Days 4-7

I got a bit caught up in the business of the ship and didn't get an opportunity to update until now.  There is a lot to include here... :)

Day 4 was a pretty regular day.  I was a first case arrival at about 10am.  We have mealtimes on the ship and lunch is from 1130-1300 only.  It doesn't matter if you are the first one in or the last one, this is when you are able to get your lunch.  I'm learning about our Day Crew workers and how to interact with them.  They are such a joy to be around!  

Day Crew are Senegalese nationals who come on board for the day, they do not reside on the ship.  They help with multiple areas of the ship, the one that I interact with most are our translators.  Every patient going to surgery has a 1:1 translator at all times while awake and when waking.  Our Day Crew are kind, intelligent, and resourceful people. I am loving getting to know them.

I got to leave this ship and go out with some crewmates for ice cream.  This is my first real experience in Dakar.  It is an intense, loud, and crowded place.  People are constantly yelling at one another although rarely does it seem to be in any sort of animosity.  It just seems to be the way they communicate.  The gelato was divine and we headed back to the ship where I sat down for a cup of evening tea with some new friends for conversation.  I'm learning all about healthcare in the countries represented by my crewmates.  New drugs, new processes, it's all so impressive!  

Day 5 - I was a late start today which means I get to finish up the day.  I arrive to work at 1200.  My cabin is an inside cabin so I don't have a window.  This is glorious for a mid-day nap, but horrible for waking up on time.  I have learned that I must set an alarm if I want to get up or not otherwise I will sleep the day away.  With only one roommate, no light, no dogs, and no noises, my body will apparently sleep for quite a long time.  LOL

We ended up staying until past 8pm as the patient in our last case needed a little extra time and attention.  Anesthesia can  be a funny and tricky thing.  Our patients here have generally never taken medication before.  It's an odd concept as western cultures have utilized medications from birth onward where most here have never taken a tylenol.  We have to be very cautious in the doses that we give as they are very sensitive.

After work and a quick shower, my colleague and I walked to a nearby restaurant to meet the rest of the OR crew for dinner.  A glass of red wine and a gigantic plate of hummus were just what the week needed!  We had covered outdoor seating where we could see the lights of the ship. It was wonderful!  We were saying farewell to three of our PACU team.  It was starting to me just how quickly those bonds formed.  

Alice, Leslie, Emily, me

Day 6 - Dr. Peter is one of our anesthesiologists (or "aneethetist" as they say it in Australia) who helped organize a day trip to the Bandia Nature Preserve.  

13 of us (including my fellow PACU nurses pictured) climbed in a  van and drove about an our out of town where we were greeted with causually wandering monkeys and monitor lizards.  The monkeys are hysterical to watch and very opportunistic.  The preserve is large and we were taken on a 2 hour tour and then had lunch in their lovely restaurant. Giraffe, white rhino, multiple species of gazelle-type animals (I don't remember their names), buffalo, warthogs, hornbill birds, zebra, and many others were on full display for us to marvel at.  Our guide was fabulous and told us all about them and how they live naturally.  

Lunch was delicious!  The herd of wart hogs that trampled through the center of it was quite and experience and the sleepy warthog who was waiting just under the table (much like our doggos do a home) for a possible snack was hysterical! 

What an amazing week!