Living like a local! =)

So as I arrived to Labasa, I realized there was still a whole different part of Fiji left for me to experience.

I was provided with a cute little apartment in a gated area with two other apartments. Right when we arrived, one of the neighbors came to greet us and help us out with any questions/issues that came up along the way. I asked what my address is so I know how to tell the taxi driver how to get home… my Address: House with the white gate next to NTL garage.

My Front Porch

My living room/kitchen

My Bedroom

My bathroom

As we explored town, I started noticing a lot about the shops and products found here. One thing that I found completely surprising is that milk is sold in boxes on the shelf, not in the refrigerator. Also, I think America can benefit from cigarette box labels like the ones here. Above all, I’m famous here (kind of), Patel shops everywhere! =)

It was now time to start living like a local. The day I arrived, I did a load of laundry at my neighbor’s place; as my clothes were in the washing machine, I looked around and wondered, where’s the second machine? Line drying it is! A couple days later, I asked my neighbor where we put our garbage and he says, “ in the pit.” Me, “what do you mean?” Him, “ there’s a huge whole in the back, and we keep throwing our garbage there, and when it fills up, we burn it.”

OMG... are those my clothes!

Fire pit in the back yard

Soon enough we were living like locals, shopping like a local, living like a local, and getting around the city like a local.

No we did not climb through the windows like them ... not that local!

And some food for thought and other interesting pictures, Enjoy!

Off it!

The wheelchair

Better watch out, you're in Labasa!
(photo compliments of Dr. Noland)

Welcome to Labasa Hospital: Orientation/Day 1

          As mentioned in my previous post, I had quite the travelling experience in the life of a Fijian. Dr. Lavinesh and Dr. Vishal were at the airport to welcome us to Labasa. Finally it was time to see the hospital! =)

Resuscitation Area

Some of the crash cart meds

Crash cart

           I quickly started noticing some differences during my orientation of the hospital. EKG machines were interesting; they used little suction cups held on with ultrasound gel. Medications choice here is a bit different.  There’s no Zofran, no Tylenol, and no need for extensive antibiotic coverage (minimal resistant strains here). Additionally, there are rarely patients that come in asking for “that one drug that starts with D” and they don’t see GSWs here.

EKG

Some of the common medications

     

          I continued to learn more about the system on Day 1.

• Chest Pain:  cardiac enzymes here are: LDH, AST, and CK total (no troponins, no CK-MB) and the consultant makes the decision to push lytics or not
• Suprapubic pain/vaginal bleeding:  there is no UPT in the hospital, no B-Hcg; patients are sent for ultrasound for dx of pregnancy vs ectopic

I have to say, regardless of the difference in resources here, these are definitely some of the hardest working doctors that I have ever met; there is often just one resident running the entire emergency department and outpatient area with no supervising attending physician… IMPRESSIVE! =)

View from the hospital

Labasa Hospital

Air Travel outside America

Fiji from up above

        May 9^th we were all packed and ready to go to the town where I’d be working, Labasa. The taxi driver got to the resort 1 ½ hr before our flight and we’re freaking out because the airport is an hour away; he was totally relaxed and was like what are you worried about,… you’re in Fiji,… FIJI time!!! (haha kinda sounds like IST [Indian Standard Timing], but it’s a bit worse)

          So we get to the airport 30 minutes prior to departure, still freaking out. As we’re going through security, I take my shoes off and put them in the bin and the worker flips out and yells, “madam you must put your shoes back on, you cannot come in the airport without shoes!”  (TSA… take notes please). Then, as my mom is walking through the security sensor, she just stops and puts her hands up in the air and waits (as we often have to in the US). Everyone got silent and stared at us wondering what she was doing just standing there with her arms up in the air?!?! Call us crazy,… but apparently airport security isn’t as rigorous here as it is in the US.

