PNG again... and an Iron Stomach Chef Challenge

I am starting to feel a bit like Rumginae is my second home, but I have realised (again!) that I shouldn't try to second-guess what returning here will be like.
I had forgotten it was so HOT! In spite of 6 years medical training, I had no personal experience of the number of sweat glands in the human body. I can now confidently say, as we used to as kids, that it is infinity plus one.

So, for the culinary-minded, I have in my house the following ingredients: tinned tuna, rice, broccoli, spring onions, zucchini, a small amount of cheese, tomato, peanut butter, milk (UHT) and some frozen lamb chops. Any ideas?

Taking stock

Important happenings in the last 3 weeks:
1. The celebration of two Christmases (possibly more; depends on how you add them up)... including waking up the patient's at 5.30am on Christmas Day by singing carols at them. (Well, carols by candelight is a Christmas tradition...)
2. Explaining the meaning of the word 'bogan' to an American couple.
3. Being introduced to 'The IT Crowd'.
4. Learning Christmas carols in Pidgin.
5. Seeing an 8-year old girl who had severe weight loss and malnutrition (among other things) from tuberculosis - she's now running around, smiling, talking to people (including doctors!) and has a beautifully round face.
6. Laughing with the staff about nothing in particular. And occasionally about my marital status (or lack thereof).
7. Watching the faces on the staff as they heard themselves in a copy of the radio program about Rumginae that was earlier broadcast on ABC Radio National.
8. Trying to convince someone on the other end of the radio that a 3 week-long illness did not require a medevac on a Saturday.
9. Getting used to Rumginae having internet access! I can now google all the conditions I come across that I have forgotten about since medical school...
10. Trying to write a blog post about what I've been doing in a hospital without either breaking confidentiality or making my reader(s) nauseated.

Love to all - am leaving here tomorrow, overnighting in Port Moresby and getting back to Australia (all being well) on Sunday.

Shar

Appropriate culturally-senstive holiday season greetings!

The Iron Stomach Chef competition commences - although there should be a prize of chocolate if someone can make something edible out of this. I have rice, tinned tuna, peanut butter, frozen bread, broccoli, onions, beans and milk. I can probably steal/borrow/beg spices etc from other families. Anyone up to the challenge?

Otherwise I am well. Rumginae has been - dare I say it? - quiet for the last few days. We did have a baby yesterday, though, which is always fun. And adrenaline-inducing.

Love and regards to all,
Shar

Unfortunate delay in the inaugural Iron Stomach Chef competition

... due to the fact that there is nothing in the cupboard and only milk and water in the fridge and a pineapple on the bench.

Will let you know once we have ingredients to work with!

Safe arrival at Rumginae; it is incredibly familiar already and I am looking forward to sleeping well tonight and starting work tomorrow.

Love Shar

If you don't believe in miracles...

... then you should know that I managed to catch one Qantas flight and two Air Niugini flights on Saturday, and all of them were ON TIME!

Not only that, but my luggage made it to the same place as me - which was where I wanted to be going.

But, wait - there's more. Even the fragile items in my luggage made it safely. Oh yeah - and so did I.

 

And if you still don't believe in miracles, clearly you haven't travelled on either of those two airlines recently.

 

Love to all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have nothing better to do...

Check out ABC Radio National's Religion Report next week (17th December). 8.30 am or 8pm. Or online.
It's their last one ever. (Sad face.)
Also, a lolly for the first three people who can work out what TV show I was thinking of at the time...

It's official.

There will definitely not be any room in my suitcase for chocolate. I am breaking out into a cold sweat at the very thought.
However, the up-side is that it is due to the generosity of many people who have helped fill my suitcases with hospital equipment that I am obliged to save the chocolate for my return.
I am particularly excited about having bought the materials to (in theory!) set up a phototherapy unit for jaundiced babies. By buying bits and cobbling them together, I paid $300 instead of $6000 for the fancy hospital version, so as a shopper who loves a bargain, I feel like I have done well.
In theory, I will be less isolated due to Rumginae now having satellite internet! I love theories. So hopefully I'll update this charming piece of literature soon after arrival.
Lukim yu behain.