Visitor FS0606 
| Visitor |
| Sex? |
female |
| Profession/occupation? |
Medical Student |
| Medical school year or years of
experience since graduation? |
4 |
| Home country? |
Northern Ireland |
| What made you want to go to
Solomon Islands? |
Other elective student from my university had visited on
elective. |
| Did you go alone or in company? |
in company |
| Arriving in Solomon
Islands |
| When did you arrive in Solomon
Islands? |
July 2006 |
| Did you encounter any
bureaucratic difficulties? |
no |
| What was your first impression
after arrival? |
Much more remote than I expected and much more basic |
| Living in Solomon
Islands |
| What did positively surprise
you? |
People's love of being friendly! |
| What did negatively surprise
you? |
Bureaucracy and lack of food that I like, native to
me |
| What took longest to get used
to? |
The weather! Very humid |
| What did you miss most in
Solomon Islands? |
My foods from home and calling my family regularly |
| What should you have brought
along? |
more clothes, more medical supplies, more washing
powder! |
| What did you do to prevent
malaria? |
took antimalarials, repellant |
| Place and province where you
spent most of your time? |
Honiara, Honiara-City |
| Other places/provinces where
you stayed? |
- |
| Where did you stay? |
Initially guesthouse - too small for study and then hotel
at negotiated rate in staff quarters. |
| How long did you stay at each
location? |
1 month |
| How much did you pay for
each? |
can't remember, approx. GBP 500? per month between 3 |
| Where did you usually eat? |
fruit from market, expensive stuff from lime lounge
cafe |
| What did you typically pay for
a normal meal? |
GBP 0.50 to 10.00 - expensive for European/Australian
food. |
| What local food/beverage did
you like most? |
pancakes in the hospital! Yummy! |
| What local food/beverage did
you like least? |
Solbrew! hahah |
| Mobile
phone services |
| If you brought along a mobile
phone, which services did you successfully use? |
- |
| Comments? |
Mine didn't work |
| Money
matters |
Used American Express USD
Travellers Cheques to get cash
Used Visa debit card to get cash at ATMs |
| Comments? |
- |
| Working in Solomon
Islands |
| How did you usually go to
work? |
walk |
| Where did you work? |
NRH O&G |
| What was your occupation? |
medical student |
| What were your working days and
hours? |
9am - 5pm Monday to Friday |
| What was particularly difficult
in regard to your work? |
heat and deliveries |
| Did you feel accepted by the
locals? |
not sure |
| What did you usually do in your
spare time after work? |
Sunbathe, learnt to dive, swim at Honiara Hotel pool |
| Questions
for medical trainees of all levels (students to
registrars) |
| How was the supervision? |
adequate |
| Comments |
- |
| How was the teaching? |
good |
| Comments |
- |
| Leaving Solomon Islands and
looking back |
| When did you leave Solomon
Islands? |
August 2006 |
| How long was your stay? |
1 month |
| How do you judge the length of
your stay? |
just about right |
| What did you learn from the
locals? |
How to be happy and friendly despite any situation! |
| Your advice to prospective
visitors? |
Be prepared for difficult living conditions and not much
to do in evenings but lots to learn from lovely people. |
| What did you miss most when
back at home again? |
The people. |
| What did you enjoy most when
back at home again? |
Food |
| Would you go back for another
stay? |
yes |
| Estimated total cost of your
stay (including travel costs)? |
Difficult to say as was other places also |
| Additional comments? |
Very difficult to get around with little access to cars
etc. If you want to go to the provinces, arrange it in
advance. Also caution walking around on your own ladies, like
in any city. |
