Hutchison Blog

We're Back!

2008-09-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

We made our re-entry to the mainland on July 19th. We flew from Tokyo to Seattle before landing in San Diego to stay with Kelly (Kim's sister) and family. When looking out of the airplane window on our descent, Nicholas shouted, "wow, this is a really big island!" He continues to think we are traveling from the "island of Kansas City" to the "island of Nashville".
Our return has been pretty uneventful. Our house was in great shape, thankfully. We spent the month of August settling back in and getting Nicholas started in kindergarten. The kids have adapted really well. I think Nicholas was excited to be back. We have enjoyed seeing all of our friends and being back at church. Of course, we miss Saipan. The pace...our jobs...the people...the beaches...the VIEW! But, we are moving forward and we started back to work this week. We had a great weekend in St. Louis at Ryan's family reunion over Labor Day.

Pics: Driving my mom's RV from K.C. to Nashville, my birthday, Nicholas starts kindergarten, Morgan returns to preschool.

more from Chiang Mai

2008-07-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

Chiang Mai

2008-07-06T18:09:00.001-07:00

Bangkok

2008-07-06T17:57:00.001-07:00

Last Hurrah

2008-06-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

We are leaving today for a three week to Thailand and Japan. Two backpacks and two children will be our only accompaniments. We decided we better take advantage of being in this part of the world, even if it does mean travelling with two toddlers! Nicholas decided to pack scotch tape and shims, Morgan packed her silky blanket, Ryan his camera, and me...my sleeping mask and earplugs. We will spend 10 days in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Northern Thai mountains (we are skipping the beaches since we live in Saipan) then to Japan for 10 days. We will be in Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Nagoya and Kyoto.
We are planning to return to the States later this summer, making it to Nashville by the beginning of August after stopping in San Diego and Kansas City.
It will be difficult to leave the Saipan lifestyle, but We are looking forward to seeing all of our loved ones. Hopefully we can put some updates along the way.
love, Kim

Happy Mothers' Day

2008-05-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

We decided a few weeks ago that we would take a year off of our annual Mothers' Day party. That gave me the opportunity (maybe the last chance) to surprise Kim with a Mothers' Day party. Nicholas almost kept the secret.
We had a lot of fun with several of our friends. The food was from Herman's Modern Bakery (established on Saipan in 1945 during WWII), and the music was provided by an Hawaiian trio of two electric ukuleles and a bass. They joined us for a swim and entertained us with songs like "Coconut girl in a high-fashion world" and "Long before there was Clark Kent, there was a Hawaiian superman", as well as versions of "Black Magic Woman" and "Big Yellow Taxi".
Happy Mothers' Day, and see you at the 5th annual party in Nashville!

Hike to Forbidden Island

2008-05-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

Ryan had the day off, so while the kids were at school, we hiked to Forbidden Island (so named because of the unexpected high currents and poor accessibility). The hike down was about 45 minutes and included some rappelling on the steep parts. When we got to the bottom, there was a gorgeous beach surrounded by cliffs and rock pools. After a swim, we headed back up, which wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.

Trip to Kansas City

2008-05-09T05:26:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, my step-father of 20 years, Paul, passed away in late February. I went home to K.C. in March for nearly two weeks to spend time with family and participate in a lovely memorial service. Although he never tried to take the place of my real dad (who died of cancer when I was 11 years old), Paul actively participated in my life. His enthusiasm for travel helped plant a seed in me that lives on to this day! Ryan and the kids survived well in my absence.
Pics at the memorial service: my girlfriends and I (we sang a song together for Paul at the service); Mom, sister Kelly, and me; niece Chloe and my dog Nisa.

Nicholas turns 5 and Easter pics

2008-05-09T05:06:00.001-07:00

Flame Tree

2008-04-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was an all-star time as we participated in the 27th annual Flame Tree Arts Festival. There were artists' booths, local food vendors, contests (e.g. coconut husking, watermelon eating), and a stage for bands and cultural dancers.
My booth was 10 feet wide x 20 feet deep. I divided it into a front section for display and a rear section for VIPs. I showed 12 originals and had 20 prints made from 5 of those. My friend and fellow artist Greg Elliott (www.elliottartwork.com) printed and packaged them in his apartment (and did an awesome job). I also had airplanes/windtoys made of plastic bottles and aluminum cans for sale. The VIPs got cool water mist, ice and water refills, beer, and a chance to sit in the shade.
The weekend was such a blast, just sitting there mingling with new and old friends. The festival went from morning until late night and was a great party. I sold two originals and several prints and airplanes, and made a bunch of money (I broke even, that is).
My booth neighbors were a Carolinian group from the nearby island of Yap. They made me a palm hat that we passed around (see photos, including my friend Frank from the lab at the hospital, who initially encouraged me to participate).
I didn't take as many pictures of the festival as I would have liked. If you're interested, my friend Jack Hardy has lots on his website www.photographypeople.com

April

2008-04-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

March

2008-04-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

In March, we celebrated Easter and Nicholas's 5th birthday. For his party, Nicholas chose to invite a few of his guys to ride go-carts around the course at the Marianas Resort. We then moved to the beach for pizza and cake.
Nicholas stumbled into a light post one Thursday at the street market and split his head open. We took him to the ER where I put three stitches in. (I'll spare you the gory and unflattering--for me--details of that experience). It was the fourth episode for Nicholas to require stitches or staples in his head/face...a real boy.

