Volcanic Ash Happens!

Hi Everyone!

Who would have thought that a volcanic erruption in Iceland would delay my trip home from Africa!  But it has!  We were due to fly out on friday, and learned early in the day that our flight through Brussels was cancelled .  We scrambled to try to see if we could get a flight out of Ghana or another African country, but unfortunately everyone in Europe had the same idea, and there were no flights until next week.   Fortunately, our wonderful airline has offered to put us up in one of the nicest hotels in Monrovia, Mamba Point.  It has a lovely pool situated right next to the beach! So we aren't suffering too much! Just feeling horribly guilty for our spouses and co workers who are not staying here with us!  We hope to fly out on either monday or wed.  It could be alot worse....we could be some of those people sleeping on cots in the European airports.....

This last week at the hospital has been great.  We were involved in the final exams for the fourth year medical students.  There are 16 of them, and they have to pass a very grueling, oral exam in each of the specialty areas before they can go on to graduate.  Pediatrics is billed as one of the toughest exams, due to the 2 examiners who have been running it over the past couple of years.  Donna and I got involved, and the students were so happy to have nice doctors asking them questions!   They were great and very smart.  It gives me alot of hope that we are starting to educate some physicians here now. Last year's class only had 4 students who are now interns.  This years class has 16, and next year there will be 30 medical students graduating from medical school.  The group of faculty and residents that we have been sending over here over the past year were involved in teaching the students alongside the other 2 doctors (not pediatricians) who have been here.  The students really loved the American docs. I think they really loved having the US residents teach as well, as they are young and exciting!  

I will try to upload some pictures.  Hope to see you all soon!  If you get a chance to check on David, I would appreciate it! He has been doing a great job but getting pretty frazzled!  If you have a chance to top over and bring him a strong drink, I am sure he would appreciate it!

Home soon!

Trish