replica of Maori meeting house at Taupo Museum

Tena koutou!  Which is Maori for hello to 3 or more people,

Monday is my day off,  so I am catching up with this blog.  I am now starting my 3rd week in New Zealand.  I have had mixed emotions of terror and awe, homesickness, and delight.

Orientation at the clinic was fast and ongoing.  The nurses are very competent and helpful, as are the ancillary staff.  Patients usually come in by appointment, but walk-ins are not uncommon.  We are about an hour from the nearest hospital; usually nurses/physicians manage uncomplicated fractures, wounds, asthma attacks, and stabilize people with chest pain or allergic reactions until the ambulance arrives.  The first day I worked here there were at least 4 ambulance calls (also involving 1 asthmatic 2 year old from a neighboring clinic who had to go by helicopter.  Weather was so bad the helicopter had to land and allow an ambulance to finish the journey.)

Last week I was the only physician for 2 days,  saw 20+ patients during the day, but no serious emergencies.  About 32% of our population is Maori--everyone speaks English, but some families are struggling economically.  Problems can be the same as the U.S.--diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, respiratory illnesses.  Names of medications may be the same or completely different, so I have to look them up.  And the lab values are different as well, so there is a table I refer to to translate.

view from my apartment

This is a farming community, hard work.  Over all the high green hills you see sheep and cattle.
This being spring, the shearers are hard at work on shearing, and this is the time when the lambs have their tails removed to prevent a black fly infection.  It isn't unusual to have a patient come in who was kicked by a sheep (while shearing) or kicked by a bull.

Last weekend I drove to Lake Taupo, and stayed for 2 nights at Taupo.  This is the largest lake in New Zealand, actually a volcanic caldera or crater.  It is the size of Singapore.  The town is popular as a resort;  my small motel room had a nice view of the lake, and I walked on the lakefront, through the town, looking at shops and an art gallery.  Actually got to see Downton Abbey which I discovered at the local cinema.   The next day I went to Huka Falls, then to geothermal field called Craters of the Moon.
I did experience the delight of bathing in the geothermal pools, which are very relaxing, and supposed to have great health effects, but I don't think I could stay in them hours, as some people do.
More at the next adventure...until later,
Adrianna