2008-04-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

A common routine of ours that we hope to never take for granted is an afternoon at Micro Beach. I meet Kim and the kids after work, and we have happy hour, play in the ocean, and watch the sunset together.

February

2008-04-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

Kim and her friend Bev played in a weekend-long 2-on-2 beach volleyball tournament. They did great against formidable opponents that included professional teams from Japan and Guam. This sunset game was a nail-biter that Kim and Bev won in dramatic fashion.
In March, Kim's indoor team, the "Yo-Yo's", won the indoor women's tournament. The championship match was postponed when the power went out in the gym during the second game. They claimed victory the next week.

Fun In The Sun

2008-02-28T03:33:00.000-08:00

Nicholas has been having a great time this season with soccer. It is fun to watch the kids swarm the ball (if I'm not chasing Morgan off the field). Nicholas has relatively good control and scores lots of goals. Of course, there is no goalie.
Morgan was delighted when we ran into her schoolmate, Anna, at the park. They went down the slide together about 100 times! She also likes the scooter. This pic is the day we returned from Australia (she's obviously still "feelin' it").

More Australia photos

2008-02-26T03:33:00.000-08:00

We loved seeing the Australian animals...kangaroo, emus, echidnas, koalas, wallabees, and my favorite, the wombat.

Christmas in Australia

2008-02-24T03:27:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas at Debbie and Tim's. They were such gracious hosts! The kids had so much fun...so did the adults. We enjoyed a lovely meal with Tim's family. Everyone was so welcoming and made sure we had a true Australian experience.

Sorrento

2008-02-11T01:39:00.000-08:00

Tazmania

2008-02-03T04:41:00.000-08:00

BALI

2008-01-13T20:58:00.000-08:00

We had a great trip to Bali (Indonesia) when my parents visited. It is both beautiful and an interesting place. We spent time on the beach, went to a traditional dance depicting the struggle between good and evil, walked the streets buzzing with mopeds--many of which are like small supermarkets and others that carry whole families, went to a park called the sacred monkey forest, and bargained at the street market for clothes and wood carvings.

long way from Shawnee

2007-12-18T23:04:00.000-08:00

We were honored that Ryan's parents were willing to come all the way to Saipan to visit. They had been planning to travel in celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary, but the Pacific was not on their short list for destinations. So it was a sacrifice for them.
It was so nice to see them, and it of course was great for the kids to spend time with Nana and Papa. They adapted to the time change with ease, and didn't seem to mind the cramped quarters of our condo. They enjoyed island living and learning more about Saipan's history.

a swing with a view

2007-12-18T22:48:00.000-08:00

I had plenty of qualified help in building the swingset. Nicholas and I pretended we were on the chain gang as we swung the pickaxes that we borrowed from Bert and Mario.
Bert fabricated (by welding) brackets to fix the horizontal beam to the wall of our condo, and he used a hammer drill to sink the anchors.
Not pictured is the adult-only swing, a one-person hammock that Kim's mom sent us, which hangs from the other side of the "A" frame. Every time I try to sit in it, one of the kids is already there.

Halloween in Saipan

2007-12-18T00:10:00.000-08:00

2007-10-31T21:16:00.000-07:00

The kids need a swingset, Kim suggested. Sounds like a project, I thought.
We have a small section (15 x 25) of grass between condos on our level. Our immediate neighbors are a Japanese family with two boys (5 and 10ish), friends of Nicholas. The design is to build a wooden frame that can be fixed to one of the (concrete) condo walls. The area under the stairwell serves as my workshop.
The kids accompanied me on the adventure to purchase the materials. A group effort at the lumber yard helped to tie it to the top of Rocky.
I asked them, "You think it'll make it?"
They said, "Shouldn't be a problem...as long as you don't have to go all the way up to Mt. Tapochau."
I replied, "I'll tell you how it goes." It poured rain the whole way up, but we made it.
I got a tire from the recycling place, and I hope to make swings out of it. Does anyone have suggestions as to how one can cut a tire? Tin snips maybe?

Birthday Fiesta

2007-10-31T16:39:00.000-07:00

Pics from my birthday dinner (seafood buffet) at the Fiesta Resort.

Boonie Stomping

2007-10-31T15:36:00.000-07:00

Much of Saipan is unmolested jungle, aka "boonie". Kim and I explore it occasionally as part of the Saipan Hash Hound Harriers, a group that hikes through the jungle following a trail set by the "hares" (the group is a derivative of English games in which "hounds" chase "hares" who have a head start through uncharted territory--practically speaking, it is a way to see parts of the island we would otherwise never see, be with friends, get some exercise, drink beer, and excuse all kinds of vulgarity).

Each time we run the Hash, Nicholas wants a full account. Did we see any tigers? Any monkeys? How did you get so muddy?

So last Saturday while Morgan caught up on her beauty rest, Nicholas and I stomped through a boonie by our house. He was very courageous as we followed a creek bed down to a beautiful bamboo forest (can you see Nicholas in the picture of the bamboo?). Along the way, we encountered frogs, lizards, and even a dead goat that had been washed down the valley. We crossed bamboo bridges, climbed small cliffs, fell into muddy water, braced ourselves with banana trees, and were feasted upon by mosquitoes. No tigers or monkeys, but lots of fun.

