Snail Sounds?

A patient today described her tinnitus as the sound snails make. Then she added, "But I guess you wouldn't know about that." How strange! If anybody has any information about the sounds snails make, please enlighten me: I haven't been able to find anything.

Work Stuff

The contract is almost finalized, and I started yesterday on a per diem agreement until we can officially close negotiations. I'm happy I don't have to leave the country; and had decided I would leave by October if an agreement was not reached.
I am so glad to be back at work; I am just so unproductive (in all facets) without a job. I was told today, by a patient, that my smile was "refreshing." He had no idea how relieved I am to be almost done with this process. My sleep schedule, however, is totally messed up. Getting up in the dark again is painful!

Also in America

The toilet-seat covers! That was the best (and first) thing I noticed when getting off the plane in Ft. Lauderdale. Weird, I know.

Back from the US

It was nice to be in America: Central Air Conditioning, being able to go out and buy whatever at 10 pm, the variety of things to do, the flatness of the beach, hanging out with family and friends, the relative safety and ability to blend in anywhere, the food (probably my favorite: the range of different foods to eat).
Now, back in Trinidad, I'm sweating in my living room with the windows closed because of the possibly Dengue-ridden mosquitoes, house-bound until more word comes in on the contract (have a meeting Monday)...but quite content in all of these accounts. Life could be a lot worse!

Good Riddance, Almera

Got rid of the rental today. I had to extend my rental agreement because I couldn't buy anything without a contract, and can't see paying the exorbitant rental fee when I leave for graduation. I am sad to not have a car when I come back, but very happy to see that piece go. It has been nothing but trouble over the past few months. Shall we take a walk down memory lane with the Almera? [Cue the instrumental]
Snapped off someone's side mirror in the first week of driving the car here.
Got the bumped ripped off by a dump truck.
Got broken-into at a Family Sports Day for the Prison Services Department (go figure!). During this, my back passenger side window was smashed, the thieves jumped in, popped the hood, disabled the battery, and tried to pry my stereo out of the dash. They didn't get anything, but they totally messed up my whole console. When this was repaired, that door wouldn't open, parts of the dash were repaired, but the stereo was put in upside-down, the antenna didn't work, and the clock and air conditioning was re-set every time the car was turned off.
Got rear-ended at a red light, causing me to fly into the car in front of me. My car looked like an accordion, and to make matters worse, a box of bbq chicken exploded during impact, sending bits and pieces of it (along with pasta salad) everywhere in the car...can you imagine that smell in 90-degree heat after the windows are up? The damage caused the trunk to leak, and now it continues to leak, which has fostered the most fantastic environment for nice mold spores to flourish.
The back tire [or tyre] has a slow leak.
A flying rock on the highway caused a nice crack across the windshield [or windscreen].
I was told, "That car is blight!" [It's cursed].

I'm not sure what's going to happen once I get back to T&T/work (if that ever happens!), but I could "travel," which means take a maxi-taxi, taxi, bus. Maxi taxis are big vans that are color-coded depending upon the route they travel. These are usually squished with as many people as possible and the windows don't really look like they open (or slide) very much to let in air. Taxis are just cars with "H" plates (for "hired"), usually squished with as many people as possible, with no air conditioning in most cases. Buses run, but I don't know much about them. I am hoping not to travel because I really need a coach to do so, and don't want to get taken advantage of/robbed/etc. that can sometimes happen. To get transport, you stand on the side of the road and put your finger down or up (I've seen both). Also, if a taxi is driving by and they have room, they'll beep at you. A friend told me he tried to travel one day and ended up walking a mile before a friend stopped and picked him up. I also don't want to attempt walking anywhere because I get a lot of calls and whistles...it's a little unnerving. Also, I heard when it's rush hour or if it's raining, people push and pull and fight to get transport. Yikes!

God is a Trinidadian

So, we're in the middle of hurricane season, and you may hear on the news about storms and hurricanes killing people in the Caribbean. Not to worry: I've been told "God is a Trinidadian." We are the last island in the Caribbean chain, and outside the Hurricane Belt. I've also been told that there have been many hurricanes that have passed through the "And" part of the country; or right in the middle of Trinidad And Tobago.
In a nice ironic twist to the post title, 3 people have died of Dengue Fever in the last few days. "Several" cases have been reported over the past several weeks. It's impossible to get real information around here; and the Government officials in the Ministry of Health are always trying to downplay the severity of the issue (like any good Government Official).

Olympics

Watching the Olympics here isn't much different...except now that track and field events are taking place. For those who have watched the recent 100M men's final, you'll see that there were many Caribbean runners (only 2 of the runners were from non-Caribbean/West Indian countries). For the first week of the Games, we saw much of the NBC feed of the events, but now we have a Caribbean feed with local commentators who prove to be much more relaxed than the Americans (it sounds like we're watching Cricket). The "local" feed is from Barbados, but when T&T athletes perform, the local news channel chimes in to give feedback or results.
"We" have 28 athletes in the Olympics, most track and field athletes, 3 swimmers, 1 shooter, and 1 ping-pong player.
This morning, watching the men's final, the neighbors were screaming the whole 10 seconds of the race, and when the Trini came in second, there was much celebration. The radios are declaring "Richard Thompson Day." I don't believe any runner has medaled since Hasley Crawford (for whom the national stadium is named) in 1976 got a Gold in 100M.