Visitor MS0802 
| Visitor |
| Sex? |
male |
| Profession/occupation? |
Medical Student |
| Medical school year or years of
experience since graduation? |
6 |
| Home country? |
Australia |
| What made you want to go to
Solomon Islands? |
browsing the web |
| Did you go alone or in company? |
alone |
| Arriving in Solomon
Islands |
| When did you arrive in Solomon
Islands? |
May 2008 |
| Did you encounter any
bureaucratic difficulties? |
no |
| What was your first impression
after arrival? |
Friendly people, developing country |
| Living in Solomon
Islands |
| What did positively surprise
you? |
The friendliness of the people in the Solomons |
| What did negatively surprise
you? |
How dirty the city was |
| What took longest to get used
to? |
The heat and humidity |
| What did you miss most in
Solomon Islands? |
hot showers |
| What should you have brought
along? |
light waterproof jacket |
| What did you do to prevent
malaria? |
Mosquito net, insect repellents |
| Place and province where you
spent most of your time? |
Taro, Choiseul Province |
| Other places/provinces where
you stayed? |
- |
| Where did you stay? |
House |
| How long did you stay at each
location? |
6 weeks |
| How much did you pay for
each? |
- |
| Where did you usually eat? |
With some of the hospital staff |
| What did you typically pay for
a normal meal? |
SBD 20 |
| What local food/beverage did
you like most? |
Banana Pizza |
| What local food/beverage did
you like least? |
- |
| Mobile
phone services |
| If you brought along a mobile
phone, which services did you successfully use? |
- |
| Comments? |
- |
| Money
matters |
| Used Cirrus or Maestro debit
cards to get cash at ATMs |
| Comments? |
Take cash out in Honiara. There was no ATM services at
Taro at time of visit but one is being built. |
| Working in Solomon
Islands |
| How did you usually go to
work? |
walk (You can walk around the entire island in about 15
minutes.) |
| Where did you work? |
Taro Hospital |
| What was your occupation? |
Medical student |
| What were your working days and
hours? |
Depending on work load but usually about 6 hours a
day |
| What was particularly difficult
in regard to your work? |
Lack of blood test |
| Did you feel accepted by the
locals? |
yes |
| What did you usually do in your
spare time after work? |
Relax on the beach, play soccer, snorkel, bake |
| Questions
for medical trainees of all levels (students to
registrars) |
| How was the supervision? |
loose |
| Comments |
- |
| How was the teaching? |
adequate |
| Comments |
Ward teaching |
| Leaving Solomon Islands and
looking back |
| When did you leave Solomon
Islands? |
July 2008 |
| 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? |
Heaps: cooking, fishing, clinical medicine, another way
of life. |
| Your advice to prospective
visitors? |
Go there with a relaxed easy going attitude and teach as
well as learn from everyone and really immerse yourself and
have fun! |
| What did you miss most when
back at home again? |
The warmth and friendliness of the community
atmosphere |
| What did you enjoy most when
back at home again? |
friends and family |
| Would you go back for another
stay? |
Anytime! |
| Estimated total cost of your
stay (including travel costs)? |
AUD 2,500 |
| Additional comments? |
Had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back if the
opportunity arises |