2007-10-12T22:47:00.001-07:00

Hi there to all of our loved ones!
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the fall. It is strange to have no cool weather here, although it is not quite as hot with the onset of the rainy season. We certainly miss the NFL!
I have started working a combined sleep and neurology clinic one day per week. It is just getting started and not too busy yet. I am working with a private company from Guam that opened a one-bed sleep lab here. I will see patients and read sleep studies as needed. The best part is I negotiated a company car. I am now driving a 2003 Toyota Rav4. I love having a reliable car!
We moved to a new condo within our complex to be on the ground level. This will allow the kids to have some outdoor space (albeit small). we have high hopes of making some swings.
Nicholas is getting excited for Halloween. He loves the cape sent from Nana and has decided he wants a "very scary mask" to surprise people on Halloween. On Halloween night there is "trunk or treat" instead of "trick or treat". This is where a bunch of cars gather in a field and the kids walk from trunk to trunk to get candy. We hear people go pretty wild decorating their cars.
Morgan is talking (and screaming) more and continues to reinforce my assessment that she is a sweet, yet independent and strong-willed child. I fear the teenage years already!

Pics: view from our new location (Managaha can be seen in the distance), kids feeding the bunnies at the zoo, sunsets from our porch, beach on the east side of the island.

Kids

2007-10-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks Coach Bove!

2007-10-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

Shortly after we arrived to Saipan I heard of a "swim" from Managaha island to Saipan. My interest peaked. I started swimming 1-2 times weekly with a friend, Pascale, who is very athletic and a hard worker. The "Escape from Managaha" island swim was a few weeks ago and I am happy to say that we made it! There were about 30 people who arrived at 6:30am for the boat ride over. We were a little nervous (the current was a bit stronger than usual) and someone tried to scare us by mentioning the "s" word (..sharks). We even saw a reef shark from the pier (there really aren't any big sharks in these waters). We strapped on our swim caps and headed off. Pascale and I stayed together most of the way and Kayaks were around if we had any problems. It took us 1 hour and 5 minutes to cross the 3000 meters (120 laps of the pool). My lovely family was waiting for me at the finish line!
Thanks Coach Bove for the many years of swim coaching!!!!!

P.S.
The "cow" picture was made by Ryan from the many cartons of boxed milk we use (there isn't much fresh milk here)

My Hospital Discharge

2007-09-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

When the Internal Medicine department was short a doctor last month, they asked me/roped me into joining the rotation of inpatient care. I have gained a reputation as a utility player, working as needed in several departments and settings. Now that the new Internist has arrived on island, my stint is over. As inpatient medicine is not exactly where my talents or interests lie, I am relieved to return to more familiar territory. But there were a few moments in the hospital I found worth sharing.
Families show in huge numbers to support patients that are admitted. Often they have a few relatives already in the hospital, and many work in the hospital. It is common to admit someone that I first met as a supporter of a former patient, or to see the housekeeper sitting in the corner visiting with a familiar patient.
The hospital food, as is traditional, is pretty bad. It is rare that patients eat it. They usually have impromptu buffets and potluck dinners brought in by family and friends. These spill out into the hallway and sometimes blend in with the family next to or across from them.
I asked a patient who had had a heart attack if she was feeling better, and she smiled and mumbled yes through a mouth full of fried chicken. Patients always offered me some food, nodding toward it and saying, "Eat, Doc!"
There are no beds for visitors, so one finds bodies strewn all over, sleeping on blankets on the tile floor. They pile into the chairs and slump in the window sills. Several times, I would find the patient in a chair and several sleeping kids in the patient's bed.
One of my patients, who had been there 3 weeks for a very serious infection and liver failure, started to get stir-crazy from staying in his bed the whole time (not an easy thing for someone used to drinking all day). He couldn't move around, because the hospital didn't have any wheelchairs fitted with leg braces that could support his bandaged leg. The more restless he got, the harder he was to deal with, so the nurses and physical therapist came up with a plan. They asked the patient's son to bring in some plywood (which they did, and his wife wrapped it in bright fabric). The physical therapist made measurements and drew out a plan for the hospital maintenance (department of one) to cut the plywood into an L-shape that he could sit on and extend his leg. The frustrated patient almost cried when it was presented to him. The nurses got aggravated, though, because from that point on he could never be found.
There were some beautiful moments with families spending time during the end of patients' lives. I watched two daughters touch and hold a dying patient's feet while other relatives straightened the bed sheets. I heard a family singing (daily) around an ICU patient's bed. I saw the reunion of a man with his son, who returned from active duty in Afghanistan to be with his dad after a devastating stroke.

2007-09-16T04:15:00.000-07:00

Pictures of Mario, our loyal maintenance man, my friend Laura (from England) and her daughter Mia, my Jeep (that I am thankfully selling), the port of Saipan as a storm approaches, and a worker on the boat to Managaha.

Life is moving along...every Sunday we are exploring new beaches and Ryan and I were able to go scuba diving last week. Life is much simpler these days, something we were seeking. We are sending lots of love across the Pacific!

Saipan Sunsets

2007-08-29T03:45:00.000-07:00

Sunsets from our condo balcony and the World Resort.

Birthday celebrations

2007-08-29T03:13:00.001-07:00

Pics from my b-day: at home, date night, after church, at the World Resort water park.

