Journal of Elective 2004
Monday, July 05, 2004
2 days to go
2 days to go until flying out of Glasgow. It’s a mixture of excitement and cautious “have I got everything”. Time will tell. Only concern is where to go once I arrive at Kathmandu airport... I presume the hospital but it will be early evening. I think a phone call to Nepal tomorrow is in order.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
1 day to go
Today I realised that all the small things that I had stored up to do today, actually have to be done by this evening. Just wee tasks like transferring addresses into my notebook, making up a first aid kit and photocopying my passport... but it all takes time. This morning I tried phoning the hospital, but the line was bad and I couldn’t get through to Bishop.On the plus side I met up with Ali for coffee, a friend who is also heading out to Nepal later this month... it felt very exciting to say to her “see you Kathmandu”! I’m still not used to the fact that in 48 hours I’ll be half-way across the world, in a completely different culture.
Today also brought news of more violence in Kathmandu. The Foreign Office haven’t updated the travel advice yet so hopefully it’s an isolated incident. And I guess that news reports can only show so much... I’ll have a much better idea of the situation once I’m out there.
This afternoon will be a mixture of completing all these tasks as well as reviewing a video of balloon modelling! I really hope they are of use once I’m there!
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Day 1: First Day in Kathmandu - wow
Right. I’m in Kathmandu. Still can’t totally believe that.The last 48 hours have been amazing. The first two flights were delayed due to bad weather in London, but the service has been amazing! I fly quite frequently with EasyJet so I guess the experience of flying “with frills” is going to be special anyway! My first time to Heathrow was also fairly awe-inspiring - with planes taking off every 50 seconds (yup, I did count!). Qatar Airways is simply top class on customer service. Flying into Doha (literally a big desert right in the middle of the Gulf) was a great stopover too. Plus between the two flights, I’ve had two breakfasts, watched lots of Friends & a film, been encouraged to visit Oman and collected an impressive collection of headphones and sick bags. (Incidentally, the sick bags are most useful for coach journeys on PEAK holidays!
But Kathmandu is now the focus, and in the last 5 hours I have been:
- successfully touted by the masses of hotel agents in the airport
- experienced a white-knuckle car ride into Kathmandu, that even Italians would be proud of
- given superb hospitality by a local who took me for dinner at with his family
- been serenaded by a Nepali girl in a Nepali band
- sampled the local beer
- experiencedthe constant rain of the monsoon
- diagnosed non-fever in a 4 month old baby (and I haven’t even been to the hospital yet)
- and in general experienced the amazing welcome, friendliness and warmth of the Nepali people
Tomorrow I head out to the hospital for 8.30am, having been given the great news tonight that accommodation is sorted with Bishop and also Tou Pin, one of the Glasgow students who is also here.
It’s been an unbelievable time, and sorry if I’ve rambled. I can’t wait for tomorrow to arrive.
Friday, July 09, 2004
Day 2: A different medicine
An early start - I paid my hotel ($10) and took a taxi to Kanti Children’s Hospital, where I met Tou Pin and was very glad to see a familiar face. We then taxied (10 mins, 50p) back to Bishop’s, to find yet more hospitality awaiting. Above Bishop’s family accommodation is a penthouse-like block of rooms which he makes available for visiting students. It’s perfect, and much nicer than staying in hotel accomm for sure.We made a quick stop at the British Embassy so I could register, and then headed back to the hospital. I was given a tour and my eyes simply opened wider and wider. Admittedly sometimes a bit more watery than normal. Don’t get me wrong... but seeing children share beds, their parents struggling to afford essential drugs, having to endure painful venflon injections without EMLA or ametope anaesthetic, or cases where treatment is so expensive that terminal care has to be accepted... it can’t fail to hit hard. Funding is needed... I’m afraid that people who know me might be pestered with sponsorship forms next year.
Yet the doctors who I met today were brilliant, and very welcoming to my enthusiasm and opinions. I’m back on Sunday at 11am to start in Cardiology. It sounds like my peak flow meters will be put to good use - already several doctors have enthused about the best way to distribute them around the hospital. The same too for the books, which will probably go into the library for use by all staff and students.
Kathmandu is still fantastic. I’m starting to become more orientated and being able to explore with other students from the UK and elsewhere makes it all the more fun. Tomorrow I hope to follow one of the Lonely Planet guided walks. The weather is constantly about 26degC and very humid - though nearly always raining which is refreshing.
Internet access is easily found very nearby to my accommodation, and costs less than 15p per hour, so the signals are good for keeping this up to date. Do leave a message if you want... it’s great to see who’s watching the diary!
Namaste!