Another day on the streets

Before hitting the streets, I was confronted by the daughter of one of the foundation's employees.  She had injured her toe doing some extreme sports, but luckily it was not too bad.  It was not deep and did not look like it needed any serious attention, so we patched her up with no problems.  

Our first stop was in the most unlikely of places, Arkadia.  You may remember my last posts about visiting one of the famous night clubs in this region, ITAKA.  Today we were there on strict business - to find a homeless family known to frequent the area.  We walked down the tourist-filled road until it cleared out.  Down the road, we veered left and walked off the main road into the shrubbery.  We were told that there was a homeless family that lived in the catacombs there.  The catacombs are dangerous and people are frequently getting lost in them.  They are largely unchartered, so when people get lost inside, they are often not found until they are dead and gone.  There was a story not long ago about a girl who got lost in the catacombs - her mummified body was found two years after she went missing.  The catacombs are a very interesting part of the history of Odessa.  You can read more about it here.  I took a guided tour of the catacombs with Claudia in 2010 so you can read about my impression on my old blog, My Trans-Siberian Journey        

Arkadia

Not a bad place to spend the afternoon volunteering

Walking to the Catacombs

Unfortunately, no one was home so we were unable to see the catacombs and I didn't want to ask if we could have a peak inside.  We then made our way back to our old hot spot in the roundabout.  Today, our friends were more willing to let us help me.  I bet the gifts of Coca-Cola, chocolate and water we gave them warmed them up to our company.  They even let us take photos of us working with them.  One girl had fresh self-mutilation cuts on her arm.  I didn't even have to ask her if she needed help.  She asked me if I would help clean her cuts.  They were luckily not that deep, so they were easy to patch up.  I have treated more self-mutilation injuries her in Odessa than I ever did in my two years as a psychiatric technician.     

Back at the roundabout

Self mutilation is a huge problem here

Applying the ointment

After care questions

Then one of the boys told me he had problems with his feet.  He asked me if I could help him so I gloved up.  Looks like he had some bad blisters that had popped.  The dirt was so impacted on his foot that it was difficult to even clean it off.  I used an antiseptic towelette and then proceeded to clean it with alcohol.  Next up, you guessed it, Neosporen.  I tried my best to prevent the injuries from getting infected by putting bandaids over them.     

BSI - Body Substance Isolation

check out these cuts

Interesting callous

Start off with an antiseptic wash

After cleaning with alcohol and applying Neosporen, patch up with bandaids

More bandaids

Happy to have been helped

All in all, we had a great day.  We did not go back to see the family in the underground - the folks with the guttate psoriasis - so I gave the cream, Q-tips, some chocolates and a bottle of nail polish to the street patrol worker.  He will give it all to them next time he stops by their place.  Back at the center, we were greeted by one of the little girls who had gotten a physical the day before.  She was happy to see us.

little kindergardener joined our photo

New Shkaf

Last night, I went out with my new hostel friends to the new Shkaf.  We had a fantastic time laughing about the difference between the UK, England and Britain; debating which state is better: California or Virginia; and drinking strange liquors.

Photos from New Shkaf

I had a Hiroshima shot, one that was offered at the old Shkaf.  Do you remember Japan Night at old Shkaf from My Trans-Siberian Journey?  It was hilarious to see a shot called Hiroshima... only in Ukraine.  Well, here it is!  It was absinthe, Baileys, vodka, and grenadine.  Random, right?

Hiroshima

They had a live band playing songs like Fever and other jazzy swing type songs.  Unfortunately, I didn't have anyone to dance with me.  I looked for a partner, but didn't see anyone who looked like they wanted to dance.

Live Band

Then, this shot happened.  The patron wore a helmet, then got repeatedly hit on the head with a shot that he was later prompted to drink.  I have only ever seen this before in Kiev, at the Doctor's Bar.  You might remember that bar from my old blog too.  Unfortunately, the videos got cut off at the end for some reason... which is too bad, because the video from the Doctor's Bar had fire and all kinds of craziness you would not even believe unless you saw it.  It was so upsetting to me that I had not had enough memory space on my camera that day.

Crazy shot

Here comes the sun!