2007-08-26T00:12:00.000-07:00

One of my greatest moments

2007-08-20T03:58:00.000-07:00

There is a small island off the west shore of Saipan, named Managaha. Ferry boats cart locals and tourists alike across the 15 minute divide. The island is set up for daytrippers with food service, changing rooms, and beach rentals (there is camping overnight but no hotels). The first trip we took to Managaha was on a Saturday afternoon. After discovering I forgot to pack the sandwiches I made, we bargained with Nicholas to eat at the snack bar before heading to the beach. Just as we finished eating, the skies closed into a tropical downpour. Everyone on the island packed under the single tin-roofed shelter. The rain persisted for over an hour...it began to get cold. With few options remaining, Ryan took the kids swimming in the rain. We were all glad to see the boat arrive to take us home (TGIO!).
I was determined, and we took off the next Saturday again for Managaha. This time we left in the morning and the skies were clear and sunny. I had found a kid-size mask and snorkel set that Nicholas had been practicing with (first in the bath tub, then in the swimming pool). We pumped him up for seeing "real fish" in the ocean. The color of the water was incredible. The brightest turquois blue you can imagine! Once we arrived, Ryan pushed a sleeping Morgan around in the stroller while Nicholas and I headed straight to the beach (snorkel sets in hand). Bits and pieces of the coral reef lie 10 yards off the shore. Nicholas grabbed my hand and braved the open waters. The next moment is one I hope to never forget. Swarms of fish, all colors and sizes surrounded us. Nicholas was screaming with excitement, pointing in every direction and shouting at me through his snorkel (no idea that I couldn't actually understand him). We coasted around the reef, hand in hand, pointing out interesting tropical fish and coral formations. He wouldn't get out for over an hour.
Ryan and I learned to scuba dive together when we were dating and have since spent many vacations diving. To introduce and experience the underwater world with our child warms my heart like few other experiences.

Island photos

2007-08-20T03:24:00.000-07:00

Celebration time

2007-08-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today is actually Sat. Aug. 18th in Saipan.

The past few weeks have flown by, although nothing moves too fast 'on island'. Nicholas started a pre-K program and he is now going 4 mornings weekly. Morgan goes to the nursery class and claps and sings along to the Bible songs (SDA influenced). Ryan continues to enjoy his job. He has no call and no weekends (only sees outpatients), so the schedule leaves him time to enjoy the island and family.

Tomorrow is my birthday. Ryan is always sweet about making a fuss over the 'day of my birth'. This morning I slept in, am heading to a spa for a massage, then a babysitter is coming tonight (is 4:30pm considered night??). Next weekend we are taking advantage of a 'local promotion' at the World Resort Hotel and will spend a family day at their waterpark followed by an overnight stay for Mom and Dad. We have found a sweet babysitter (Zennie). She spoiles the kids and cleans the house as a bonus. Nicholas is still getting used to the babysitters (to put it nicely). The best part of the week was receiving a huge birthday package from my sister. It was filled with all kinds of love from home, including lots of activities to keep the kids busy. She sent us the BBC DVD set 'Planet Earth', which is absolutely amazing. Thank you, Kelly!!

After 6 weeks on a Pacific island, I am starting to feel at home. I know this will be a good change for us. The sense of community is strong, the no-frills lifestyle is omnipresent, and the physical environment is no short of breath-taking. I miss people the most. As I write this, my best friends from home (KC)are gathering for our annual reunion. I feel a world away. The love that we have for our church, our friends, our parents, etc. is more clear now than ever.
loving and missing you all,
Kim

Like Good Neighbors

2007-08-07T02:56:00.000-07:00

We are lucky to have a great group of neighbors. You know, like the ones you could drop in on and ask for milk or an egg if you were in need.
The field behind our condominium is home to a group of cows. And most are bulls, so the corny milk joke doesn't necessarily apply. They are separated from us by a porous fence, so they spend time on both sides. It is fun to hear the mooing and to hear the kids' best impression of them.
My commute to work consists of travelling down a washed-out gravel/coral road that is riddled with deep ruts, holes, and exposed culverts. The travel time to work is between five and ten minutes, depending on how many cows I have to excuse. The grade is steep, and my ears pop each time.
I also have to stop for hens, who walk around and eat meat from the coconuts that their owner has split. The roosters can be heard calling from our condo balcony.
The chickens are on the same land as the bee farm. Hives are stacked around the yard, and swarms shade the surroundings.
Finally, I pass a pig sty. Just like in the movies, they wallow in the mud.
Our other non-human neighbors are the abundant "boonie" dogs. These are strays, whose looks and constitutions have suffered from the obligatory inbreeding and tropical climate. They are loosely adopted by our human neighbors, who give them scraps of food.

2007-08-07T02:43:00.000-07:00

The Morning After

2007-08-06T03:52:00.000-07:00

It was great to get our stuff. Nicholas and I had a ball opening each box. He would exclame, "Holy Cow!", regardless of what was found (although the toy boxes received a few extra "Holy Molys!" and high-frequency jumps up and down). I never thought I would be so excited to see a glass baking dish, sharp knives, and towels. There were about 15 boxes in all and it took all day to go through them. Ryan was most excited to see his art supplies and he is already well on his way to his first Saipan masterpiece. A taste of home is just what the doctor ordered.
Pics of our new (used) porch swing, dinner at the beach, climbing trees in the park (Nicholas is at the bottom right of the big tree), Saipan landscape, and dinner at the market.

