Holidays, Hospitals, and other H-things.

Well Hello Hello--Didn't think I'd be posting this soon, eh?? Ay???

Well, just wanted to let you know that my birfday is going okay here. It's so sunny, and I stayed home with a cough and runny nose. Nothing serious. My teacher and principal knew I'd be gone, but they are thinking I'm in Guatemala, and we came home early. It rained so much that half of our group has some form of sinus/cough/hacking/runny nose thing going on. No biggie. I got homework done, went for a bike ride, and I'm currently hanging out with my favorite ladies internetting:)

We're going to go out for dinner I think. It's sad to think I won't be at home celebrating my day with Andy and the fam, but I'll live. I've got at least ten birthdays ahead of me if all goes well;)

Things I miss:

the first snow in Minnesota

sledding

Thanksgiving at Grandma's house--those mash potatoes and cheesy broccoli and rice will be sorely missed:(

My big dorky dog:)

Christmas lights--man do I miss those

Christmas that comes early to all of the stores. I used to hate when carols played from Halloween on--haven't heard one since I got to Belize just yet.

EGG NOG (mom, I want an abundance of this when I arrive;) Just kidding, but seriously!)

Shopping...with a list! I have been clueless as to what to get people here--a silly gift? A cultural thing? Something applicable? I just don't know.

And hospitals. I hate hospitals, but I will always appreciate an American hospital. Last night, my good friend Beth had to go to the hospital here for a bug bite that somehow got into the veins of her foot. She's been bitten to shreds on this trip for some unknown reason, and no creams, sprays, or ointments are doing the trick. She found a bump on her foot after the waterfalls in Guatemala, and that bump swelled and the redness spread into the veins of the arch of her foot. It was scary, and myself and another friend here went with her to the hospital in PG. We waited outside with a lot of Belizeans waiting to get in. She saw the nurse, then shortly after, was allowed to see the doctor. They let me come in to hold her hand for what we thought was going to be one shot of Hydrocortizone. What they didn't tell her was that they were hooking her to an IV and putting three meds through that IV. There was no communication. The nurse dealing with Beth was coughing and sneezing--she didn't even wear gloves. I nearly cried, this situation was so horrible--to be in a foreign country in a hospital where the doctor is not being as serious as doctors should be, being given shots and having to ask, "What is this for?" instead of them telling you "We're giving this shot, it's for ___, it will feel like ____." It was horrible. They brought her to a hospital bed, and they shared with Beth that the guy in the next bed had Hepatites--grrreat. No HIPPA or confidentiality here. Then a guy came in with a needle telling Beth she needed blood drawn--Beth and I started freaking out asking him "Why? What for?" Then the doctor came in and said, "No, not her. This guy" and he pointed to the patient with Hep. Seriously. Then the doctor laughed because Beth was freaking out and said, "It's okay. You're fine. Don't worry." I explained to him that it was hard to feel fine when we're in a foreign country, in a hospital, without our family--he left us alone. After nearly an hour later, we left and went home. Currently, Beth is okay--she took some of the prescriptions from the hospital as well as some other things for her foot. Hopefully it will get better. Can you pray about her?

She kept saying last night, "I hope nobody has to go through what I just went through at that hospital." I'll tell you more when I get back, but it was seriously horrible. Even when our hospitals screw up, at least they have resources, some bedside manner, and a sterile healthy environment (or at least the laws to enforce it!)

Well, I love you! I miss you! I'll do something happy today:)

Can't wait--four weeks!