The Search for Quetzal - A Success Story

This morning, our quest for quetzals continued.  We began our hike at 6AM, because they typically arise between 6:30 and 7:30AM.  After some morning coffee, our tour group started our journey down the hill.  It was about a 15 minute walk from our lodge to this ranchers property - the day before, quetzals had been spotted there.  Quetzals mate during the spring months and their favorite food, avocado, is now scare in the region we were in, so we knew that seeing one might not occur.  As soon as we finished hiking up this hill, our group began anxiously scanning the trees, hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare quetzal.  Before I knew it, a flash of emerald green flew before my eyes and I alerted our group!  I had been the first to see the quetzal!  It flew into the tree about 200 meters from where we were all standing.  A minute later, it was followed by its mate.  Unfortunately, she was much harder to see, especially since she doesn't have that long tail to giver her away.

I spy with my little eye... a Quetzal!  Can you??

Check out the not zoomed in photo I took.  I believe that he would have been impossible to spot if I had not witnessed him fly into the tree.

Quetzal Male

Sorry this photo is so large, but this is the only way to see his little face!  It really is quite a miracle that we even saw them.

All the following photos are of the Trogon Lodge where we stayed for two nights.  It is a beautiful place, in the San Gerardo de Cota valley.    

The view I was gazing upon as I blogged yesterday

Trout - major food group at the lodge

Posing in front of a waterfall during our hike

Beautiful flowers and scenery

View from our cabin

Last two shots were taken minutes ago from our new hotel, Hotel Cuna del Angel.  Nat and I have been seeing here drinking beer and working on the computer.  We have been watching the birds fly by - we even saw two toucans! 

Candid shot from the balcony

Sunset over the jungle

The Search for Quetzals

I realize that the last time I wrote, I was drawing blood in California, but it has just been too hectic to keep y'all updated lately.  I went from Austin to Dallas, to Los Angeles to work at my parent's clinic, back to Dallas for Christmas, to San Francisco and Santa Rosa to visit family and friends, and finally to Costa Rica.  I am currently sitting in a lounge chair over looking a stream at Trogon Lodge in San Gerardo de Cota, Costa Rica.

Yesterday, after obtaining a rental car near San Jose, we spent 3 hours driving down a highway, and a more secluded dirt road to arrive at our destination.  This place is beautiful!  It is tucked away in the forest and is filled with bright colored flowers.  This morning Nat and I went on a hike through the rain forest in search of the brilliantly colored and rare Quetzal.  No sightings yet, but we plan on taking a guided tour tomorrow morning to see their nesting spot.  With some luck we may just see one or two!  We did however see some ground birds that resemble chickens, some other little yellow and black birds and plenty of humming birds.  Post our Quetzal guided tour we are doing a zip lining canopy tour which should be equally amazing.  I will be sure to post pictures this evening.

As far as my summer volunteer trip, I have been given more contacts to speak with after my vacation and look forward to delving deeper into my planning when I get back to Austin.
I have also started jotting down various hours and activities I have been involved with over the years so I can be in a good position this spring to fill out my graduate school applications.

Vaccines and Blood Drawing

The last couple weeks have been very busy for me.  I spent them studying for exams, preparing a bioethics presentation on prenatal genetic testing, and reviewing for my finals in genetics and physiology.    A couple weeks ago I contacted the person who had access to soon to be expiring vaccines, but unfortunately it looks like I will not be able to accept the generous donation.  Without a nonprofit tax ID code or a serious method of transporting the vaccines, I was not eligible to except them.  I was also worried that even if they did make it out to Ukraine, I would not know who would be receiving them nor would I be certain there was an adequate refrigerator to keep them viable - what with the frequent blackouts, I suppose we would even need a generator.  After I get this project off the ground I will definitely reach out to her again though!  

Since finals, I have made my way to California and have been spending time with my family and working in my parent's clinic.  I basically started drawing blood within ten minutes of walking into the clinic after coming straight from the airport!  Although I once thought of myself as a blood drawing prodigy, my delusions of grandeur were quickly shattered along with my perfect patient drawing track record.  Drawing on schizophrenics might seem challenging, but wait until you have to draw primary care patients - old, young, overweight, dehydrated...  You basically have to go in blind and start fishing - two techniques that I am not comfortable doing!  The medical assistants have been teaching me how to find difficult veins when you just can't see or feel them.  