Life in Saipan

2007-07-31T04:35:00.000-07:00

Christmas in July

2007-07-31T04:08:00.000-07:00

Our stuff is suppose to arrive tomorrow! After 9+ weeks of crossing the swells of the Pacific, the container has deposited our belongings on Saipan. We saw the barge coming in last Friday with positive feelings of "maybe this is our stuff". Nicholas thought he could see his bike hiding. Since that time, Customs has been authorizing the shipment and Ryan got the call today to expect delivery tomorrow morning. I am not sure if I am more excited that our stuff has arrived or that the kids and I have something to do tomorrow! Nonetheless...Christmas in July! Love to all, Kim

2007-07-24T04:41:00.000-07:00

The Thursday night market in Garapan features local produce, prepared foods, and entertainment. Our kids' dancing during intermission was a supplement to this week's "Hafa Adai" dancers.

Puffer

2007-07-24T02:07:00.000-07:00

I treated a 20-year-old guy in clinic for finger pain. His index fingernail was split, and there was a lot of swelling and tenderness at the tip and at the nail cuticle.
The previous night he was lobster hunting from Lau Lau Beach by his family's house. The keys to lobster hunting, he replied to my insistence, are to go out after a light rain and to act quickly. He dives in at the reef and hopes to snatch the animals as they peer out from the rocks. If he can surprise them, the lobsters don't have time to grab onto the rocks. On the right night, he and his cousins can bring back 5-10 big lobsters. His uncle throws them into the pot and the family has a handsome boil.
That night, my patient was diving when he saw from his periphery a puffer fish angling for him. It bit his index finger.
Blood and pus can accumulate under a nail and cause problems. The nail needs to be removed to create a vent. One could argue that the split in this guy's nail acted like a vent, but I wanted to give him the VIP treatment. So I numbed the finger and pulled the nail off. With the nail removed, I saw that the split in the nail actually extended through the fleshy "nail bed" down to the bone. Three stitches approximated the edges.
Teeth--and thus bites--of different animals carry different bacteria. I have a guide that lists these and suggests appropriate antibiotics. I've used this guide before for dog, cat, human, and even horse bites. It was no help, though, for puffer fish.

2007-07-22T20:25:00.000-07:00

July 21

2007-07-22T03:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend started with us getting the Internet set up in our condo. Yea! I love it and feel more in touch with the world (we don't have TV). Ryan has enjoyed this time away from email, ads, and information overload.
Ryan took the kids to an island baseball tournament on Sat. morning. Nicholas enjoyed retrieving the 'home run' balls over the fence. I was busy having my car looked over. After two weeks of running fairly well, it wouldn't start. Fortunately my friend, Lito, who sold me the car, is also a mechanic. He and his friend brought their tools over to work on the car. Mark, Lito's 4 year-old son, also came and had fun playing with Nicholas.
Church today celebrated the final Sunday of Pastor Bud. It was very emotional for the congregation. I am sorry that we won't experience his leadership. There is something about music in church that triggers my tears! After the service, we had a huge celebratory meal with the Korean Methodist congregation. It was fun to try the different foods. Nicholas has been "singing" in the children's choir.
Love to you all. Thanks so much for all of your support and comments!
Photos: Nicholas watching the baseball game, shopping at a streetside market, sunset from our porch, Nicholas singing in the children's choir, and Morgan sitting with Pastor Bud (she wanted to sit on his lap during the children's time).

more photos

2007-07-18T02:57:00.001-07:00

Pics of the hospital and a night out at the 'market'. Every Thursday night there is a farmers' market/dinner market with entertainment (last week there were young kids singing and dancing to pop music - Nicholas was fascinated).

July 17

2007-07-18T02:17:00.000-07:00

We are settling into life in Saipan. I definitely feel a world away. Last week I was pretty homesick...feeling isolated and wondering what I will possibly do to pass the days. Fortunately, this week that feeling is gone! I continue to feel strengthened by God's plan for us. The sunsets help.
I have not finalized what I will be doing here for work, but I am in preliminary talks with some private practice doctors who want me to start a sleep lab. I am also interested in doing a few neurology clinics per month. There is a great need for both neurology and sleep medicine on the island.
Below are photos of 'Rocky' (Ryan's new wheels), the beach, plus a few of the inside of our condo.
love to all,
Kim
P.S. We will hopefully be getting Internet service at our condo in the next few weeks!

2007-07-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

Commonwealth Health

2007-07-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

As I finish my second week at the Health Center, it seems like a great place to work and learn. I have split my time between the slower outpatient (appointment only) clinic and the busier triage (walk-in) clinic. The hours are nice, 9:00-4:00, with every-other Friday off (all government workers have these "austerity" days, to save the gov't payroll--nice for those of us on salary, hard for hourly wage earners).

I have enjoyed my co-workers and patients. The doctors are mostly Canadian, but also native Chamorran, American, German, and Indian. They are glad to have me, a warm body with whom they can spread the wealth of their work load. They are especially excited to know that Kim is here and might be able to offer Neurology and/or Sleep Medicine services/advice. The only specialists available are nephrologists and an ENT. No radiologist, no cardiologist, no orthopedic surgeon, etc, etc. We are asked to stretch ourselves professionally to meet these needs.

As I have found in my short career, nurses make or break the experience in such a setting. Fortunately, the nurses here are great. They are here from the Philippines, and they really run the show. They are smart, helpful, motivated, hardworking, and fun--and tolerant of me. It makes a big difference.

But the best part so far are the patients. I have seen mostly Chamorrans, and they have been universally sweet and gracious. They are simple, easy-going folks who are open to my assessments and patient with my proposed plans. Many chew betelnuts, a mild stimulant. There are signs posted everywhere in the hospital stating "no smoking, no betelnut chewing". This habit makes their teeth brownish red, and they excuse themselves in mid sentence to spit in a trash can in my exam room (men and women). I guess this is very common all over the region, and there is a character in the play "South Pacific" called "Bloody Mary" because of the red spit. I haven't gotten the courage to try it.

