Visitor FS0502 
| Visitor |
| Sex? |
female |
| Profession/occupation? |
medical student |
| Home country? |
Australia |
| What made you want to go to
Solomon Islands? |
reading an article |
| Arriving in Solomon
Islands |
| When did you arrive in Solomon
Islands? |
December 2005 |
| Did you encounter any
bureaucratic difficulties? |
no |
| What was your first impression
after arrival? |
So many black, black Islanders! |
| Living in Solomon
Islands |
| What did positively surprise
you? |
everybody so relaxed, nobody ever appears stressed |
| What did negatively surprise
you? |
the rubbish lying around everywhere |
| What took longest to get used
to? |
being dirty and sweaty |
| What did you miss most in
Solomon Islands? |
going out dancing at night |
| What should you have brought
along? |
more gifts for people |
| What did you do to prevent
malaria? |
mefloquine |
| Place and province where you
spent most of your time? |
New Georgia, Western Province |
| Other places/provinces where
you stayed? |
[-] |
| Where did you stay? |
Backpacker rooms, Lodge |
| How long did you stay at each
location? |
6.5 weeks |
| How much did you pay for
each? |
SBD 55/night |
| Where did you usually eat? |
market food, or at lodge |
| What did you typically pay for
a normal meal? |
SBD 20-40 |
| What local food/beverage did
you like most? |
fish and chips |
| What local food/beverage did
you like least? |
their lettuce tastes odd |
| Mobile
phone services |
| If you brought along a mobile phone, which
services did you successfully use? |
[-] |
| Comments? |
[-] |
| Money
matters |
| What did you use to get cash
at banks and/or automatic teller machines (ATMs)? Have you
been able to make cashless payments for certain
goods/services? |
| Travellers Cheques in AUD to
get cash and pay for goods/services |
| Comments? |
Sometimes had to pay large amounts in cash, for e.g.
trips. |
| Working in Solomon
Islands |
| How did you usually go to
work? |
walk, bus exists but is very unreliable |
| Where did you work? |
Helena Goldie Hospital |
| What was your occupation? |
medical student |
| What were your working days and
hours? |
7.30am (non-compulsory Lotu), then
9-12am, or 3pm, depending on schedule |
| What was particularly difficult
in regard to your work? |
inexperience and sometimes lack of supervision |
| Did you feel accepted by the
locals? |
yes |
| What did you usually do in your
spare time after work? |
dive, walk, lounge, snorkel, swim, sleep, read, chat to
people |
| Leaving Solomon Islands and
looking back |
| When did you leave Solomon
Islands? |
February 2006 |
| How long was your stay? |
7 weeks |
| How do you judge the length of
your stay? |
just about right |
| What did you learn from the
locals? |
patience, calm, stoicism, contentedness, curiosity |
| Your advice to prospective
visitors? |
get involved in everything. talk to the locals. don't
hesitate. dive. |
| What did you miss most when
back at home again? |
the relaxed pace. lack of red tape. the view. the smiling
black faces. the kids. |
| What did you enjoy most when
back at home again? |
feeling clean. dressing up. family and friends. |
| Would you go back for another
stay? |
yes |
| Estimated total cost of your
stay (including travel costs)? |
AUD 4,500 |
| Additional comments? |
Don't stick with the ex-pats and other med
students too much, without getting to know the locals. Feels
safer and more comfortable but you'll miss out on meeting
some amazing people that you may never forget. |
