Hello Everyone,
I hope that this gets sent. I am having difficulty with my email right now. Couldn't get into my other account just now. Life is cooler here; high seventies to low eighties. The celebration of American Samoa getting its own flag is today although there was a similar celebration in April, limited by the death of the governor. I plan to go swimming tomorrow and then there is a party for my friend, the OBGYN, who is leaving to go to North Carolina and join a friend in his practice. Her 13 year old son is already in the states and her adopted 10 month old native Samoan son is going with her. Her ex died recently. She is very nice, very competent and I will miss her. Sunday and Monday nights (actually Monday and Tuesday mornings 12-8) were very different from one another. The first was quiet (it was raining) The second was horrendous. I saw 26 patients on Tuesday, plus had a code (somebody arrested) and one of the 26 had several lacerations on the mouth and cheek that I had to sew up. Most of the patients were in the first 6 hours and I was tired. Many of the patients are very ill and some seem to be lonely or just want a work excuse. I plan to go back to Tisa's on Sunday for dinner. I am off for the whole 4th, work on the 5th in the evening and am off for the whole 6th. Nice to get some relaxation.
I have not told you much about the economy here. The minimum wage(and wage for most of the cannery-Star Kist people) is $2.77 per hour. In Western Samoa, the minimum wage is $.80 per hour. Large numbers of people share the same homes and extended families take care of each other and the kids. One of our physicians share home with an uncle and they also take turns using the SUV. They have a tree in the South Pacific that produces a small fruit about the size of a lime that is very smelly that dialysis patients take with good results (I am told) One of the physicians wants to prepare this remedy which is made from the fruit and the juice is then fermented but does not become alcohol (I am told). It is cal led the Nonu (tree and fruit). The leaves are somewhat like a large redbud leaf, but not pointed. No one seems to know the English name. Regarding names, some are very interesting. One kid is named New Year. Some people have 8 syllable names and other just one or two. They are difficult for me to pronounce; though the language is phonetic, I don't know which is the accented syllable.
The roads here have mostly had the potholes fixed but one road requires a very zigzag course to avoid popping a tire. I do not need that. I still bounce along on the roads even with the Camry. The fellow that I met in the gym invited me to see his favorite swim place on Sunday. His wife is coming back in a week and I will get together with her to dance. She is Croatian and is from Pittsburgh and I am sure we will get along well. Haven't met any eligible single guys who are anywhere close to my age, yet. Tonight is the monthly SCUBA Club meeting. Perhaps someone will show. Saturday, I attended the Rotary Club barbecue before lunch. It was $6 for lunch(three pieces of barbecued chicken, a salad and a wurst and a noodle dish made with corned beef-I could have done without the latter). I met some nice people. My neighbor was there, one of the cooks. I saw some Hashers and my friend, Colleen. It was a sunny breezy day and we ate informally on the deck of the equally informal Yacht Club. Then I went to work. Had off Sunday until midnight. I miss Mensa, dancing and you!
Love, Genie
|
||