Most of the patients I have seen have diabetes and high blood pressure, and many have complications of advanced and untreated disease. I have excised a man's finger to remove a fish bone, and I have seen a man with gout so bad that it oozed from his ankles.

Saipan Parade

2007-07-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

2007-07-08T03:20:00.000-07:00

We have been in our condo now for one week. Ryan continues to like his job. Most of his clinic patients have hypertension and diabetes. At the end of their visit, when asking them if they need new prescriptions, many of them replied, "no, we just came to meet the new doctor!". We both bought cars this week. Ryan purchased a "Rocky" (Diahatsu???) of unknown year, and I bought a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. Because we live on a mountain with an unpaved road, we need 4x4s. Finally, a reason to own an SUV! Although I feel a bit irritable as I adjust, we are slowly finding out where to buy things and are getting used to our new schedules. I am enjoying a Sunday night without thinking about returning to work tomorrow!
Some pics of our condo and pool. We also went to the town parade on July 4th. It was hot (90 degrees and 90 percent humidity). We looked over to find Morgan being cradled and fanned by a Chamorro native. She has been waiting her whole life for that!!!
Thanks for all your comments and loving support. We miss you very much.

Church on the Island

2007-07-08T02:59:00.000-07:00

It was time to get grounded again. I skimmed the yellow pages under churches and found Emmanual Methodist Church, listed amongst a mostly Catholic crowd. My interest was further peaked when Nicholas's school-mate's mom (who is involved in a same-sex partnership) invited us to the only Methodist church 'on island'. We arrived just in time on Sun. morning and as per their custom, we took our shoes off before entering the small sanctuary. We certainly stood out as we entered in an unavoidable raucous manner. We took one of several empty pews. The crowd smiled and we were asked to introduce ourselves. The crowd was a mix of Filipino, Korean, and North American. After the introduction, a loud welcoming chant followed, accompanied by tambourines, drums, and moroccas. We were adorned with shell necklaces as everyone clapped in unison. This was quite a welcome and I felt a huge lump in my throat. The pastor, Bud, was American and is completing his 4 year term in Saipan after 25 years in Hong Kong. A new pastor (and apparently a new building) are forthcoming in August. We have found a church!

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

We moved into our condo on Sunday -- only took 2 trips up the mountain in our clunker. It is nice to be in our new "home". Unfortunately we are not set up with internet service and who knows how long it will take to get it going. I am currently in a coffee house that has free wireless while Ryan is taking his turn with the kids. We don't have any big plans for today -- looking for a car and beach swimming are likely.
Ryan started his new job on Mon. He likes it so far. It has been a mix of clinic and urgent care. I'll let him explain more later. I had my start of being a 'stay-at-home mom'. By the second day I had found a school for the kids! They will go for the morning session on Tues. and Thurs. at the 'Seventh Day Adventist' school. It seems like a typical preschool with very sweet teachers. The classes are about 8 kids and a great mix of Japanese, Fillipino, and Korean. I spent an hour with them there on Tues. and both kids fit in great. I was very relieved.
Pics of our condo, etc. will be forthcoming.
Happy 4th! Love to all, Kim

A night in Tokyo

2007-06-30T03:44:00.000-07:00

Our overnight in Tokyo on the trip to Saipan was an experience. After getting off the 13 hour flight and being awake for 24+ hours, we managed to get ourselves through customs and onto a shuttle bus to the Radisson Hotel, Narita (the airport city for Tokyo). The airport was very clean and people were very friendly. Everyone seemed to enjoy their jobs. The kids were paid lots of attention (not just because they were intermittently falling apart). The food venders sold noodle bowls and rice/fish combos with chop stix as the only utensil.
We got to our room which was much smaller than a US hotel room. The staff had already set up a single bed next to our bed for Nicholas. We asked for a crib and it came right away. With all the beds there wasn't much space left in the room.
I can't remember a time when all four of us were on EMPTY like we were that night. It was as though every move took 10x the energy. My body was heavy and my brain foggy. Decisions were very difficult. Everyone was passed out by 9pm.
Morgan was first to wake at 1am. I tried to ignore her standing in her crib. She entertained herself for a few minutes before calling out. I convinced her to lie back down but I couldn't back away from the crib. She started to doze and I sneaked away. Minutes later Nicholas was up. This woke Morgan back up and both kids were wired. Ryan got the first shift. He took the kids around the hotel grounds and managed to be away about an hour. Now it was my turn.
Nicholas and I pushed Morgan in the stroller down every hallway in the hotel. NO ONE was in sight. It was 4am and dark outside. We scoped out the gym and headed out to the pool. We were gently stopped by a night security guard that spoke no English (I guess I did have to inappropriately unlock a door or two). We walked around the hotel gardens and I saw a bike path leading into a wooded area. Security was not an issue, as I felt safer in Japan than anywhere in Nashville. We walked along the path which was littered with broken, rusty bicycles. The day started to break and the grounds got very foggy. A dense fog coated the the bottom of the trees and it seemed very surreal...walking through the woods of Japan...just me and the kids. When we returned to the hotel the sun was starting to come up and somehow I knew we would make it. We went back to the room and Ryan was awake and had already showered. We were first in line for a delightful breakfast at 6am. Surprisingly, we weren't the only Americans awake and hungry!

