Last night I was truly blessed....I got to partake of lobster ONE more time. I think I mentioned it before that Fridays are lobster nights EXCEPT from April to July so our first friday here was the last time u could get lobster. BUT....by God's grace and love we met up with one of the duty managers on our way back and we started chatting. She mentioned it was seafood night and I mentioned how sad I was that we missed the lobster season. Lo and behold she said one of the restaurants was serving lobster and she would see if she could get us into a last minute reservation. So she called at 8 asking if we could get to the restaurant right then. Unfortunately my coworker was at the gym. I was a little disappointed but guess what??!!! While I was waiting to be seated at another restaurant for dinner she saw me and worked out them bringing lobster from the other restaurant to the one we were at!! YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Lobster one last time! Ok too much writing....saw a big UGLY frog on the way back....dont do well with frogs but my coworker chased it away (phew)....coughing and feel like I'm wheezing and dont know why.....off to continue reading "the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HeLa)".....recommend this book to all ESP researchers and people in medicine. For anyone interested its the story of Henrietta Lacks, a black lady whose cells transformed science and how her family were totally unaware of the use of the cells after her death. Very good example on how we as medical persons need to always remember the human side of medicine!!

7/4/11

Did I not write yesterday or are my days getting mixed up?

Spent the last 2 days in another area working. Was on a pediatric ward yesterday that really is a room. We in the US are VERY blessed by the facilities we have at our disposal. There was a little boy about 6 who just started bawling for his mom and dad and wouldn't stop. I tried to get his attention on something else but it didn't work. I went then to work in A&E aka the ED. Saw common things but the most interesting was a young boy being sent from another hospital for admission for possible glomerulonephritis or for the non-medical people, kidney disease. I was all excited about the hunt for the cause only to find out that many of the lab tests used to eliminate some of the causes arent available! :(

Anyway, worked in the same area but in the clinic. Saw alot of well babies. Curious thing is that in the US each child sees a doctor for all his shots and well check ups. It seems that here they are seen at about a month and then just see nurses for shots and some screening.

Tomorrow is the 2 hr drive to the other clinic........getting antsy just thinking about it.

I've been doing my Insanity workouts but I think I'm gaining more weight again!!! AAARRRGGGGHH this is KILLING me!!!! AND THE DESSERT STATION IS NOT HELPING!!!!! I can NO LONGER eat desserts with dinner except maybe once a week. I really dont know what else to do to lose weight except to stop eating all together!!!

Today was an up and down day for mood (maybe having a restless sleep didnt help)...in the down phase at this moment but not to worry....will be back up soon.

Tata

PS: During my fight to sleep I had this crazy dream that made no sense as usual but in it I was dating or in a relationship and the love that I felt transcended into my awake phase (ok that was kinda corny, I woke up with that intense feeling of love in my spirit)....

4/5/11 or 5/4/11

Today was my second day and a little more hectic, didnt even get around to lunch. Saw about 11 more patients and kids with more problems that needed evaluations. On the drive back, my coworker asked the driver about his spiritual beliefs.....The driver said, I dont understand so he asked again....so the driver said spirits, like duppies? Yea I've seen some... :) There is so much nostalgia working here. Things that are said or I have seen....like the cat tail plants that we had in the school yard growing up. We use to pick them and put them in the waist of our skirts like tails, I saw them on the horseback ride.

Got back home and went into my usual routine, worked out, showered, got ready for dinner and checked emails. But when I got back something horrible is smelling in the living room.....I think our mouse infestation may have ended. Before dinner I decided to investigate and lo and behold there are some 'shapes' in the trap under the sideboard in the kitchen. My coworker got a flash light and the shapes turned out to be THREE dead mice!!! Something tells me the family is not all dead yet!!! Hope that smell improves by tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'm off to a clinic now 1 hr away....so it'll be SLEEP vs reading on my drive.

Now off to log my patients and bedtime...the time after work is getting shorter, so much to do so little time.

Oh, the reason for the title, I'm trying to get to back into the groove of writing the date the British way day/month/year...I've really been in America for a while!!!! paediatrician not pediatrician, yes miss not yes ma'am.

ta ta

4/4/11

First day of work, not so bad. The drive was 30 mins and it seemed like FOREVER!!! Not sure what I will do on Fridays when its a 2 hr drive...Walk with a book I guess.

Lets see, trying to think on any new experiences or lessons. Watched an interesting documentary on Freeloading with John Stossel....from panhandlers, to lawyers to corporations...everyone thinks the government owes them something!! Why is that?

