Off again...

...it's on again!

I'm heading back to Rumginae Hospital for three weeks, leaving on the 13th of December and arriving back on the 4th of January. I am hoping to be able to give some of the doctors there a well-earned break, especially over Christmas.
I have been overwhelmed byt he generosity of people as I prepare to go away - I have so much in the way of dift and donations that I am wondering whether there will be room in my suitacse for chocolate (one of life's necessities)!

They have satellite internet at Rumginae now (phones have been down since I was last there in June) so hopefully I will be able to keep this semi-up-to-date.

The inaugural 'Iron Stomach Chef' competition begins when I get to Rumginae, find out what I have in the pantry and post it here on the blog. The person who emails me with the best recipe wins!

Shar

Saying goodbye...

Another wonderful time at Rumginae has come to an end. Apologies for not having been in contact much; phones and therefore email have been down since about 3 days after I arrived. It has been a challenging, enjoyable, frustrating and rewarding time. There are men, women and children who are alive and well only because they were able to come to Rumginae; however, there are also some that we were unable to help in spite of our best efforts. It is a beautiful, fascinating, rugged and difficult part of the world in which to work and live.

Whether or not it is a good thing, I have suddenly remembered that I do occasionally enjoy the practice of medicine... I'll let you know when I'm done practising and ready to move on to the real thing!

I'm in Goroka at the moment to catch my breath and catch up with some friends before heading home - I've also noticed that the on-call and the hours have taken their toll and I am exhausted... but in a good way.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped and supported and prayed for me - look forward to catching up.

Sharmini

Safe arrival

Arrived safely in PNG and at Rumginae Hospital - which is more or less the same as I remember it, which is nice!

First day of work today, though, so I hope I still remember how to practice medicine...

Love to all,

Sharmini

Skipping the country

My visa for Papua New Guinea came through last Friday, after many many frustrating hours on the phone to various Departments of Immigration and High Commissions.
So I'm heading off on Wednesday to Rumginae, not too far from the border with West Papua.
Hopefully I'll have the chance to update this, but I won't be able to check for messages until I get back in mid-July.
Happy winter everybody - I'm heading for the tropics!
Shar

From a different overseas...

For those who still occasionally check this site... don't you have something more interesting to read online?
I'm in New Zealand, and although it shares one word in common with the name of Papua New Guinea, it is a very different place. For one thing, it is very cold.
I'm here on a 3 month placement for work, being a junior doctor at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton, and trying to work out what I'm going to be when I grow up - all suggestions welcome...
Love to all!
Shar

I Still Call Australia Home

I seem to have spent a fair bit of time over the last several weeks explaining that I am Australian. And still many people in Oro Bay do not believe me, and keep referring to me as Indian. But as Hugh Jackman reminds me through song (alas! via the iPod and not in person!) - Australia is my home.

And that's where I'll be soon. Things have not worked out well at Oro Bay. With a well-equipped hospital a short distance up the road, and plenty of capable nurses at Oro Bay, there is not nearly enough work for a full-time doctor in that position. I trust that I may still be able to help the community at Oro Bay from home, and maybe one day (God willing) return.

Many many thanks to everyone who has helped and supported and prayed during this time. I am looking forward to catching up with you. In the meantime, I will continue to find stories to tell you via this site...

Sincerely,

Sharmini

News from the black...

Sorry it’s taken so long to be in contact; communications here in Popondetta and Oro Bay are less reliable than I expected…

Suffice it to say that I have arrived safely.

With many important matters to discuss, let me begin with the trivial:

I have discovered the perfect shoes for the PNG climate: crocs. Light, comfortable, don’t get soggy in mud puddles. It was worth the time and effort traipsing all over Melbourne to find the right size, style and colour.

There are a few issues with this placement at Oro Bay that I am trying to work out. For now, can I just ask that those of you who pray, please mention this situation occasionally. Thanks.

I’m hogging someone else’s computer to write this, so I should go.

Love to all,

Sharmini