Getting settled

2007-06-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

We just put the kids down, they are exhausted by the evenings. They are now sleeping until 4-5am, much improved (but still early). We are beginning to see through the fog. Saipan is really a neat place. It is truly a combo of the US and a third world country.
We found a place to live today! We traveled all over the island and found several houses, townhouses, etc. Each seemed to have its own advantages/disadvantages. Then we stumbled upon the 'Coral Island Condominiums' on the highest part of the island (about 1500ft). We loved it and the view is one we will never experience again. 15 minutes after we left we decided we wanted to live there and we move in tomorrow! This will promptly be followed by our first trip to Costco, I'm sure.
Ryan starts work on Monday. I am a little anxious for him to leave us 'alone', but this is all part of the growing experience. People are very friendly and we meet people everywhere. I am feeling a little homesick, however, but this is typical for me.

where one ends and the other begins

2007-06-30T03:14:00.000-07:00

Our first day in Saipan, we went swimming in a still lagoon where the tops of two World War II tanks peek out of the water like turtles. Drunk on a combination of jet lag and the stunning physical beauty of the island, we stood shoulder-deep in the lagoon watching storm clouds develop offshore over the ocean. They rolled into form, grew into a tall column, and then the distinction between cloud, sky, and ocean was obscured. It was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
Shortly thereafter, the rain made its way to us. We stood in the perfectly still waters in a spirited downpour. The drops bounced off the water as if we were in a giant puddle.

The car we are borrowing for the week belongs to Pam, a Canadian physical therapist. It's a Toyota, I'm guessing early '90's, stripped and weather-beaten, taped and rigged, but nevertheless a hero considering the brutal roads and salt in the air. She said, "It's insured...If you get pulled over [by one of the three functioning police cars], tell them we're working on the registration." The license plate was last updated in 2004. It will be hard to part with "Lightin' McQueen"--its obvious nickname--but hopefully we'll find something with a similar union of flare and disrepair.

There is a point on the northern part of Saipan called Suicide Cliff. It is so-named because hundreds of Japanese civilians committed mass suicide by jumping (or being thrown) off the cliff in the last hours of the United States' invasion in 1944. They were convinced by propaganda that the Americans would torture any civilians they captured, so they chose death over such a presumed fate.
Today, Lightin' McQueen took us to Suicide Cliff. He was running hot after climbing the hills, and some of the sounds emerging from the hood were discouraging.
Others were there, mostly Japanese tourists. It was an interesting moment to gaze down at a breathtaking view with such intense and dark history together with our brothers and sisters from Japan.

We dined in a surreal restaurant in Garapan, a gaudy district apparantly geared toward the dwindling number of tourists. The Country Saloon is fashioned to resemble a log cabin. It is decorated with frames of John Wayne and Babe Ruth next to faux taxodermy and cigar store Indians. Willie Nelson's "Willie and Family Live" was playing, and the Phillipino waitresses all wore cowboy hats and western wear. We were the only non-Japanese family dining, and Nicholas and Morgan entertained and were entertained by their Japanese peers sitting in neighboring tables.
Sticking out like sore thumbs and feeling like a foreigner, driving a Japanese car in a US Commonwealth, digesting that 50000 Japanese and 15000 Americans died here in a few days of war, trying to figure out where one ends and the other begins, I asked Nicholas about the family sitting next to us, "Where do you think they're from?"
"St. Louis," he replied.

I start work Monday. I will be doing outpatient clinic combined with a few ER shifts (they call it "Emerg") and some work at the Saipan jail. In a couple of weeks, the hospital will fly us to Tinian, an island separated from Saipan by five miles of shark-infested waters. I will work there for one week while the family is "put up" at a resort hotel/casino approximately one mile from the runway used by the Enola Gay to drop the bomb on Japan to end WWII.

We made it!

2007-06-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it. It was rough but really no major problems. We are still very jetlagged -- the kids have woken up at 1am for two nights in a row. The island is very beautiful. Lots of lush green hills and gorgeous water. This morning we went to the beach for a swim. The water is warm and like a swimming pool, essentially no waves. Too tired to write many details, but wanted to send some pics. We are staying temporarily in a 2-bedroom apartment. The sunset was gorgeous last night and the rainbow greeted us this morning (when the sun finally came up after being up most of the night entertaining the kids!).

Almost Outta Here

2007-06-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

We leave in the morning. All has been pretty calm, except today things got a bit hectic. There are lots of last minute details! Plus, Nicholas has become very needy (his way of coping with stress). Nonetheless, we are excited and hoping for a sane trip. I received a voicemail tonight from Northwest airlines telling me our flight was cancelled and I needed to call to reschedule. I nearly wrecked the car when I got the message. Anyway, after declining a 6:40am flight to Detroit (our original departure city), we are rebooked to go to Minneapolis at 11am. Then we fly direct to Tokyo (13 hours). We will spend the night in Tokyo and fly to Saipan the next morning, arriving in Saipan at 3pm on Wed. The schedule is very similar ot our original one. Thanks to all of you who have given us moral support, plus airplane activities, etc. We will put them all to good use (including the Benadryl!).
We had great visits from our family. First my sister, Kelly, came, then Sherry and Ron (Ryan's parents), then my mom. Nisa (black lab) will be living my mom for the next year, enjoying the good life of lake living and RV camping. I hated to say goodbye (after 11 years!). Thanks also to our loving Belmont friends and neighborhood gang who helped us celebrate our departure. We will miss you dearly. The process of leaving has been a blessing in itself, with so many showing their love and affection.
Andy and Rich (Andy's brother) will take us to the airport tomorrow (yes, it takes two cars). Thanks in advance for your prayers!!!
Pictures of camping/cabin trip with Kelly, Andy, Sandra, Ryan and the kids (Nicholas, Morgan, and Jasmin)
love, love Kim

House is rented and movers came

2007-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

We waited and the right renter came (we think!). Paige is a women who is graduating from UC Berkeley with a Ph.D. in economics. She is moving to Nashville to teach at the Vanderbilt Law School. Although the house is bit big for one person, she likes the area and will essentially 'close off' the upstairs. We welcome Paige to Nashville. I think she will be a great fit.

