Brac intermezzo

My first week on call just started. 7 long days, when I can expect emergency calls all weekend long and in the evenings. I also get to work and medicate the animals in the hospital. But, all fair and square, I am getting a big chunk of the emergency fee, and I also had Wed and Thu off to prepare myself for this first week of trial.

Did I stay at home? Did I shop for food, did housework, any regular activities? Nooo, how could I?

I went to climb ... this <-------:

There are 2 smaller islands besides the mother Grand Cayman... Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The latter is the only one that contains some sort of height above water, more specific this "bluff" area, a long rocky cliff at the eastern end of the island. I heard there are routes set up there, so off I went. And boy, what a surprise was I to get! Truly spectacular climbing. There are several climbing places, and this one in the picture above is one of them. To begin with, one approaches the shore, sets an upsails and lowers itself at the bottom of the cliff, above the water at a reasonable distances, sets up the belay point (hardly even a ledge to sit on) and then, up we go again. It does take a bit of a commitment to get down 35 m above the sometimes raging see, but here's the thrill for you.

In exchange you get to climb while huge turtles swim underneath you and all sorts of birds come to check you out. It is very special. The rock is not as sharp as I would have said, but there are bits that are a bit wet and salty at times. And most of them, negative routes, pretty difficult.

All in all, an experience in itself:)

The flight over was another experience. Wish O. and I. were here, really! The feeling of a small bus station in rural Romania. All knew each other. Baneasa is a busy airport in comparison. One leaves with a small plain, a twin Otter for the connaiseurs, and the pilot didn't even bother to shut the door. We could see their every move:) And the main pilote had a cool fan planted right in top of his face. They said simply "Good evening folks" and off we went. Incredible. They made one stop in Little Cayman, and the passangers saluted the pilote by his first name as they went off. I love small plains like that.

Cayman Brac has some snorkeling to it, the reef is shortly off shore.

But that is a whole different story. I am off to bed, my week on call has began. Oh, boy...

Working class hero...and happy

It is the best clinic I have ever worked in, from many many points of view. Far from the glamour and attention to the perfection of aestethics of other places.Maybe even cluttered at times. But functional, well oiled machine, getting the work done, getting the cash flow.
The feeling of being part of a team, of being asked for an opinion. The feeling that when it's work to be done, everybody really works and pulls, from the boss downwards. The lack of paranoia regarding stealing. Machines that work. Getting half of the emergency fee. Having many toys available, and almost all the drugs I can possibly think of (all but one...apomorphine, funilly enaugh). Being able to ask for advice. And, in turns, having time to enjoy life after work.

So yes, I think I finally got it right:) With more details..iso machine, Xray with automatic processor, CBC and chemistry in house, reliable all-you-can-think-off labs at hand (in Florida), IV pumps, great cages, dental machine, snap tests for all. New procedures to learn from fellow americans with great experience. Various week rota, with 1 week on surgeries, 1 week on shelter and on-call, 1 week with appointments. Good suportive staff of nurses and receptionists. Not shiny, not crystal clean. Practical.

Sound like a fairy tale? Well, after some experiences with the past...remember the one that went bankrupt in the eve of Christmas?

Anyway, yes, generally very pleased with my new clinic, boss and fellow workers.

Terra Nova

It took a crazy idea, 4 months of waiting, many documents processed, unexpected bumps on the road, 24 hours of travel time (thou only 18 effective flight time), and I finally set foot on the Grand Cayman Island.
Spectacular flight over Bahamas, missed all else due to...night time fly.

The weather stroke me as a normal romanian summer evening, with more humidity added. It was windy, and as I finally reached my bed that night, I felt more alone then ever...somewhere far far away. I promised to myself it would be the last time I would leap like that into the unknown...and finally fall asleep, listening to palm tries maddened by wind.

As I woke up the next day, I felt to be taking part of a Garcia Marques novel. It's lush green, colourfull. All sorts of races mixted together. Warm. Somewhat humid. Noisy. Coconut trees. Little colonial type of houses everywhere, with wild chickens running around. A heavy rain fall every now and then.

They all said nothing happends fast in the Carraibean...and yet within 3 hours I had a valid caymanian drivers licence, a bank account, a phone number, and groceries made. And having met my new work place. ...

But that's a whole new story. Tune in tomorrow.
yours, very tired