Visitor MS0301 
| Visitor |
| Sex? |
male |
| Profession/occupation? |
medical student |
| Home country? |
UK |
| What made you want to go to
Solomon Islands? |
reading an article |
| Arriving in Solomon
Islands |
| When did you arrive in Solomon
Islands? |
April 2003 |
| Did you encounter any
bureaucratic difficulties? |
no |
| What was your first impression
after arrival? |
The heat and humidity! |
| Living in Solomon
Islands |
| What did positively surprise
you? |
How friendly all the locals were |
| What did negatively surprise
you? |
How unclean Honiara was |
| What took longest to get used
to? |
The heat! Pijin english was a challenge! |
| What did you miss most in
Solomon Islands? |
Family and friends |
| What should you have brought
along? |
More books! |
| What did you do to prevent
malaria? |
Doxycycline 100mg o.d, mosquito repellent |
| Place and province where you
spent most of your time? |
Gizo, Western Province |
| Where did you stay? |
Phoebe's Guest House |
| How long did you stay at each
location? |
5 weeks |
| How much did you pay for
each? |
SBD 50 a night |
| Where did you usually eat? |
At home, Gizo hotel, PT 109, Gizo Nest, Curry Hut! |
| What did you typically pay for
a normal meal? |
Between SBD 6 and SBD 40 |
| What local food/beverage did
you like most? |
SB, Solbrew, Bush Lime, fresh tuna, Ngali nuts |
| What local food/beverage did
you like least? |
Chilli tuna! |
| Working in Solomon
Islands |
| How did you usually go to
work? |
walk |
| Where did you work? |
Gizo hospital, all wards and departments |
| What was your occupation? |
Medical student/honorary doctor! |
| What were your working days and
hours? |
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 4pm. Somedays until late if
emergencies |
| What was particularly difficult
in regard to your work? |
Being left to your own devices, limited Pijin, very few
drugs to prescribe |
| Did you feel accepted by the
locals? |
yes |
| What did you usually do in your
spare time after work? |
Scuba diving, snorkelling, reading, cards, drinking! |
| Leaving Solomon Islands and
looking back |
| When did you leave Solomon
Islands? |
June 2003 |
| How long was your stay? |
6 weeks |
| How do you judge the length of
your stay? |
just about right |
| What did you learn from the
locals? |
Solomon time!! Just relax, and don't get stressed! |
| Your advice to prospective
visitors? |
Do it! Just go! |
| What did you miss most when
back at home again? |
The weather, scuba, the people, patients.......all of
it! |
| What did you enjoy most when
back at home again? |
Getting my photos developed and reliving the memories wth
friends! |
| Would you go back for another
stay? |
Anytime! |
| Estimated total cost of your
stay (including travel costs)? |
GBP 2,000 |
| Additional comments? |
I would reccommend this elective to anyone who wants more
responsibility and to feel useful! You really can make a
difference to peoples lives, and they are amazingly friendly
towards you. Nothing unpleasant (apart from the lack of
handwashing facilities at the hospital......if you go, take a
bottle of Betadine or Hibiscrub!) Enjoy! |
