Pretty in Pink

We have swapped out our blue scrubs for shades of pink, red and purple and one blue. It is a colourful crew at the coffee dock this morning. The adrenalin has cooled as we head up the bad ass hill to the clinic. Everyone knows their job now and we take the early few minutes to make the minor adjustments to our work stations. Yesterday we didn't switch on the fan until after lunch and we will try it for the full day today to see can we keep the heat and humidity, especially in the middle room down a few degrees.

The surgical team start screening patients from early morning. Anyone they consider a likely candidate for cataract surgery is moved up the line to process them through all the optometry checks that will ultimately determine if they get referred. The two police officers who present aare also prioritised, top of the queue no waiting for the people that help you sort out powercuts on a Saturday evening. Anne knows it is an easy give to gain the support of local community organisations, the type of small measures that are the favours she can call on for the future. Londi explains these changes to the patiently waiting patients. People are very agreeable especially when an older person is moved up the line; a measure of the respectful manner of the Guatemalan people.

As we relax into our work the laughter is more common. An older woman on acuity test gets totally distracted and is extremely surprised when Sony, a tall Haitian man walks across the room.She comments in Spanish; Ailish responds in English; Sony and Ailish in Creole - and everyone starts laughing but with each other not about each other. The Guatemalan people average around 5ft2" to 5ft4". It is obvious in the photographs. Cheryl and Tania have a three generation grandfather; father and son consultation that is fun. Dr Eric advises a boy that if his eyes are tired in the afternoon after school then maybe he should give up going - there's a slight pause for translation and then the boys grandmother breaks out in laughter. It takes the 12 year old a second or two to get the joke and of course he gets his proper advice before he leaves with his grandmother emphasizing he is not giving up school. I imagine she laughed at that one long into the evening.

The post-op patients have arrived and all other work stops so we can consult with them and ensure that everything is well. The joy when that bandage comes off. These are the moments of appreciation that we do not see as often in our 'real lives' at home. It is something we constantly comment on at each of these trips. Their gratitude is infectious and makes us grateful for the chance to help. The instructions for eye care and activity for the week are listened to with promises of obeying doctors orders. We cannot understand all the questions about diet; a mystery we do not get to the bottom of all week as the conditions are not diet related. Amelia; Alex; Helena and Simon are regular visitors to doctors Cheryl and Eric to borrow equipment and get input on their work. Surgery have found two extra patients in our queue and will see five altogether today. They have three surgeries completed when we break for lunch at 12:30. Again as yesterday the women's co-operative have created a lovely lunch of chicken; salad and we note that the hot sauce got even hotter. As does the day. Literally we can feel the temperature crank up as we sit on the verandah of the school building. You might say we are in hot pink when we return to the clinic at 1pm and the fan bravely tries to keep the air moving. For optometry we get 67 patients today; 5 in surgery and it is quiting time. Clean up; organise; ready for tomorrow and we are down the hill for a cold beer on the way home.

We are in a local bar just at the bottom of the hill, planning to sit outside when the first raindrops hit. It soon turns into a deluge and we watch the rain pound the tarmac as we sit safely inside the bar. It rains for one beer and it is still raining heavily as we call for a second. With no sign of letting up we opt to order our dinner there; pizza's all around. The stray dogs have wandered in and found Eric. It is not cold but we are beginning to wonder how we are getting home when the rain stops almost as suddenly as it had begun. We finish our food and our beer and make our way back to the hotel. Its an easy night of it for Tania; our curfew police and she barely has to mention that 'its 10pm guys' when the hotel settles down for the night.