The movers came in a whirlwind to pick up our 'personal effects'as they say in Saipan. We only had 24 hours to prepare (it all happened very fast) so we threw what we think we will need into boxes and piled it onto our living room floor. The filled container takes 8 weeks minimum to arrive in Saipan and goes via steam ship across the Pacific. I was told not to pack candles or combustibles because it could get up to 150 degrees!

Sister Kelly comes this weekend, yea!

Departure date is set for June 25th.

House for Rent

2007-05-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

We are planning to rent our house furnished. There has been one group of girls (one of our babysitters) interested. There is also a lady coming by on Thurs. to look. She is from Duke and is doing a sabbatical year at Vanderbilt. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a good situation!

LEMONADE

2007-05-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

If you've never heard of Saipan, you're not alone. It is an island in the South Pacific--the other side of the world--and the Hutchisons' proverbial lemonade. It is a great opportunity that we would never have considered had we not been presented with some desperate straits (the lemon, as provided by my former clinic).
Much can happen during a lent season. We were more engaged in the spirit of lent this year, and it turned out to be one for the ages. It started with Ash Wednesday, the very day I was fired (for doing nothing less than I was taught and asked to do). The message of the Ash Wednesday service at church addressed the "brokenness" of humanity, and we were right where they wanted us.
The loss of a job and income, a looming (new) debt, and the misrepresentation of my character helped us get on the fast-track to the lenten spirit of sacrifice and stripping of one's security and life's superfluity (at least, that is my understanding of lent so far). And we were encouraged by what we had left. It seemed at first that I/we had lost everything, but we soon recognized that we indeed have everything: Our love is strong, our kids are healthy, and we have the luxury and gift of good education/credentials.
So we spent lent exercising patience, calling on friends, and in "prayerful consideration" about a dilemma that seemed to have no tolerable solution. We waited and trusted.

It was Kim's idea...What if we take a year off? What if we approach this loan repayment period as a kind of sabbatical year during which we not only survive the lemon, but rather make lemonade by transplanting our family into a geography and culture like nothing we've known? Kim's work was cool with holding her position for a year, and Kim was cool with not working for a year.
At that moment, the possibilities seemed endless. We considered rural America, Indian Reservations, remote Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and the South Pacific. Our imaginations ran wild.
In the end, coincident with the renewal of Easter, we decided on Saipan. It is 5mi wide, 13mi long, with 70,000 people. We will travel there in June (20+ hours in the air with two kids--have mercy) with what we can pack in suitcases. We'll find housing and a vehicle. I will be working in a primary care clinic, taking shifts in the emergency room of the only hospital on the island, and seeing patients at the Saipan jail.
We are aiming to live simply. We hope to grow professionally. We plan to lay in the sand a lot.
We'll send pictures.

An Interesting Spring

2007-04-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Hello to our friends and family and welcome to the first entry on our new "blog". Yes, we are new at this, but it seems like a logical way to communicate with folks.

We have had an interesting Spring this year. Ryan abruptly lost his job a couple of months ago (late Feb. '07) after he volunteered that he had been participating in an unknown wrongful billing practice. It ends up that signing off on a "nurse's visit" is illegal because his "nurses" are actually "medical assistants" and do not qualify for this standard practice. Despite being trained this way 2 years prior, and being the top provider for UNHS's five clinics in the area, Ryan was asked to leave 5 minutes after volunteering this information. Obviously, this was devastating to him, especially after investing his blood, sweat, and tears to the betterment of the clinic. There was no reasoning with his superiors, and after some hurtful banter between attorneys, Ryan took a "resignation" and has moved on.

After starting his job at UNHS, Ryan became involved in a government loan repayment program which requires him to work at a designated underserved site for 2 years. He was 6 months shy of completing his commitment when his job ended. Unfortunately, there are no other available sites in the Nashville area (the closest one is 80+ miles away).

Not knowing what to do next, we considered several options. These included Ryan commuting 150 miles daily, him living away from the family during the week and home on the weekends, or just paying the money back (plus interest which would require taking out a home equity loan). Ryan being away from the family was not a good option, which led to the final option of the whole family going away.

When looking at the available sites around the country (and a few off the mainland), we decided to be adventurous. We are now planning to move to Saipan, a US Commonwealth island in the South Pacific (near Guam, between Japan and Australia) for a year. We plan to leave in late June. Vanderbilt has graciously given me a "leave of absence" for a year and I can come back to my same position when I return (my research grant will also be put on hold). I will work one day per week as a general neurologist on the island and spend the rest of the time with the kids at the beach!

Well, that is a lot of information but it is difficult to shorten the story. I have added some links about Saipan. We will plan to rent our house furnished for the year and rent a house or condo on Saipan.

Love to all!