Also finished a book called Tattoos of the Heart and even though I know this, like Mother Teresa said, we have 'forgotten that we belong to each other'. I mean really when did we stop trying to live out the greatest commandment to love thy neighbor as thyself?

*sigh* I dont know but I plan to do something about it....you with me?

Lets have a LOVE Revolution........

PS:Dinner was entertaining for sure with limbo dancers, fire performers and the rubber band kid (talk about hyperextensible)

TaTa for now

4/2/11

Basically the end of day 2. Was fortunate to have lobster last night. Friday is lobster night EXCEPT between April to June so that the lobsters can make more babies to eat. So it was my first and last opportunity.

Went Horse back riding today. It was a great experience. We toured through an old plantation. I rode on Cutlass Supreme who was ANYTHING BUT a Cutlass ( unless it was a very old one).

The food here though will make me add 20 more lbs to my already overweight body!! I MUST STOP going to the buffet, too many options including TONS of desserts.

My second bag is still MIA but at least I have clothes. Realized though that I left half my bras in Memphis...oops that's not helpful!!!!

Tonight as I sat for dinner with my coworker and a band serenaded us (I must say all the candlelit dinner set ups and love songs is gonna drive me nuts eventually), I looked around at all the couples and was inspired. Young and old, black and white so many different couples. I guess I thought it would be all young couples getting married or recently married but I was wrong. Love is all around. It is one of THE greatest things on earth. We are the only species that can feel and give it. Not just intimate love, love a mother shows her child, the love we have for a stranger.....and what better example we have other than God's love for us. I mean look at all he does and did for us!!!!!!!! Give his son up, created this world for us to play in, all this incredible food to eat, a body that keeps us alive without us having to think about it....MANNNN why do we treat each other like the animals that slide around the mud??!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Houston we have a problem.....there's a mouse in the house! Traps are set but where is the warfarin when you need it!

BTW had a great dinner with great conversation....spent the night talking about the awesomeness of God..... Now Lord you can part seas, can you help with this mouse problem???!!

4/1/11

Getting down here early means nothing as I am able to do nothing. I still have not gotten my bags. The number they provide to call about the status is either busy when you call or just rings out. My roaming phone has no service and the phone provided for us has no money on it.

The website says only ONE of my bags have arrived and its the one withOUT the clothing and toilettries in it.

And I am learning, being a single person in a 'COUPLES' resort gets you a few stares and some questions....Thank GOD my coworker David will spare me tonight at dinner by dining together. Its a good thing its the restaurant where I can wear jeans. :(

Perspective: calling automated numbers and being put on hold with elevator music is SO much better than calling a number that has no call waiting or voicemail and getting a busy signal or ringing forever.

Life.....its all about perspective. My glass is still half full but my patience is starting to fray a little.

Ok so I'm now checking out my surroundings. There are no outlets in my room!!! I mean I have phones to charge, computers....and curling irons!! How is a sister suppose to curl her hair with no outlets in the bathroom OR bedroom to plug in her curling iron??!!!

Took a shower, no shower cap, darn that's in my missing bag.....deodarant? Darn that's in my bag too....I hope I dont stink in the meantime. At least I can brush my teeth and have clean undies...YES!!! Score 1 for Lyn's team lol

The Jamaica experience

So this is the first time ever I've blogged but through my everyday experiences, questions and observations always abound and so what better time to start than to talk about my Jamaica experience.

I was very fortunate to be able to come to Jamaica through a private foundation to work in various pediatric clinics and wards to learn.

My first day getting here was, as most of my friends would say, a TYPICAL Cyrilyn day.

I drove to Atlanta the day before, got up at 5am (central time) on the day of travel to leave the hotel and catch my flight. One of my bags kept singing, as I must have packed one of the toys too close to the periphery and everytime the bag hits against something it triggers a song.

I have not traveled with 4 bags (including a very heavy suitcase) in FOREVER. It turned out to be a work-out. I got to the airport, paid my overweight charge and without incident, proceeded to my gate. As the time neared for my departure I recognize we werent moving. My flight to Miami had been delayed about 35 mins for maintenance of the plane.

I rechecked my connecting flight time from Miami to Montego Bay and realized I may miss that connection. The lady assured me that if that happens she will just place me on another flight (didnt even think to ask at that point how far off the next flight was).