My parents run a high volume clinic with a wide variety of patients for me to gain experience working with - that is why I am here!  I am proud to say that I have already drawn more patients in just two days than I have in my short career as a phlebotomist in Texas.   I am excited to continue to be challenged this week at the clinic.  I will continue to update y'all on my progress.    

Foreign Transaction Fees

Those fees will really get you.  Usually credit cards charge 3% per charge when traveling internationally.  I remember when I was gearing up for my trip along the Trans-Siberian Railway 2 years ago, I really wanted a credit card that did not have foreign transaction fees.  I have always prided myself for having excellent credit, so I figured I would be instantly approved for this Capital One Venture card I had been eyeing for months.  As soon as I applied for the credit card, I sat back and thought to myself how sweet it will be to not have to worry about those pesky fees while I spend 3 months traveling.  I was picturing myself potentially being robbed somewhere in Siberia, and imagining my future self simply smiling and saying to my future bandit, "Jokes on you! I only carry credit!  That card will be inactivated before you even have a chance to swipe it!"  Who carries cash these days anyways.  I was suddenly snapped out of my dream world when I noticed the website had finished loading - Credit card denied.  What happened?  Oh, right, LASIK doesn't come cheap and I had taken out a line of no interest credit to pay it off incrementally... Needless to say, I did not have a fancy no foreign transaction fee credit card for that trip.

Well, 2012 is a new year!  My LASIK is long since paid off, so I figured I would once again attempt to obtain the elusive Capital One Venture credit card.  I am proud to say that I was approved and am ready to start traveling, fee free!  Now, I just need to contact my old travel buddy and find out how to go about getting a checking account for his bank that did not charge ATM fees.     

Smoking Ban - finally!

While perusing the WHO website today, I found these awesome articles.

Ukrainian Health Legislation:
I just found out that in June 2012, Ukraine passed a smoking ban that made it illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, etc.  There has also been a ban on smoking advertisements!  Let's hope this is one step closer to a smoke free world.   

Interesting facts:

• 163,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer.  
• In the US, the tobacco epidemic is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths, meaning that lung cancer accounts for more deaths than the next four (!) leading cancers combined.
• California has been able to decrease the prevalence of smoking from 24% to 12% via aggressive anti-smoking campaigns. 

Not only will these new legislations make education about about dangers of smoking somewhat easier in a country where smoking is as common as drinking coffee, but now I no longer have to worry about getting burnt by flailing cigarettes while dancing at night clubs!  Win-win.


*Interesting facts courtesy of http://www.insidecancer.org/

Donations and Good News!

Well, so far things are coming along much better than I had anticipated.  I have a few contacts lined up that I need to call this week.  Some have experience with medical nonprofits, clinical outreach, grant writing, and one even worked at the Ukrainian consulate.  A relative of my finance also put me in touch with another contact who may have some flu vaccines that she would like to donate.  It is a good thing I have an International Air Transportation Association (IATA) certification to handle, process and ship bio-hazardous materials!  Shipping vaccines to Ukraine definitely require more research...  maybe this friend from the Ukrainian consulate will have insight into the legality of the task at hand.  When I have some spare time, I intend to read the WHO online booklet on shipping vaccines found here.

Speaking of vaccines, I should reacquaint myself with all the different vaccines offered through Vaccines for Children (VFC).  I bet the VFC regional representative that works with my dad's clinic may be able to help me figure out how to safely ship them so they stay within their temperature range.  I can't believe it has been 5 years since I worked for VFC and the Public Health Department in Richmond, CA!  Oh, how time flies.

First monetary donation:
I am excited to say that my parents are generously donating some money to my cause!  I plan to start fundraising after I get back this summer and/or have nonprofit status, but having some funds to start with is definitely helpful.  My dad is considering flying to Ukraine to spend a week with me too!  I am looking forward to having a doctor present, especially since that MD will be my dad.  We are going to figure it all out when I fly to California in a couple weeks.  My parents always have been my heroes and faithful supporters - big shout out to Mama and Papa for their generosity!

Recent thoughts:
I should read as much about the health situation in Ukraine as possible - new legislations, recent outbreaks, statistics, etc.  More research on the WHO website is in order.

Well, maybe after my Physiology and Genetics finals... one step at a time.
   

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!