Day 30:

Today we were on the OPD (outpatient) unit. I didn’t realize RMH offered so many specialties, but there was a board listing them all- probably at least 15 different types. However, being such a small hospital, I think each specialty only has one or two rooms each. The doctor we were shadowing, for example, had one room with a desk for herself, chairs for the patients, and an examining table with a curtain. This doctor was a general practitioner specializing in diabetes care. We basically just sat in the room and listened to her talk with patients for three hours. It was interesting, but being here definitely emphasizes the language barrier once again. I feel like I’m in my own world for the majority of the appointment just kind of zoning out, until either the patient speaks a little English or the doctor would explain what was going on. It was also interesting because I felt like the patients I saw today were much more put together- dressed nicer, maybe cleaner, less hardened by work- than past patients I’ve seen. I’m not really sure why this would be the case, but it was interesting to notice. I’ll have to try to ask again.

Tonight we made ourselves a paneer dish with roti, with mangoes for dessert!! We also tried and failed at opening a coconut, although found some pretty hilarious videos in the process of trying to figure out how to eat one!