July 17

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!

Commonwealth Health

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

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

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!

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