Tuesday, January 2, 2018

1/1

Today was yet another beautiful Greek Sunny day without clouds in sight. My colleagues told me I got lucky. It was raining all the weeks before, sometimes raining so hard, they could barely hear patient talking working inside a tin box. The fireworks at midnight woke me up briefly but I slept all the way through.

I had a long chat to both of them while we went sight seeing today. The paediatrician has traveled everywhere.  She also did some volunteer in Jordan, and stayed there for a while learning Arabic. It's fascinating seeing how US medical system works. They had to decide which specialty they would like to go in at the end of med school. I wonder how they can even decide what they want to do for the rest of their life then. She tells me her ideal work life balance would be volunteer for 6 months a year, and then work for a year. But the shortest contract she can get anywhere in the US is 3 years, and they don't get to work like a contractor like me. I've never realised how fortunate I am to have this job. Freedom, money, autonomy. The other lady is a 60 yo ICU nurse from Arizona. She tells me that she used to do weekend volunteer in a Mexican clinic.

We went to the fortress of Antimachia, a fortress built in the 14th century by the knights of St John. There were prickly brambles along the way with rubbles either side. The view was magnificent. The most magical part was the chimes floating across the valley from the goats on the hills. It was like a giant wind chime was ringing in the valley.

We then visted a hot thermal beach. The ocean water was warm with steam coming out with the smell of sulfur. We could see bubbling in odd places by the beach.

The day ended with lunch with giant plate of mixed grills. A few cats sat around begging for food. And we got some complimentary drinks afterwards. The paediatrician tells me, it's winter so hardly ever any tourists, and people tend to get to know you. And you start to get free food afterwards. I guess that's a bonus.


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