Why do you always end up on the streets, Erika?

So, I made my way back to my old home in Odessa.  My friend, Dasha, helped me move and introduced me to her friend who works at this hostel.  It's funny, because she and I moved OUT of this hostel together, and now she is helping me move back IN nearly 3 years later.  I was greeted at the hostel door by the old owner, who looked at me, did a double take, and simply said, "You!  Are you sure you don't want to stay somewhere else?"  I groveled, said I wanted to be there and no where else. He welcomed me back to the family like the Prodigal Son.

My "Moving" Buddy

The church near my new home

So far it has been great.  I have new friends already, we are planning to go out to my old favorite bar, Shkaf, which has relocated.  Do you remember Shkaf from My Trans-Siberian Journey?  The best part, my new home has a cat!!  A real pet - with a flea collar and a Facebook page and everything!  We are already FB friends, and I have even gotten to brush her.

Old Shkaf

Remember Lenin?

I hope "new" Shkaf is as awesome as "old" Shkaf

Murlka Kisha

I even called my credit card company, and they seem sympathetic to my cause.  They set up a dispute for the charge at the old apartment, so with some luck I may get some money back for my stay there.  All in all, there seems to be sunshine on the horizon.

All around town

I was so exhausted when I finally got back to my apartment after dark last night.  I had gotten up early to run and exercise again, then after showering and getting ready I hit the streets.  I first had lunch for under $3 at Puzata Xata, a Ukrainian buffet style restaurant.  I got some dumpling like pelmeni with meat inside, and a cucumber and cabbage salad.  

Just a shopping center, not a museum

I just can't believe this isn't a museum

Typical off-main street road

My all time favorite statue in Odessa

 Next, I wandered all about, and eventually even found my favorite clothing store, MANGO.  Last time I was here, I was excited to buy a beautiful brown leather jacket there, since I had lost my black one in Germany.  After spending most of the day walking, I headed back to the apartment to shower and get ready to meet my old friend, Dasha, who I used to live with in the hostel three years ago.  You probably remember her from some of my old posts in My Trans-Siberian Journey.  She is seen in one of the photos in the blog post "Banned in the USA."  She also fell victim to the bed bug infestation, and moved with me to our new hostel across town.

I found a salad!! A REAL SALAD!

Dasha met me and it was like no time had passed between us.  We picked up where we left off and spent the rest of the day walking around town.  She took me to her amazing apartment in a fantastic part of town that is near one of the more popular beaches.  We walked through a local park, then eventually made our way to the beach.  It was already getting to be pretty late in the evening, but there was still blaring music playing and people swimming and hanging out.  I can't wait to hit it up when I get back into town.  For now, I am going back to our summer camp to spend time with the kids.  I will be sure to update you on new stories when I get back, possibly this weekend!  

Sights in the park

Famous Ukrainian Writer

Beach Volleyball

Busy beach in the evening

Suturing and Infectious Diseases

Last night I played softball with the rest of my team, the Endorphinatics.  I was talking to the Physician Assistant in between innings about his time volunteering in Costa Rica.  His advice was to learn to suture, and know my infectious diseases and the antibiotics that treat them.  

Great advice.  My dad is going to teach me how to suture in a couple weeks when I am back in California working at his clinic.  After working at a psychiatric research clinic, I realize things can get ugly if you live in a group home or partially on the streets.  On occasion, we have patients who need stitches removed or who have cuts that need attention.  Might as well knock one skill that I will be learning in PA school down!

The second piece of advice will be a little more difficult to follow through with.  First of all, even if I knew exactly which infection or disease merited which antibiotic, who's to say that drug will even be available?  Thinking about how I would bring extensive amounts of medications into Ukraine reminded me of this smuggling story from My Trans-Siberian Journey - As I was going to St. Ives.  Something tells me that flashing a big American smile and being waved right past customs won't work this time.

My arsenal of medical skills:

• Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature) 
• Ear examination using an otoscope (compliments of my dad)
• Blood glucose test 
• Blood test (if a suitable lab is found)
• General health education

      
Does anyone else have any advice on medical skills I should start working on?  I am excited to get to work!