          So my mom made some friends while we were waiting at the airport. In the midst of chatting away with my mom, one of the ladies comes up to me and kisses my hand and gave me a hug because she found out I was going to be a physician in the hospital in Labasa. They later wanted to take pictures with me. How fun, it’s like I’m a celebrity here! =)

          We finally arrive in Labasa, I was amazed. The airport was smaller than the local grocery store… and baggage claim comes to you!

Labasa Airport

    

    

Baggage claim has arrived

             Fast forwarding to May 14, the day mom leaves =(

One last pic at home

          We make our way to check in my mom’s baggage;  small rolling suitcase, large rolling suitcase, purse, carryon hand bag, and shopping bag… 15 kg limit… “ ma’am, you are 23 Kg over,  that will be…” ( them thinking for a second,… hmmm she’s an American) “ that will be $ 4,692” … my Fijian/Indian neighbor steps in and says something that I definitely did not understand. The worker looks up, smiles, and says ok, thank you, you’re all set… can I learn that language!

With our neighbors Ravneel and Vinod

           So we make our way to THE “gate”, which is across the room from check-in, right beside arrival, and next to baggage claim. My mom makes her way to the plane and away she goes. I have never stood so closed to a runway, I’m pretty sure if I somehow made it this close to the runway at OHare, I would have gotten arrested! 

THE Departure

Bye Bye momsy!

Saying by from just beside the runway

          " Now you can't even carry a nail clipper on a plane. Are they afraid you're going to go ... " All right! Give me the plane or the b*tch loses her cuticle?"   ~ Robin Williams

So this is Fiji!!!

              

           We (my mom and I) finally arrived to FIJI!!! =) We decided to travel around for the 1^st week of our trip here.       

Fiji Beach Resort and Spa

            First stop Nadi! We arrived at the Fiji Beach Resort and Spa-Hilton resort which just swept me off my feet:  flowers everywhere, beautiful beach front room, and amazing breakfast right on the beach with fresh guava and pineapple juice.

Breakfast on the Beach

          We spent the first two days in Nadi, explored the market, went to the Sabeto Mineral Mud Bath/Hot Springs, explored a tropical garden at the top of a mountain, and visited the famous Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple.

Garden of the Sleeping Giant

Sabeto Mud Pool

                    

           After two wonderful days in Nadi, we took a ferry out to the Yasawa Islands and spent 3 days at the Blue Lagoon Resort.

      This was the relaxing part of our vacation although I did manage to fit some adventure in there.  I went snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding at the reef that is right off the coast of the resort. I saw some amazing marine life including a barracuda! We also did an underwater cave trip and a visit to the village.

        

          We had a ton of time to relax on a beautiful beach while enjoying the most amazing sunsets ever. I now know the meaning of true aquamarine water; turquoise, blue, and sea green are understatements.  The night sky was just as beautiful as daytime; I have never seen so many stars in one night.

          After three amazing days in the Yasawas, we packed up to head back to the main land. This day was quite eventful; we got stranded on an island without food/water for 3 hours, had to transfer 3 boats due to engine and steering failure, and when we finally arrived to the port 6 hours later, they were missing one of my bags… AWESOME!

The island we were stranded on... not too shabby for Sonali Patel

          Two islands, three boats, six hours and one missing bag later, we finally arrived to Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa at Natadola Beach; this by far is one of the best resorts that I have ever been to and was definitely worth the wait. 

View from the hotel lobby

Enjoying the sunset from the Navo Lounge

          We spent a lot of time relaxing at the resort over the next three days. They had a great pool, an awesome lounge with great music, and amazing shows each night.

Best fire dancing show ever!

My dream wedding!

          We took a couple of day trips to the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, a wild animal park, and a tropical rain forest.

               One of the days, we took a glass bottom boat to a few different reefs where I got to jump out and go snorkeling. Other than that, we got to spend a lot of time on their endless white sand beach where we went jogging and did yoga every morning. 

         

          Overall, an amazing beginning to my trip to Fiji; It was everything you see in postcards and more: fresh fruit, tons of flowers, grass huts, beautiful beaches and unbelievable sunsets.

~*~ BULA!!! ~*~