In honor of Valentine’s Day there was an early morning gathering of everyone who works in the clinic.
There were biscuits with meat (bolovanes), cakes, cookies, coffee, and some sort of sugar free orange soda.
It was a pleasant way to start the morning, and a reminder of how important friendship and camaraderie is here in
Guatemala.
In a very Guatemalan fashion of doing things, the fiesta started at 7:00 (when clinic usually starts) and lasted until 8:00.
Therefore clinic started one hour late, of course.
Everyone was very kind to include Tira and me in all of the festivities, giving us hugs, kisses, and valentines.
Dr. Morales and me at the Dia del Cariño fiesta
Things are rather calm for us on the floors of the hospital right now. Most of our patients have tuberculosis and/or histoplasmosis, with a smattering of cryptococcal meningitis and toxoplasmosis. These are all diseases that require a long course of inpatient treatment, so not much new is happening. In the clinic, however, Tira told me that yesterday she helped one of the doctors remove a bullet from a patient (not my idea of typical clinic work!), so I think that she is staying busy. Tira and I will switch positions on Monday – she will start working on the hospital floors, and I will work in the clinic. I look forward to participating in the day to day life of the Clinica Familiar. I think working in a place dedicated to the care of HIV positive patients will be a nice contrast to the often hostile environment of the hospital.
Tira inside CFLAG
Wednesday, February 13, was the opening night of an Orchid Exposition in Guatemala City. The Monja Blanca (a type of orchid) is Guatemala’s national flower, and as one might imagine, many Guatemalans take pride in all types of orchids. The exposition included a competition, and it just so happens that both Dr. Arathoon (clinic director) and Dr. Graybill (former UTHSCSA professor, now living half-time in Guatemala) submitted orchids for the contest and won first prize in their respective categories! The flowers were absolutely beautiful. I have attached a few fotos below.
Some beautiful purple orchids
La monja blanca
Dr arathoon’s prize winning orchids
No comments:
Post a Comment