Visitor FS0601 
| Visitor |
| Sex? |
female |
| Profession/occupation? |
Medical Student |
| Home country? |
United Kingdom |
| What made you want to go to
Solomon Islands? |
previous students recommended |
| Arriving in Solomon
Islands |
| When did you arrive in Solomon
Islands? |
August 2006 |
| Did you encounter any
bureaucratic difficulties? |
no |
| What was your first impression
after arrival? |
Culture shock but very friendly! |
| Living in Solomon
Islands |
| What did positively surprise
you? |
People - very very welcoming |
| What did negatively surprise
you? |
Kiwi-House! (at first, but we grew to love it) |
| What took longest to get used
to? |
The dust and dirt of Honiara |
| What did you miss most in
Solomon Islands? |
Nothing, I loved the change! |
| What should you have brought
along? |
Small-sized latex gloves, essential medicines for the
hospital |
| What did you do to prevent
malaria? |
Mosquito net, Malarone, coils, DEET |
| Place and province where you
spent most of your time? |
Honiara, Honiara-City |
| Other places/provinces where
you stayed? |
Gizo, Western Province |
| Where did you stay? |
United Church Rest House; Kiwi House; Phoebe's
Guesthouse |
| How long did you stay at each
location? |
1.5 weeks; 4 weeks; 2 weeks |
| How much did you pay for
each? |
SBD 50 average |
| Where did you usually eat? |
Home, restaurants |
| What did you typically pay for
a normal meal? |
SBD 80 (expensive!) in restaurants; SBD 20 for home |
| What local food/beverage did
you like most? |
The fresh fish and vegetables from the market |
| What local food/beverage did
you like least? |
SolBrew! |
| Mobile
phone services |
| If you brought along a mobile phone, which
services did you successfully use? |
voice |
| Comments? |
Worked for domestic but not international calls. |
| Money
matters |
Used Thomas Cook Travellers
Cheques in US$ to get cash.
Used HSBC debit card (Maestro) to get cash at ATMs and to
pay for goods/services.
Used HSBC credit card (MasterCard) to get cash at ATMs. |
| Working in Solomon
Islands |
| How did you usually go to
work? |
walk |
| Where did you work? |
NRH, paediatrics department |
| What was your occupation? |
medical student elective placement |
| What were your working days and
hours? |
Monday-Friday. From 8.30am. Flexible time depending on
things happening |
| What was particularly difficult
in regard to your work? |
sometimes had to hang around |
| Did you feel accepted by the
locals? |
yes |
| What did you usually do in your
spare time after work? |
go to the market, internet, trips around Guadalcanal |
| Questions
for medical trainees of all levels (students to
registrars) |
| How was the supervision? |
close |
| How was the teaching? |
good |
| Leaving Solomon Islands and
looking back |
| When did you leave Solomon
Islands? |
October 2006 |
| How long was your stay? |
6 weeks |
| How do you judge the length of
your stay? |
too short |
| What did you learn from the
locals? |
Pijin, to chill out, to be more sociable and
friendly |
| Your advice to prospective
visitors? |
This country is amazing and a forgotten paradise in the
northern hemisphere. Solomon Islanders are fantastic! |
| What did you miss most when
back at home again? |
The guaranteed hot weather, the scenery, Dr Betty Wini,
the people, the fresh fish... everything! |
| What did you enjoy most when
back at home again? |
Hot water! (but only because we arrived back home in
winter and it was freezing!) |
| Would you go back for another
stay? |
Anytime! |
| Estimated total cost of your
stay (including travel costs)? |
GBP 2,000 |
| Additional comments? |
[-] |
