Anyways, I thought that I had class this morning, but turns out that I'm crazy. I showed up at 10 and got to talk to Daniel about the bug bites and we both think that they are bed bugs. I decided to just wait around the clinic until 12 and do some homework while I waited, but the physician, Sandro, said that he could take a look at the bug bites for me. This was a really different experience from a clinic in the US. First they took me into a room and took my information. This was really entertaining because I knew what they were going to ask because of the form and because they were essentially taking a very brief patient history. The nurse Rafael (far left) was taking the history, but the doctor Sandro (standing) and the dentist (can't remember her name, maybe Carla?) were all present. The clinic was not busy today and Sandro was only seeing 4 patients all day. After the took my bp and pulse (I think they thought I was dead, my pulse was 50 and my bp was 111/62), they took my weight and height and entered it into a BMI slider calculator. As always I was in the obese category and they weighed me again to confirm this. I told them that I am usually in the overweight or obese category, but they still didn't believe me. After the paperwork, Sandro and I went to his office and listened to my heart and respiration. One thing that I noticed was different was that he listened to my respiration while I was laying down and listened to my chest instead of listening on my back while sitting up. Then he examined the bug bites and did so without gloves on. I thought this was really weird, but I suppose bug bites aren't exactly contagious or dangerous (then again I'm not sure if they are bug bites, could be an allergic reaction with hives). He prescribed hidroxizina (which is known as Hydroxyzine in the states, it is an anti-histamine) and dexametasona (topical cortisol, used for anti-inflammatory, used after surgery to reduce edema, not sure he prescribed something 20x stronger than cortisol but maybe it is a very small dose). I struck up a friendship with Sandro and he wants to hang out more so we exchanged numbers. He lives in Vitoria so he wants me to come over and he said he could show me downtown Vitoria. Also, on Sunday we are going on a hike, I think. Still pretty confused about what people are asking me, but they are always very friendly. I got to eat at the clinic and the food was so good! I really like hanging out here (the people are super friendly, food is a lot better, and they have air conditioning!), so I think I am going to shadow Sandro on some of my free days.
I showed up to CADEC a little early and helped make lunch. Today I helped the art teacher in the classroom and pretty much just tried to keep order. I pretty much just held the marker container and passed them out to the kids. It is so hard to keep them in their seats, especially when they want markers. Also, most of the markers were dried up so they would just keep trying them and then putting them back and then try the same ones again.
At 5 Nicole and I left CADEC and she went to the store down the street to buy some clothes and I talked with the store owner. Everyone has a really interesting history and they always want to tell me about it. I tried to read the newspaper that Daniel gave me about the developments that are happening in Espirito Santo but it was pretty hard. They are spending 1 billion Reals (about 500 million USD!) in development. I went to the store and bought some Raid and I plan on spraying my room but I don't think my mom will like this.
Daniel picked us up at CADEC and we went to Banco Terra for their monthly meeting/ grand opening. It was supposed to start at about 6 but I think it started around 7:30. Even I would be on time for everything in Brazil! I try to understand what they are saying at these meetings but it is so hard to follow. However, I have decided that attending a meeting in Portuguese is more entertaining than in English because of a few reasons. First, I can completely tune out if I want to because I am not engaged in what the speaker is saying. Second, trying to understand the meeting in Portuguese keeps me more entertained than trying to listen in English. Third, Brazilians themselves are more entertaining to watch than Americans. There is not much order at these meetings and so it stays fresh.
We got back around 9:30 I think and I was starving. I gotta start buying and taking snacks with me everywhere I go. I went for a run again, but I don't take my iPod or anything besides my keys when I run late a night. Also, I witnessed a prostitute getting picked up on the corner by my house.... never know what you are going to see here!
No comments:
Post a Comment