The projected time of departure came and again we werent boarding. Ok now, there is 'weather' in Florida and we are delayed yet another 30-40 mins. Now I know for SURE I'm not making that connection. 45 mins passed and we get on the plane. Thank God, I am soo sleepy, I cant wait to get on and take a nap. We get on the plane without incident. I lay my head on the side of the plane and quickly fell asleep. At some point I woke up because I wanted check to see if we were in the air so I could recline my seat. Needless to say I looked out the windown and concrete was still below me. I then checked my watch and realized we had not moved for the last 20-30mins. Then like a well orchestrated play, the captain comes on overhead and says, guys we are delayed for another 30 mins for 'weather'!!!! Yep, it is turning into a Cyrilyn Day!!!

Oh well, nothing I can do about it so I get my phone and start looking at other flights as one of my coworkers and friends suggested I stay in Miami overnight and leave for Jamaica the next day. Sounds like a plan to me especially since all the remaining lfights I saw required that I fly to NY for a flight to Montego Bay the next day anyway. Ok phone had to turn off because we're off again.

True to their word, there was 'weather' on the way down to Miami. I felt like I was in a washing machine or better yet, in a jeep driving uphill on a dirt road.

Somehow with all the turbulence I managed to sleep and woke up when the plane started sounding like it was gonna fall apart (aka we were landing).

We got to Miami and I got to the gate to find that the 'NEXT' flight to Montego Bay is at 820pm (at this time it is 2pm).

Better yet, the lady says that flight is booked but she can get me on standby. I asked, really? Cant you just confirm me then on a flight tomorrow rather than me sitting on the airport for 6 hrs to find I cant leave and have to stay overnight? She said no, lets try it this way first.

So I go to the said gate I'm suppose to leave from and ask ANOTHER agent who was able to confirm me on the booked flight.

So I sat on the airport for 6 hrs.

FINALLY got on my flight and was soooo glad that soon I can see a bed.

We got to Jamaica, no incidents in Immigration or anything. The walk from Immigration was puncuated with photographs by a local photographer Alan Smith that captured my attention because there was a storyline behind the pics AND they were beautiful. They capture people and areas of Jamaica. I then got to the carousel to pick up my bag and guess what? NO BAGS! In fact about HALF the plane had no bags!!!! (Are all those bags on a tarmack somewhere saying pick me, pick me??)

Of course with there being HALF the plane with lost bags and ONE agent to fill out our claims we were in the line for over an hour before I could get my claim done.

Ok, that's done......I finally leave the bowels of Sangster Airport and go find my transportation.

Ahhhhhh the Couples Resort lounge....cool, relaxing, done in a blue green tranquil color. I sat there and waited on Torian, who is a welcoming and nice guy (not so hard on the eyes either). He got my information and we chatted about nothing really. After he was finished he took me to my bus, where I met my driver Tommy.

Tommy then informed me that it takes 1hr 45 mins to the hotel.....AHHHHHH Sleep I need you but yet again you're so elusive!

Tommy loves his job! He says driving is his hobby, he knew the roads like the back of his hand. I tried as much as possible to stay awake and see what I could, even though it was dark. Tommy pointed out where they mined or made boxite (aluminum) and exported. He showed me the area where Dunn River falls is, when we hit Ocho Rios, and was quite friendly. Of course the Montego Bay area is where the majority of resorts and 'rich' people live in Jamaica.

He asked if I had any Wrigley's (ha ha) aka gum. That reminded me of how we use to call all soda's Coke.

We continued on in silence for a while before I asked him if this was his last drive. He said yes but that he had to get to Montego Bay in the am so he was going to sleep by the resort in Ocho Rios.

So I asked, oh you stay at the hotel? He said no he sleeps in his bus :(. He said it so matter-of-factly like its nothing and there I am with that eruption of guilt bubbling up like bile.

I tend to do that, feel GUILTY ALOT for my blessings because there are so many who are not as fortunate. And while I must admit, all my trials and set backs that day did not affect me or aggravate as much as it would have many years ago it still did.... but at that very moment I was reminded again about what is important.....not plane delays or lost bags but our experience and interaction with others on this earth, the life that God blessed us with. Its all about a purpose to make things better, to enrich people's lives. And while Tommy didnt recognize it, he was the best ending to my day...to see someone so alive and loving life even if he does not have, what we materialistic humans consider, much.

Ok today is a new day and why I have NO idea why I'm awake before 8 when I went to bed after 1 I'm now off to track my bags, maybe eat and tour the compound I'll be calling home for a while.

Ta ta until the next time....hopefully I keep this going and its not SO long everytime.